OUTHSIDESCOOP

Fresh Dew

TaketheLidOfftheJar

BySis.RickiFuller

800ElmiraAvenue

Durham,NC27707 info@sside.org|www.sside.org

919.688.3535

Staff

OrlanderR.Thomas

SeniorMinister

WilliamA.Stephens

MinisterEmeritus

WileyShearin,Jr.

ElderEmeritus

RickiFuller

Women’sCounselor

CandiceP.Blount

ChurchAdministrator

QuentellaWilliams

ExecutiveAssistant

Deacons

JohnAlcox

AnthnoyGreen,Sr.

ArthurHackney

JohnMathis

ChesterMayfield,Jr.

RogerMcDougal

JoeWilliams

KeithWright

Just the other day, an associate and I were discussing legacy matters in his office. And, for some reason unbeknownst to me, he started talking about grasshoppers. In particular, he cited a scientific experiment that was done wherein a grasshopper was placed inside a glass jar that had a lid on it with holes.

You are probably aware of what happened to the grasshopper over a period of time. Grasshoppers have the innate ability to jump long distances to evade threats, and some can jump between 10 and 20 times their body lengths without the help of their wings.

But, when placed in a jar that has been covered with a lid, a trapped grasshopper will soon stop jumping to get out of the jar. One observer noted that the grasshopper will go through some “predictable stages. When you first capture the grasshopper, it jumps and jumps and jumps, trying to get out, banging its head against the lid. But the longer the grasshopper’s in there, the less high it jumps until it finally just sits on the bottom.”

That’s kind of similar to the perspective that the majority of the Israelite scouts had of themselves after spying in the land that Moses and Aaron sent them to gather information about. They declared that the people in that land were giants, and there was no way Israel could defeat those people. They were afraid and said, “We were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so were we in their sight.” (Numbers 13) How many times have you been faced with an obstacle or a challenge standing in your way of success on some project or dream? After trying so many times, and being knocked back down to where you started from, did you give up? Did you stop trying? Were you so discouraged that you lost confidence in yourself, thus giving up on your dream? If you answered yes to either of those questions, it’s a strong possibility that your mind is walled in causing you to live beneath your worth and abilities. Stop being like a no-jumping-bottom-sitter-grasshopper! Stop giving up because you are enough, and you have so much good to spread around to countless people.

Being created in GOD’s Image, and being championed to Father GOD every day by Jesus Christ, you are capable and suited to reach high heights! You are designed for greatness that can influence people all over the world to aspire to be like you. By GOD’s Grace and Guidance, your spiritual and success glow will inspire people to know the GOD you represent! (Psalm 37:3-6)

Such is the legacy that should be established and left for young people all over the world. Praise GOD!

In conclusion, Steve Harvey, says ‘Take the Lid Off the Jar’ (title of one of his books)!

Let’s remove our lids: contact me at ricki.sside@gmail.com

EDITION 15 7 MAY 2023