âIs your life full of difficulties and temptations? Then be happy, for when the way is rough, your patience has a chance to grow. So let it grow, and donât try to squirm out of your problems.â (James 1:2, Living Bible).
A PROBLEM gives your life a jolt and knocks you off your accustomed track. The jolt, however, can send you spinning off in a new and better direction. In this way, a problem can become an opportunity.
Noisy woodpecker brought fame and fortune for the Lantzes
ACCORDING to Edward Chinn, the Woody Woodpecker cartoon started life as a problem for honeymooners. Grace and Walter Lantz rented a rustic wooden cabin in the forest for their honeymoon. At the first dawn there, a woodpecker started its pounding on the roof. The newlyweds could not sleep because of the noise. With humour, they heard it day after day.
By the time they returned from their honeymoon, they were inspired to create a cartoon character, Woody Woodpecker. Walter drew the pictures. Grace became Woodyâs voice. Years later, at their 50th wedding anniversary, Grace remembered the problem of the noisy woodpecker and said: âIt was the best thing that ever happened to us.â