| The story has been told and retold countless times | | | | Times have changed from the days of the Emperor |
| about the battle of Waterloo. Poems have been | | | | Napoleon. But many things still remain the same. |
| written and songs have been composed detailing | | | | Sometimes victory is just a few minutes away. Yes, |
| every conceivable aspect about it. The English tell it | | | | I know, we all go through terrible times. In today's |
| one way and the French share it from a slightly | | | | world many of us are faced with crisis after crisis. |
| different point of view. | | | | For most, there is never enough money, no jobs, |
| History and legend has it that after Napoleon | | | | poor relationships, ill health and the list could go on |
| Bonaparte's army was defeated and the Duke of | | | | and on. Of course, there are good times, too, but |
| Wellington prevailed over the French, Napoleon was | | | | the hard times usually block our vision of the good |
| taken away and imprisoned. One day a group of | | | | times. |
| newspaper reporters came to visit. They had | | | | When things get really bad, we turn this way and |
| obtained permission to hold an interview with the | | | | that looking for some help or at least some hope to |
| famous French general, Napoleon Bonaparte. | | | | keep on keeping on. Anything will do--a kind word |
| Even though Napoleon was in prison, he carried | | | | from a friend, a paragraph from a good book, a |
| himself with dignity and looked with piercing eyes at | | | | stray piece of music from the radio, even a |
| the group of reporters gathered there before him. | | | | Hollywood movie. |
| Questions were asked and answers given. The | | | | Some people will be there for you, others will turn |
| reporters wrote every word down. This would, | | | | and run from you, fearing for their own well-being. |
| indeed, be good reading. They would boast to their | | | | Still others may throw you a crumb of money, or |
| children and grandchildren how they stood before the | | | | food and hope you won't ask for more. Be grateful. |
| great general on that long ago day. | | | | They do as they see fit to do at the moment. Your |
| Suddenly, from the back of the room, a voice, | | | | job is to just keep on keeping on. |
| somewhat more gentle than the others was heard | | | | When you are down in the arena and the dust is in |
| above the din. "Mon general," the reporter said, "Tell | | | | your mouth and you can hear the screaming of the |
| me why the English won at Waterloo. Did they have | | | | crowd, remember, "The English fought five minutes |
| a superior army?" | | | | longer." Sometimes it's so bad that one day at a time |
| "No!" replied Napoleon. | | | | is too long. So go one hour at a time. And if that's |
| "Well, did they have better weapons?" asked another | | | | too long, then how about five minutes at a time? |
| reporter. | | | | Success is sometimes just yards or minutes away. |
| "No!" was the answer again. | | | | There are times when the last few yards may seem |
| Then the first reporter asked again, "Why then, Mr. | | | | like miles and the last few minutes may appear to be |
| General, did the English win?" | | | | hours. But if you keep on keeping on, if you do not |
| Napoleon's eyes slowly swept across the room. The | | | | let hope die, if you have faith in the goodness of the |
| silence was so deep that it was almost deafening. | | | | universe and the Force that created us, you will win |
| You could have heard the proverbial pin drop. Then | | | | in the end. |
| he replied, "The English fought five minutes longer." | | | | Why did Napoleon lose to the English at the battle of |
| From the mouth of the great general himself came | | | | Waterloo? The English simply fought five minutes |
| the answer, "The English fought five minutes longer". | | | | longer. |
| Many times, five minutes longer is all that it takes. | | | | |