Jean Francois Gravelet, “The Great Blondin”, was famous for his death-defying tightrope acts. In 1859, he was the first person to walk the 1,100 feet (335 meters) across Niagara Falls. Being a showman, he performed the walk several different times, adding variety by walking the tightrope blindfolded, with his manager on his back, with his hands and feet manacled, while balancing on stilts and while on a bicycle. He even once cooked and ate an omelet in the centre of the rope.
On one occasion, he asked the crowd, “How many of you believe that I, The Great Blondin, can walk across this tightrope to the other side?” Unanimously they responded, “We believe! We believe!”
So he walked across the tightrope and came back again. Then he asked them, “How many of you believe that I, The Great Blondin, can not only walk back across that tightrope, but this time do it while I push a wheelbarrow?” “We believe! We believe!”
Then he asked, “How many of you really believe it?” “Oh, we really believe it!” they shouted back. The Great Blondin then responded with a challenge, “If you really believe, then get in the wheelbarrow.”
The audience stood unresponsive, in utter silence.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
The difference between what we say we believe and what we really believe will always show up in our actions.
