A "Review" of 'The Greatest Miracle in the World' by Og Mandino (Part One)

Article Title: A "Review" of 'The Greatest Miracle in the World' by Og Mandino (Part One)
Submitted by: Craig Lock
Key words: 'The Greatest Miracle in the World', Og Mandino, book "reviews", good books, inspirational books
Web Site: Craig's new blog with thoughts and extracts from various writings is at craiglock.wordpress.com and
http://en.search.wordpress.com/?q=%22craig+lock%22
Other Articles are available at: http://www.selfgrowth.com/articles/user/15565 and http://www.ideamarketers.com/library/profile.cfm?writerid=981
(Personal growth, self help, writing, internet marketing, spiritual, 'spiritual writings' (how 'airey-fairey'), words of inspiration and money management, how boring now, craig!)

Article Summary:
'The Greatest Miracle in the World' by Og Mandino is an inspirational book (self help), which tells the story of Simon Potter, a ragpicker who delivers an inspiring "memorandum from God" to make the difference between success or disaster in YOUR life. The book reveals that an individual should not consider himself or herself a failure ...and we must not let ourselves lose hope, confidence and trust. Never, ever!

"Our mind is the greatest creation on earth and it can generate the most sublime happiness for its owner - or it can destroy him. Yet although we have been given the secret of how to control it, for our happiness and benefit, we still function completely ignorant of its potential . . . "

In short, a heart-warming story of hope and inspiration .

"We share what we know, so that we all may grow."
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A "REVIEW" OF 'THE GREATEST MIRACLE IN THE WORLD' by Og Mandino (Part One - Published by Frederick Fell Publishers Inc 1975)

"This book is a celebration of a unique vision - a vision which reaches out and shines, touching with magic the drama of life across all it's limitless horizons."

"Ingenious and enjoyable, it is penned by an author groping in the darkness of the past for clues to the puzzles of the present and the future."

Submitter's Note:
I've been reading a most inspirational book by Og Mandino and am sharing this "direct review" in the spirit of passing on "bits" of the content, in the form of thoughts, quotations, concepts and principles (like the Laws of the Universe). As well as sharing what I feel is the central message of Og Mandino's highly inspiring book. And as I share, I learn too! Thank you, Mr Mandino and Frederick Fell Publishers, Inc.

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A "REVIEW" OF 'THE GREATEST MIRACLE IN THE WORLD' by Og Mandino (PART ONE)

"Also I heard the voice of the Lord saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me."
- Isaiah 6:8

"Now go, write it before them in a table and note it in a book, that it may be for the time to come for ever and ever."
- Isaiah 30:8

Whatever we allow to enter our minds will always bear fruit. Develop a "Magnificent Obsession" (as in Lloyd Douglas's book of that name). Reach out with a hand of hope. The world may praise us; yet often we don't praise ourselves.

'The God Memorandum': "He spoke of our fear to take chances, to venture into unfamiliar enterprizes and territories, and how even those few who risked their future in order to advance still found it necessary to constantly fight that compelling urge to flee back to their familiar womb of security, no matter how bleak their old existence had been.

Simon did not believe that one should continue to work at a job which made him or her unhappy or miserable.

He had little sympathy for those who blamed their plight or poor fortune on a handicap, either physical or environmental. He reminded me of Milton's blindness, Beethoven's deafness, Roosevelt's polio, Lincoln's poverty. Tchaikovsky's tragic marriage, Isaac Hayes' frightening early years of poverty. Helen Keller's lack of hearing and sight, and even Archie Moore's climb out of the ghetto. He relived for me John Bunyon writing 'Pilgrim's Progress' while in prison, Charles Dickens pasting labels on blacking pots, Robert Burns and Ulysses S Grant fighting the hell out of alcoholism, and Benjamin Franklin dropping out of school when he was only ten!

Eddie Rickenbacker said: 'The biggest lesson I learned was that if you have all the fresh water you want to drink and all the food you want to eat, you ought never to complain about anything.'

Simon's point was that no person ever had a defect that was not really a potential benefit, rather than an adversity. Man can accomplish any goal, if he is willing to pay the price. Stirling Moss's famous quote: 'I was taught that everything is attainable, if your'e prepared to give up, to sacrifice, to get it. Whatever you want to do, you an do it, if you want to do it badly enough.' However, most humans quit too soon in life.

Winston Churchill claimed the greatest secret of success ever formulated was only six words long: 'Never, never, never, never give up!' We desire, with all our heart, to reach our full potential. Emerson wrote that 'our strength grows out of our weakness'. Martyrs do not fail, when their hearts cease to pump. 'Why not try to change the world? Why not teach others that they CAN perform a miracle with their lives.' Man has powers possessed by no other creature. He has the power to control his mind and thus ordain his ultimate destiny. Only man, each in his own way, has the ultimate decision on how his life is lived.

'Nothing is more disgraceful than that an old man should have nothing to show to prove that he has lived long, except his years.'
- Seneca (ancient Greek philosopher)

'If you took all the experience and judgment of people over fifty out of the world, there wouldn't be enough brains and talent left to run it.' - Henry Ford

I gave you the power to THINK.

The greatest miracle in the world is YOU!"

Shared by Craig Lock ("Information and Inspiration Distributer, Incorrigible Encourager and People-builder")

"I will make love my greatest weapon and none on who I call can defend upon its force... My love will melt all hearts liken to the sun, whose rays soften the coldest day."
- Og Mandino

"A book is small enough to hold in your hand; but when you read it, the walls fall away and you're in a room as big as the world."

"A book is like a garden carried in the pocket."
- Chinese proverb

"Success is doing the best you can, in as many ways as you can.
It is being just and honest and true - not in a few things,
but in everything you do.

Always look ahead and never look back,
believe you can make all your dreams come true.
Always believe in the best you can be
and have faith in the things that you do.

Forget about the mistakes you've made yesterday,
the lessons you learn will prove valuable for today...
Never give up and think that you're through...
for there's always tomorrow and a chance to begin brand new.

It is in dreaming the greatest dreams...
and seeking the highest goals...
that we build the brightest tomorrows.

There is no limit to the goals you can attain,
or the success you can achieve...
your possibilities are as endless as your dreams.

Whatever it is that you seek in life,
whatever your dreams and what you hope to achieve,
whatever you try to reach - whatever you plan...
can all be yours - if you only believe you can!"
- Larry S. Chengges

"Hold fast to dreams
For if dreams die
Life is a broken-winged bird
That cannot fly.
Hold fast to dreams
For when dreams go
Life is a barren field
Frozen with snow."

- Langston Hughes

"Together, one mind, one soul at a time, let's see how many people we can impact, empower, encourage and perhaps even inspire to reach their fullest potentials. Change YOUR world and you help change THE world... for the better"

"He who cherises a beautiful vision, a lofty ideal in his heart, will one day realize it. Dream lofty dreams and as you dream so shall you become."
- James Allen

"No vision and you perish; No Ideal, and you're lost; Your heart must ever cherish Some faith at any cost. Some hope, some dream to cling to, Some rainbow in the sky, Some melody to sing to, Some service that is high."
- Harriet Du Autermont

"Ideals are like stars; you will not succeed in touching them with your hands, but like the sea-faring man on the ocean desert of waters, you choose them as your guides and following them, you reach your destiny."
- Carl Schurz (US General and politician (born in Germany 1829, d 1906)

"Together, one mind, one heart, one life at a time, let's plant the seeds of a better future."

Be nice to your kids.
They choose your nursing home!