Jim Stovall has been a national champion Olympic weightlifter, a successful investment broker and entrepreneur. He is Co-Founder and President of the Narrative Television Network, which makes movies and television accessible for our nation's 13 million blind and visually impaired people and their families. Although originally designed for the blind and visually impaired, over 60% of NTN's nationwide audience is made up of fully-sighted people who simply enjoy the programming. Jim Stovall hosts the Network's talk show, "NTN Showcase." His guests have included Katharine Hepburn, Jack Lemmon, Carol Channing, Steve Allen, and Eddie Albert, as well as many others. The Narrative Television Network has received an Emmy Award and an International Film and Video Award among its many industry honors.NTN has grown to include over 1,200 cable systems and broadcast stations, reaching over 35 million homes in the United States, and NTN is shown in 11 foreign countries.
Jim Stovall joined the ranks of Walt Disney, Orson Welles, and four United States presidents when he was selected as one of the "Ten Outstanding Young Americans" by the U.S. Junior Chamber of Commerce. He has appeared on "Good Morning America" and CNN, and has been featured in Reader's Digest, TV Guide and Time magazine. He is the author of a previous book entitled You Don't Have To Be Blind To See, as well as his new book Success Secrets of Super Achievers. The President's Committee on Equal Opportunity selected Jim Stovall as the 1997 Entrepreneur of the Year.
The Tribute
"Material possessions will all pass away, but the Wisdom of the Ages will last forever."
Once upon a time, in a land far, far away, there was an enchanted kingdom ruled by a benevolent and much-beloved king who led his people through many difficult times to a period of peace, prosperity, and happiness such as the kingdom had never known.
As he grew older, the king pondered how future generations would remember his reign. He summoned his wise men to the Throne Room so that they could bring their learned expertise to bear on this question. Slowly they filed through the door, each wearing the meticulously crafted blue and gold robe that signified his position as a royal advisor, and stood before the throne as their king began to speak.
“Now that our beloved land is enjoying a season of prosperity and peace, I wish to leave a permanent legacy of my reign. I look to you, my trusted advisors, to bring to me your best thoughts and ideas as to how I may make a fitting tribute to all of my subjects in honor of my time as their leader.”
The king dismissed the wise men, and they departed, each determined to come up with the best idea to present to the king since they all knew that this would be the most important action taken by him for many years to come.
On the appointed day and hour, the wise men reconvened in the Throne Room.
The king said, “I want to hear your suggestions one at a time, so that I might better determine what would be a fitting legacy for me to leave in honor of my reign.”
The first wise man approached the steps leading to the throne, bowed with dignity, and began. “Your Highness, since the beginning of recorded history, great rulers have left magnificent feats of architecture as tributes to their greatness. One need only look to the east and think of the great pyramids that have stood for generations and will remain throughout time paying homage to the pharaohs.”
The wise man bowed and backed away from the throne.
The king fell silent, lost in deep thought for a moment, then said, “I am pleased with your suggestion as it has much merit. Indeed, a great edifice could stand for thousands of years to proclaim the greatness of our people and of my reign as their king.”
The second wise man approached the throne and bowed reverently. He said, “O Great King, if I may humbly suggest that a gold coin bearing your image be minted in your honor. This coin would be distributed throughout the kingdom and, via the trade routes, would literally be distributed around the world signifying your power and majesty.”
The king seemed pleased with the suggestion and beckoned the next wise man, who dutifully bowed and said, “Your Highness, may I suggest that a monument of heretofore unseen proportions be erected in your image. The statue would be surrounded by great reflecting pools and immense gardens. People would travel from the four corners of the earth to pay respect and tribute to your greatness.”
The king smiled and stated, “Each of your suggestions was well thought-out and presented. Before I go to deliberate on my final decision, are there any other suggestions?”
After a long pause, the eldest wise man, his robes considerably more elaborate than those of his peers, stepped forward. The king smiled warmly, and said, “My great and most trusted advisor, you have been with me from the beginning of my reign to this day, and have always served me well. What say you in this matter?”
The elderly man replied quietly, “Your Highness, may I suggest that each of my colleagues has proposed a fitting tribute to your greatness in the traditional sense; however, great buildings, gold coins and monuments serve as tributes to other rulers from other days. The one thing that could pay tribute to your greatness for thousands of years would be the proclamation of the Wisdom of the Ages. This would be an opportunity for you, O Great One, to communicate the greatest secret of the known world to benefit all mankind.
“Buildings and coins and statues will all pass away, but the Wisdom of the Ages would last forever. This would, indeed, be a fitting tribute to the king I humbly serve.”
The king fell into deep thought. Finally, he told all of his servants and wise men to leave him so that he might choose the tribute most fitting to his reign.
