The Hardest Working Eighth Grader Ever

I was reading a book (actually, it was an e-book, but I realize that as you read this, you don’t care), and I came across a fascinating story. The book was The old Religion in a New World by Mark A. Noll. If you are wondering why I am reading such a such a thing during my Spring Break, well, I’m just that kind of cool (and by “that kind of cool” I mean “not cool at all in the eyes of people who make a big deal out of such things”).

Anyway, Noll told the story of Francis Asbury, who at the tender age of 13 became an traveling preacher (there’s a fancier word for “traveling,” but when I tried to type it my spell checker balked). Asbury eventually came to America to do his thing. These traveling preachers (around the time of the Revolutionary War), were poor and frequently sick with one thing or another. According to Noll, they tended to get so passionate about what they were doing that it rubbed a lot of men the wrong way (supposedly it didn’t bug the women as much).

Asbury had a huge impact on Methodism and on America itself. Stuff is named after him to this day (and by “stuff” I mean schools and churches). And it all started at the age of 13. I heard a wise man say recently that people claim they don’t want power, but everyone wants to have an impact. Francis Asbury started to make a difference, to have an impact, as a kid.

What’s our excuse for not having an impact?

The world is screwed up by a lot of people individually making little, selfish choices.

So, hey, go out and make a difference by making good choices and working hard at something. Make something better.