“This is the property,” his agent told him, as they flew over a great swath of swampy real estate—about 43 square miles worth. “What do you think?”
The passenger, W.E., smiled with satisfaction. He hardly noticed the scrub pines, cypress groves, and marshy ponds dotting the landscape. In his mind’s eye he saw beauty and grandeur. “I like it!” he cried.
Within days, W.E. and his associates were arranging to purchase the land from the various owners. The final price tag: five million dollars (the equivalent of about 43 million today).
That was in 1963. In 2011, the property was estimated to be worth over 1.3 billion dollars, because of W. E.’s vision and his ability to accomplish what he started.
Development of the property began in 1965. It took thousands of workers and six years to complete the initial phase of W. E.’s plan.
First, the acreage had to be cleared, then lakes dredged as well as canals built in order to control the flow of water. Before the first foundation could be poured, the land had to be elevated. Millions of trees, shrubs, and plants were also installed.
Some might say what followed was pure magic, as the massive project resulted in Disney World. And ever since its opening in 1971, the visionary genius of Walter Elias Disney has dazzled the senses of visitors.
Someone else sees value in places where most of us don’t. The King of the universe recognizes worth in you and me, scrubby and nondescript as we might be. In fact, he smiles with satisfaction on his people of faith, because what he envisions is the beauty and grandeur of what we’re becoming.[1]
The Apostle Paul explained it this way:
And what does God’s good work include? Here’s a partial list:
- He guides us to know what’s right and then empowers us to do it
- He creates the desire within us to follow his way of wisdom
- He draws us toward a heavenly perspective that impacts our choices and motives
- He grows our love for one another
- He develops godly traits that minister to others and provide us satisfaction as well
- He transforms us, day by day, into the beauty and grandeur of Christ’s character[2]
“The life of a Christian is a series of miracles” wrote Charles Spurgeon—miracles that include wisdom, love, godliness, power, and more. Such transformation is much more spectacular than turning swampland into a stunning park. And God will never stop developing his miracles within us until we’re home with him.
Our challenge is to submit to his work.
God wants to dredge self-centeredness from our spirits so rivers of living water can flow freely. Then we’ll enjoy the continual, life-giving spring of contentment he provides.[3]
God wants to place us on the foundation-rock of his Word, providing peace and security—especially when the storms of life threaten to overtake us.[4]
God also wants to establish us like trees planted by water. Then we won’t fear the heat of difficulty or a drought of deprivation, because our roots grow deep into the river of God’s delights—delights like His love, his truth as found in the Bible, his strength and presence.[5]
Walt Disney and his team did accomplish incredible feats of innovation, design, and technology. But God shaping us into beautiful, joyful, purposeful people? That’s mind-boggling miraculous.
* * * * * * * * * *
Thank you, loving Father, for continuing to grow me in your grace until your task within me is finally finished. Thank you for never giving up, for completing what you start. May I be an enthusiastic participant in your good work!
Sources:
https://dozr.com/blog/building-disney-world
https://d23.com/we-say-its-disney/
Notes:
[1] Psalm 147:11
[2] Psalm 119:33-37; Philippians 2:13; Colossians 3:2; Philippians 1:9; Galatians 5:22-23; 2 Corinthians 3:18
[3] John 7:37-39 and footnote to v. 38, The Woman’s Study Bible
[4] Matthew 7:24-27; Psalm 119:24
[5] Jeremiah 17:7-8; Psalm 36:8; Ephesians 3:16-19
Photo credits: http://www.publicdomainpictures.net; http://www.wikimedia.org; http://www.pxhere.com; http://www.heartlight.org; http://www.rawpixel.com; http://www.flickr.com.
From the Inside Out 
Well done, Nancy. You had me wondering who W. E was! In a similar way, God looks down on the “unapproved land “of our lives and sees nothing but potential. What a great analogy! His best to you.
Thank you, David–you understood my point perfectly!
I’m so glad God doesn’t give up on us! Inspiring story! Thank you!
Amen, Bridget! So glad you found inspiration here–praise God!
This very day God lifted me out of my self centered mindset and used me to bring some comfort to two different people. One was a complete stranger at the dentist clinic, and the other was a neighbor.
