Our worldly successes cannot be guaranteed, but our ability to

"Our worldly successes cannot be guaranteed, but our ability to achieve spiritual success is entirely up to us, thanks to the grace of God. The best advice I know is to give is to give those worldly things your best but never your all - reserve the ultimate hope for the only one who can grant it." These words, spoken by Mitt Romney, echo a wisdom that spans across the ages—a reminder that the pursuit of worldly glory, while important, is fleeting and uncertain. But the spiritual success we seek, the ultimate hope we yearn for, rests not in the hands of fortune or the whims of men, but in the grace of God.

O Seekers of Truth, listen closely to this lesson: the world offers many paths, many promises of success. It beckons with riches, fame, and power, whispering that these are the prizes for which we must strive. Yet, as the wise know, the treasures of the world are impermanent, fragile as the sands that slip through our fingers. Though we give our best to these pursuits, we must never surrender our hearts fully to them. For worldly success is uncertain, it is a prize that may slip away at any moment, and those who place their hope in it alone find themselves empty when the tide of fortune turns.

Consider the life of Alexander the Great, whose ambition led him to conquer vast lands, from Greece to India. His worldly success seemed limitless, his power unmatched, and yet, in the final moments of his life, he wept not for the lands he had conquered, but for the lands he had not yet seen. His worldly success was complete, but his spiritual peace—his lasting contentment—remained elusive. Alexander's story is a reminder that even the greatest of worldly triumphs cannot grant the ultimate hope. Only that which transcends this world can bring true fulfillment.

Let us also think of King Solomon, the wise ruler of Israel, who sought wisdom, wealth, and greatness above all else. He achieved what few could, but even he found that these pursuits could not satisfy the deepest yearnings of the soul. In his later years, Solomon spoke of the emptiness of worldly success, declaring that all was "vanity and striving after wind." His reflection is a testament to the wisdom of Romney's words: worldly things deserve our best efforts, but they are not the foundation of our hope or our peace. True fulfillment lies not in our own achievements, but in the grace that flows from God.

Spiritual success, on the other hand, is not a matter of external achievement, but of the internal state of our souls. It is about living with purpose, humility, and faith, recognizing that the ultimate meaning of life is not in what we gain, but in what we give and how we love. It is in this realm that we hold the power, with the grace of God, to find peace, contentment, and ultimate hope. The grace of God offers us a wellspring that never runs dry, a peace that surpasses understanding, and a success that cannot be measured by the world’s standards.

O Children of the Future, heed this counsel: give your best to the worldly things—to your work, to your relationships, to your ambitions—but do not surrender your all to them. For the true worth of life is not found in what you accumulate or achieve, but in the peace that comes from knowing you are in the hands of something greater than yourself. Reserve your ultimate hope for the one who grants it—God alone, who is the source of all lasting fulfillment. Let this be the bedrock of your existence.

Lesson: The teaching is clear: worldly success may come and go, and we are wise to give our best to it, but we must never give it our all. The ultimate hope rests not in what we can build or gain in this life, but in the grace of God, who provides what is eternal and unshakable. Practical action: Seek balance in your life. Strive for excellence in the worldly things, but remember that true peace and success come from a deeper place—spiritual success. Let your hope be grounded not in the things of this world, but in the grace that sustains you through all trials.