Monday, February 27, 2017

THE RICHEST PIECE OF GROUND ON EARTH (a.k.a. Viola Davis at the Oscars). Pt. 1



Several years ago I transcribed one of the most insightful stories which I’d ever heard.

The title of the story was, “The Richest Piece of Ground on Earth.”

If I were to ask you to name the richest piece of ground on earth you might say, “the goldmines of South Africa” or “the rain forests of South America” or perhaps “the oil wells of Saudi Arabia” but if you were to guess one of these locations, you would be… absolutely wrong. For you see, the richest piece of ground on earth is your… local cemetery.

And the reason for this seeming paradox? 

Lying dormant in the bosoms of thousands of the dearly departed are unfulfilled dreams. A miracle medication which might have cured Alzheimer’s Disease. An invention which might have caused trees and flowers to bloom on the Sahara. A missionary endeavor that would have brought millions of unbelievers to a saving knowledge of the Gospel. Dreams which might have changed the world. But these dreams will remain unrealized for a million million years.

Interestingly enough, last night as I was watching the 2017 Academy Awards Ceremony one of my favorite actresses won the ‘Oscar’ for the movie, “Fences.” As Viola Davis stepped up on the stage she began to share the most familiar words.

“You know there’s one place where all of the people with the greatest potential are gathered. And that’s the… graveyard.”

As I reflect on my earlier story, and compare Viola’s words I can only surmise, 

“Close, but not the same.”

For you see, while the local cemetery might well be thought of as “the richest piece of ground on earth,” for the myriad of dreams which were never realized, in spite of Ms. Davis’ assurance the dearly departed who lie within it have absolutely no remaining potential to do anything at all.

(to be continued)


By William McDonald, PhD. Excerpt from "(Mc)Donald's Daily Diary" Vol. 52. Copyright pending

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