Hallelujah, Robert, that IS good news!
I love that comparison. People sized projects of great magnitude are amazing yet Gods everyday activities consist of restoring the wasteland in our lives. That is way beyond our abilities..
Amen, Gary. Such a wonderful privilege is ours, to rely upon Him for the restoration we need!
Another inspiration! Thank you!
Thank you, Janet! As always, I have to praise God for his inspiration. It boggles my mind that for nearly ten years now he has brought one post after another into existence!
As always, I love your posts. I couldn’t imagine who W.E. was.
How perfect is that, since I love your posts, Pam! As for W.E., it’s always fun when I can surprise my readers!
This reminded me of Jeremiah 18. I need to be willing to let God (the potter) mold me (the clay) into something beautiful for His service. I get in His way sometimes and need to work on that. Your post also brought to mind how blessed we are to have such a firm foundation upon which to stand.
“How firm, our foundation
How sure, our salvation
And we will not be shaken
Jesus, firm foundation.”
The potter and the clay provide another worthy analogy of our relationship to God. Being submissive to his molding doesn’t come easy to most of us. We’re such willful creatures! Working on it with you, Cheri!
Wow! What a gracious, giving, loving God we have!! I love your prayer, “ May I be an enthusiastic participant in Your good work”! Thank you Nancy for all the hard work you put into these posts that encourage and inspire so many! Real treasure, indeed! ❤️
Thank you and you’re welcome, Lisa. Most of the time the process of composing these posts is actually fun! And it’s wonderfully gratifying when God uses them to touch the hearts of others. Thank you for being a faithful reader, dear friend!
Nancy, when I read your posts I always feel as if I’ve had a good filling from the Well that never runs dry!
So refreshing and satisfying!
Deb
Thank you for those kind words, Deb. I’m thrilled to know that God uses these posts to give you a good filling of refreshment and satisfaction!
Hi Nancy,
Well, thanks fixing my curiosity about W.E. later on. I kept wondering who is this W.E as I kept thinking it must be a misprint and you must have meant W.D. Thanks for giving me his Midlle Initial. W.E.D. 🙂 The verse you quoted in Philippians 1.6 really speaks to me now that I am a “tad” older. 🙂 Thank you Nancy for your hard work. I know it is enjoyable, especially when you put the final touches on the blog. Sam
The “W.E.” was to add a bit of mystery to the first part of the post! / Philippians 1:6 came to my attention in my mid-twenties–had in on the fridge for awhile. I knew God had a lot of work to do in me, and wanted to be pliable clay in his hands. Now, looking back all these decades later, I can see how he used people and circumstances to shape me into the person he’s ordained for me to be. One day his work will be complete! / As for the delight of putting the final touches on a post, I sometimes feel like Dorothy Parker who said, “I don’t like to write; I like to have written.” (The process can be a bit painful! : ) )
Hi Nancy, I really enjoyed this post. I love how you compared Disney’s dream with God’s work in us. So much more miraculous! We are constantly being changed and worked, like clay, to be what the Father created us to be. It is miraculous, overwhelming, humbling, and awesome. Great post, God bless
Tracy
Thank you for your kind comments, Tracy. I love your list of adjectives for God’s work within us–miraculous, overwhelming, humbling, and awesome. To be transformed by the Spirit, little by little each day, is indeed all of those things!
I love this powerful comparison, Nancy. I was just talking to my husband last night about how we view the world through a biblical lense. It’s so amazing to think of how God puts in us the desires to see every issue through His eyes and not our own. It’s truly a work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. And it’s easy to spot those that don’t have that biblical world view. God truly does a transforming work in our hearts and lives when we know and follow Him!
Amen, Patty! I’ve noticed the same phenomenon as I hear opinions expressed with no foundation in God’s Word. I’m so thankful for the strong biblical training I received during my childhood and teenage years, which developed into my own desire to study the Bible as I became a young adult. Now I’m an OLD adult (!) and often find certain scriptures coming to mind as I listen to people’s positions on various matters–sometimes in support of their views, sometimes in refute. With you I praise God for this work of the Holy Spirit to teach us truth! (Not that he’s done teaching me yet. I still have much to learn!)