I remember as a small child hearing the story about Jonah and the whale. This story has a number of significant principles that can impact our lives today. Recently, I was listening to one of the all night radio talk shows. I heard a group of scholars and a number of callers from around the country debating issues regarding Jonah and the whale. Questions ranged from "Was it really a whale or a big fish?" to how Jonah could stay alive for three days under water even while inside a whale, a fish, or whatever it may have been.

As the conversation and debate droned on, I realized that these people were hung up in the details and were missing the big picture. They were debating fine points that can never be fully confirmed or denied while missing the pertinent message that can apply to everyone. A messenger doesn’t have to be perfect in order for us to receive a powerful message.

Immediately after the Watergate incident, Richard Nixon became a much-maligned public figure. Everything he said and did was scrutinized and discounted because of the well-documented details of the Watergate case. Later in life, Nixon redeemed himself, to a certain extent, and became a well-respected author, lecturer, and elder statesman. People came to recognize that while Nixon had made mistakes, as we all do, he probably possessed the greatest mind relating to international affairs of anyone of his generation. For many years after the Watergate incident, everyone totally disregarded what Nixon had to say because he became a flawed messenger.

Gandhi said, "Every man is my superior in that I can learn something from him." This is true and, furthermore, every experience, situation, book, conversation, etc., can teach us something. All the details do not have to be fully defined or fully understood for us to receive value. The messenger may be unknown or totally flawed, but the message may have validity. Therefore, we must, in every situation, ask ourselves, regardless of the details, circumstances, or the messenger, "What can I learn from this, and how does this apply to me?"

Today, vow to seek wisdom and knowledge from every source, not just the ones that you fully understand or the ones that meet some arbitrary standard of society.

Today’s the day!

Jim Stovall is the president of Narrative Television Network, as well as a published author, columnist, and motivational speaker. He may be reached at 5840 South Memorial Drive, Suite 312, Tulsa, OK 74145-9082, or by e-mail at JimStovall@aol.com.