Friday, August 9, 2013

The Detroit Bus Company - "Frustration can power so much!"

When life gives you lemons... buy a bus.

What do you think of when you hear, "Detroit"?  These day, unless you're a native Detroiter with a nostalgic heart, I'd imagine that the Motor City doesn't conjure up many desirable ideas. Below is an incredible story of how one twenty-something has taken the "glass half full" approach to his hometown's demise, and surprisingly he's making a significant impact.
Young entrepreneur Andy Didorosi believes that the way to Detroit’s new era depends on better leadership and a solid connection between the city and the suburbs. So when the city in 2012 axed its plans to build the M-1 light rail, the transit solution that would’ve bridged that vital connection, Didorosi was mad as hell. So what’s an angry young man in this situation supposed to do? Well, Didorosi bought a bus, had a local artist trick it out with a wicked mural, and he started the Detroit Bus Company. Dedicated to a more connected city, Andy Didorosi is bringing Detroit home one ride at a time.
Click below to watch the 5 minute video. 

Don't you just love how this kid sees amazing potential in a place that others just see failure?
"Here in Detroit you have a chance to make a REAL difference!"
"It's unlike anywhere else in the world. Nowhere else do we have buildings and resources and people this smart and stuff this big, that's just waiting to be activated."
"Frustration can power so much."
Talk about a serious lemonade maker!

I know you've probably heard this passage many times, but I encourage you to take a moment and meditate on it once again.
"Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you." James 1:2-5
What are the lemons in my your life right now? Ask yourself, "What does my attitude say about my faith? How could I better apply this truth in those areas? How might my life look different if I took an attitude of potential rather than defeat?"

It kind of sounds like this is what Andy Didorosi did, for the sake of a city. What would the world look like if every believer approached their trials in such a way, for the sake of the Kingdom? What about your world?


2 comments:

  1. You're completely right that your attitude is so important. This is a really challenging verse for me and many other people. Most people cannot even being a lemonade-maker in their own situations. What is better, and perhaps more difficult, is seeing potential in other people when others see failure. That is true leadership. John, thank YOU for being a lemonade-maker and seeing potential in me and so many others when other people didn't.

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  2. Love this. Makes me want to do a start-up one day. SOON.

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