The life story of Booker T. Washington may be the most inspirational I have read yet.  Very few people in life have overcome as much as this former slave did to accomplish so many things.  If success is measure by how far you come from where you started, then Booker may be the most successful American.  Booker was born a slave in Virginia shortly before the Civil War.   Booker was born on the Burroughs farm and life was the drudgery of labor for no gain or purpose.  Young Booker was fascinated by the schoolroom he walked the young Burroughs girls to everyday.  He was amazed when people could take the letters and make them into words.  Booker was hungry to learn the magic of reading, but had no books or teachers. 

After the Civil War life did not get any easier for young Booker.  He worked in the salt mines as a pre-teen to put food on the table for the newly free family.  In an effort to escape the Malden salt mines—Booker took a job working for Viola Ruffner.  Mrs. Ruffner was the wife of the owner of the mines and was the embodiment of the Protestant work ethic.  Booker was exposed to the exacting attention to detail which he would adopt as his own.  Booker also was taught to read by this saintly lady and allowed to peruse her extensive library.  Young Booker’s mind devoured the information as a thirsty man would water on arriving at an oasis.  Mrs. Ruffner would be the difference maker in Booker Washington’s life and develop the habits that changed a man’s destiny.

There are so many incredible moments in Booker’s life.  He was truly a driven man that understood it is not what happens to you, but how you handle it that counts.  Booker had to deal with prejudice and criticism his whole life.  Instead of getting bitter and allow other to control his thoughts—Booker chose to get better and maintain responsibility for his attitude and life.  Washington had learned a powerful truth from his experiences: hatred does more damage to the hater than to the hated.  Washington insisted, “No race can cherish ill-will and hatred toward another race without its losing all those elements that tend to create and perpetuate a strong and healthy manhood.”  Most of us will never experience the amount or type of rejection and prejudice that Booker experienced.  But we all have had moments of conflict and unfair attacks.  How did you respond?  Did you respond like Booker and know that, “It is better to be wronged than to commit a wrong” or did you respond with hatred and bitterness in your own heart.  I love the quote, “Bitterness and resentment is drinking poison while expecting someone else to die.”  Life is too short to be filled with bitterness and resentment.

Booker built a college in Tuskegee Alabama and affected many young men and women with his message of work and hope.  I believe Booker Washington is the best example in America on someone who chose to get better and not bitter.  If Booker can overcome and contribute, then certainly you and I can overcome and contribute.  I just picked up Booker’s life story, Up From Slavery and plan to read it.  I am always inspired by Dream, Struggle, Victory stories because I find that models life.   No great dream is accomplished without great struggles.  Instead of fighting God’s plan—we must ask what we are to learn from each struggle that comes our way.   Booker went on to become one of the most influential Americans of his time and a hero to many people.   I encourage you to read his story of overcoming and reflect on our own small challenges in comparison to his.  This will give you a perspective to charge ahead in faith to accomplish your life’s purpose.  Let me close with another quote from Booker T. Washington, “You may fill your heads with knowledge or skillfully train your hands, but unless it is based upon high, upright character, upon a true heart, it will amount to nothing.  You will be no better than the most ignorant.”   Yes character is destiny and character is an inside job!  God Bless, Orrin Woodward