The late Earl Nightingale, writer and publisher of inspirational and
motivational material, once told a story about a boy named Sparky. For Sparky,
school was all but impossible. He failed every subject in the eighth grade. He
flunked physics in high school, getting a grade of zero.
Sparky also flunked Latin, algebra, and English. He didn't do much better in
sports. Although he did manage to make the school's golf team, he promptly lost
the only important match of the season. There was a consolation match; he lost
that too.
Throughout his youth, Sparky was awkward, socially. He was not actually disliked
by the other students; no one cared that much. He was astonished if a classmate
ever said hello to him outside of school hours.
There's no way to tell how he might have done at dating. Sparky never once asked
a girl to go out in high school. He was too afraid of being turned down.
Sparky was a loser. He, his classmates...everyone knew it. So he rolled with it.
Sparky had made up his mind early in life that if things were meant to work out
they would. Otherwise, he would content himself with what appeared to be his
inevitable mediocrity.
However, one thing was important to Sparky -- drawing. He was proud of his
artwork. Of course, no one else appreciated it. In his senior year of high
school, he submitted some cartoons to the editors of the yearbook. The cartoons
were turned down. Despite this particular rejection, Sparky was so convinced of
his ability that he decided to become a professional artist.
After completing high school, he wrote a letter to Walt Disney Studios. He was
told to send some samples of his artwork, and the subject for a cartoon was
suggested. Sparky drew the proposed cartoon. He spent a great deal of time on it
and on all the other drawings he submitted. Finally, the reply came from Disney
Studios.
He had been rejected once again. Another loss for the loser. So Sparky decided
to write his own autobiography in cartoons. He described his childhood self -- a
little boy loser and chronic underachiever.
The cartoon character would soon become famous worldwide.
For Sparky, the boy who had such lack of success in school and whose work was
rejected again and again, was Charles Schulz. He created the "Peanuts" comic
strip and the little cartoon character whose kite would never fly and who never
succeeded in kicking a football -- Charlie Brown.
Author unknown. If anyone has a proprietary interest in this story please
authenticate and I will be happy to credit, or remove, as the circumstances
dictate.
Thanks to HeartWarming
heartwarming-subscribe@egroups.com
The Illustrator: This daily newsletter is dedicated to encouraging
everyone to look towards Jesus as the source of all the solutions to our
problems. It contains a daily inspirational story, a Bible verse and encouraging
messages. HTML and plain text versions available.
The Nugget: Published three times a week, this newsletter features inspirational devotionals and mini-sermons dedicated to drawing mankind closer to each other and to Christ.