THE RELIGION CORNER: Everything is OK

Romans 8:28 says it this way: “And we know that all things work together for good, to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.”

Just before Christmas, my son Ron invited me to join him for a yoga session. What a wonderful experience, my first, I felt renewed. The topic for the day was “Everything is OK.” When I spoke with the instructor, I told her that I planned to use this topic for one of my upcoming columns, she was gracious and thankful. During this time of renewal, I think this a perfect time for this topic.

Additionally, my mentor, the late Jim Rohn inspires me daily. You’ve read insights inspired by Rohn in this column. Let me share a bit about Jim Rohn.

For more than 40 years, Rohn honed his craft like a skilled artist – helping people the world over sculpt life strategies that have expanded their imagination of what is possible. Those who had the privilege of hearing him speak can attest to the elegance and common sense of his material. It’s no coincidence, then, that he was widely regarded as one of the most influential thinkers of our time, and thought of by many as a national treasure.

Rohn penned countless books and audio and video programs, and helped motivate and shape an entire generation of personal-development trainers and hundreds of executives from America’s top corporations.

Born to an Idaho farming family in the mid-1900s, Rohn was ingrained with a work ethic that served him well throughout his life. At 25, he met his mentor Earl Shoaff. And over the next six years he made his first fortune, yet didn’t get into speaking until he moved to Beverly Hills, Calif., when a friend at the Rotary Club asked him to tell his success story, which Rohn titled “Idaho Farm Boy Makes It to Beverly Hills.”

His speech went over so well that he received more invitations to share it, and better yet, they started paying him to share his story. In the beginning, he spoke in front of college and high-school classes and at service clubs, before moving on to seminars in 1963. From then on, Rohn became a trailblazer in the self help and personal development industry, impacting the lives of millions through his life-changing material.

Rohn possessed the unique ability to bring extraordinary insights to ordinary principles and events, and the combination of his substance and style captured the imagination of those who heard or read his words.

Whether you’ve been diagnosed with a major illness; or like me, bought a car at the auction with some major problems; your loved one has disappointed or left you without notice. None of these reasons matter. Just tell yourself “Everything is OK,” even when it is not OK. It is still, OK!

Worry causes more cells and genes in your body to go bad; and to worry and be upset about the car that I bought at auction, well, we all know, that’s the chance you take when you purchase a car at auction. Had it been in really great condition the previous owner wouldn’t have been so anxious to get rid of it, especially at auction. That’s the slickest way to ditch the car without the buyer getting a chance to find out what they’re really getting. So, it’s got to be OK. I can’t change the bad decision now. But I must learn from it.

When we look at those bad things that happened that felt as though they would break us, smile about them, they only made us better! This New Year, each and every day, no matter what comes your way, repeat – “Everything is OK!”

Lyndia Grant is an author, inspirational and motivational speaker, radio talk show host and columnist; visit her new website at http://www.lyndiagrant.com and, call 202-518-3192. Tune in Fridays at 6 p.m., to the radio talk show, 1340 AM, WYCB, a Radio One Station.