Charles Lindbergh (1902) and Rosa Parks (1913) were both born on this day.

Have you ever heard of Charles Lindbergh? What about Rosa Parks? They were very different people, but they shared a couple of important qualities. Each had a goal and the determination to reach it. And they each displayed great courage in pursuing the goal.

Charles Lindbergh was the first person to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean. On May 21, 1927 he took off from an airport in New York in his little plane, “The Spirit of St. Louis” The plane had only one engine and a propeller, and Lindbergh had none of the sophisticated navigational tools that modern pilots have. With only a magnetic compass, his airspeed indicator, and luck to navigate, Lindbergh flew the 1000-mile trip, often through snow and sleet, and landed in Paris 33 ½ hours after takeoff.

Rosa Park’s journey was much shorter but took just as much courage. As an African American, she was tired of racism and of how she and other African Americans were treated. So on December 1, 1955, she refused to give up her seat on a bus to a white man. This violation of the rules sparked a controversy that was a catalyst for the civil rights movement. Rosa’s convictions and courage came from her faith. She says, “I had a very spiritual background, and I believe in church and my faith, and that has helped to give me the strength and courage to live as I did.”

What goals do you have? Maybe you have a big one, like Charles Lindbergh, that you want to achieve one day. Or perhaps, like Rosa, your goal involves making something right in the world.

Ask God to give you the right goals and to give you the courage to achieve them.

I strain to reach the end of the race and receive the prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us up to heaven (Philippians 3:14).

To Do

Using an index card, list your goals in these categories: Big Life Goals, Day-to-Day Goals: Physical, Social, Mental, Spiritual. Keep the card on your desk as a reminder and motivator.

Also on this day . . .

1894—J.W. Goodrich introduced rubber galoshes (boots) to the public.

1957—Smith-Corona Manufacturing, Inc. of New York began selling portable electric typewriters. The first machine weighed 19 pounds.

From Betsy Schmitt and Dave Veerman, 365 Trivia Twist Devotions: An Almanac of Fun Facts and Spiritual Truth for Every Day of the Year (Cincinnati: Standard, 2005). Scripture quotations are from the New Living Translation unless otherwise noted.