A controversial figure changed our thinking

Charles Darwin did not come by his discoveries easily.
Son and grandson of physicians, he studied medicine and hated it.
He studied for the ministry at Cambridge but lost interest in it.
His family must have wondered what was to become of him.
Have you had your own doubts about your direction in life?
Darwin fell under the influence of a man who changed his direction.
Botany professor John Henslow encouraged him to go to sea.
Darwin’s five-year voyage on the HMS Beagle opened his eyes.
He developed his theories of evolution and the origin of species.
Darwin was a mild-mannered man. He sought no controversy.
But his published theories created a storm in Victorian England.
He was denounced by the clergy as disputing the story of Genesis.
His detractors accused him of atheism and much worse.
Yet Darwin held to his own personal faith in his God.
At age 73, on he lay dying, he told his wife he did not fear death.
Darwin has been the subject of controversy for almost 150 years.
Have you held unpopular views? Have others argued with you?
Have some of them laughed at you or ridiculed you?
Hold to your beliefs if you are convinced you are right.
Pursue your own ideas no matter what others may say.
Tomorrow we’ll talk about the fate of a great writer.
For more on your life’s direction, click here.