The late Ed Wood, a former Indian Life Board Member, was one who believed in realizing potential. I'll tell the story as it was told to me, some details may be a little murky but most of it's intact and unstretched! Yup . . . read on!
Ed had a teenage daughter who had just graduated from high school and wanted to go to college in Phoenix, Arizona-a long ways from their Winnipeg home. Ed believed in encouraging people to stretch their wings to reach their potential, so he gave her his blessing (Mom wasn't quite so sure).
The first month and a half went okay but then things quickly unravelled (the reasons are still somewhat vague . . . ). BabyGirl was phoning and wanting to come home. Mom and Dad wanted her home too! Put potential aside for awhile, they said, "We gotta go get her!"
A car rental company was running a $99 (Canadian!) unlimited mileage special that weekend, and Ed was a great one for recognizing potential . . .
He and his wife, Jean, picked up the car on Thursday night just before closing time. Then they started driving-hard, steady driving ("We can do this, Honey!"), only stopping when absolutely necessary (like to change drivers). It was 3200 km one way, and they got in Saturday sometime, loaded up Otaanisa (their daughter) and her stuff, then turned around and headed back to Canada (another 3200 km).
Ed was there at the rental place at 7:45 Monday morning, nonchalantly handed the keys back, and thanked the guy-who just about fainted when he saw his $99 special translate into 6400 extra kms on that car! Yes, Ed could certainly maximize the potential in almost anything! He laughed as he recalled being black-listed for awhile (imagine that!) by the rental company!
Sometimes we don't see the potential that is there, whether in a person or situation, but we all were created by God to be someone very special. Don't ever forget that!
Oh and that daughter? She's all grown up now with kids and grandkids and works in the income tax Industry. She loves her job, and she inherited something pretty big from Dad-a belief in realizing potential!
HAGD!
