Raymond Arthur Waugh, Sr. A Journey in Writing
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Letters to the Editor: Norman Vincent Peale
Raymond A. Waugh, Sr.
[Midland Reporter Telegram, Midland, Texas]

Some years ago, I was privileged to live in another wonderful Texas Town by the name of Brady. While we were there, the local paper editor was pleased to accept a few of my words of review about some of the books of Norman Vincent Peale. I had not read him previously. At that time, my life was enriched by his very "positive approach" to living.

During this time, however, I did not come across his little booklet, "Expect A Miracle - Make Miracles Happen." Only recently, after some 25 years, after my wife's death, and after learning that time and tide are causing what once was a healthy and youthful body to become an aging and frail one, have I been privileged to read this word.

Today, though Norman Vincent Peale has left this earthly scene, he yet speaks to me and, also, to all others who will hear him. He very wisely has noted in this booklet for all of us who yet live that "What you think habitually will tend to happen."

This leads me to presume that if Midland and Odessa young people, middle-aged people, and elderly people will habitually think good thoughts, gangs will not roam our streets, "drive-by shootings" will be a thing of the past, friends will not kill friends, and our schools will become places of enlightenment and delight rather than places where children must learn the meaning of fear.

Even more, if we, as a people, can begin to think positively as Norman Vincent Peale, perhaps we can help to cause our cities and communities to become safe places of opportunity for all of us. If we can, as he says, "Expect great things from God and you will receive great things from God," then we can begin to live without fear and abound in the hope that all of our tomorrow's will be even better than today.

Raymond A. Waugh, Sr.
Last update 17 October 2008