Yes! Edison was afraid of the dark—yet he overcame that obstacle in a big way and invented the light bulb. Times of general calamity and confusion have ever been productive of the greatest minds. The purest ore is produced from the hottest furnace, and the brightest thunderbolt is the one elicited from the darkest storm. The door to opportunity swings on the hinges of adversity. Problems are the price of progress. The obstacles of life are intended to make us better, not bitter. Adversity has advantages. Alfred D. Souza said, For a long time it had seemed to me that life was about to begin—REAL LIFE. But there was always some obstacle in the way, something to be gotten through first, some unfinished business, time still to be served, and a debt to be paid. Then, life would begin. At last it dawned on me that these obstacles were my life. Obstacles are merely a call to strengthen, not quit. Ann Gimenez says, “Between you and anything significant will be giants in your path.” You cannot bring about change without confrontation. The truth is, if you like things easy, you will have difficulties. If you like problems, you will succeed. The biggest successes are the people who solve the biggest problems. If you have a dream without problems, you don’t really have a dream. Have the attitude of Louisa May Alcott: “I am not afraid of storms, for I am learning how to sail my ship.” Circumstances are the rulers of the weak; but they are the instruments of the wise. Don’t let your problems take the lead—you take it. The difficulty you face is simply an opportunity for you to do your best. The Chinese have a maxim that says, “The gem cannot be polished without friction, nor man perfected without trials.” It seems that hardship is the necessary preparation for greatness. Consider what Jesus said: “Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows; but cheer up, for I have overcome the world.” What attitude do we need to have toward difficulties? William Boetcker said, “The difficulties and struggles of today are but the best price we must pay for the accomplishment and victory of tomorrow.” Lou Holtz advised, “Adversity is another way to measure the greatness of individuals. I never had a crisis that didn’t make me stronger.” When you encounter obstacles, you will discover things about yourself that you never knew. You will also find out what you really believe. Every problem introduces a person to himself. Challenges make you stretch—they make you go beyond the norm. Turning an obstacle to your advantage is the first step toward victory. The ultimate measure of man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. Life is as uncertain as a grapefruit’s squirt. Sydney Harris mused, “When I hear somebody say that ‘Life is hard,’ I am always tempted to ask, ‘Compared to what?’” We might as well face our problems; we can’t run fast or far enough to get away from them all. We should have the attitude of Hall-of-Famer Stan Musial: Commenting on how to handle a spitter, he said, “I’ll just hit the dry side of the ball.” Charles Kettering said, “No one would have crossed the ocean if he could have gotten off the ship in the storm.” The breakfast of champions is not cereal; it’s obstacles.