wfn.org | [UMNS-ALL-NEWS] UMNS# 412-Purpose, significance are keys to life

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Purpose, significance are keys to life

Jul. 21, 2005

NOTE: Photographs are available at http://umns.umc.org.

By Linda Green*

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (UMNS) - The man who inspired the acclaimed film
"Rudy" told 2,000 United Methodist men not to give up on life - or their
dreams.

"The key to life is to not give up," said Rudy Ruettiger, a motivational
speaker from Henderson, Nev. Speaking July 16, he instilled a "you can"
attitude into the men attending the 9th National Gathering of United
Methodist Men at Purdue University. "No matter how bad it is, you don't
give up."

The Notre Dame graduate is the third of 14 children and perseverance and
dreams have been a part of his life.  He saw his accomplishments unfold
on the big screen in the 1993 critically acclaimed movie "Rudy," the
story of his dream to attend the renowned university and play football
for the Fighting Irish.

Born in 1948 in Joliet, Ill., Ruettiger told the participants at the
July 15-17 national United Methodist Men's gathering that before
attending Notre Dame, he was a student at Holy Cross Junior College in
South Bend, Ind.

It was here that he discovered he suffered from a mild case of dyslexia,
and he learned how to compensate during his two years there and earn
good grades. For three semesters, he sought admission to Notre Dame as a
transfer student but was rejected each time. He was finally accepted and
gained a spot on the football team despite his small size. His dream was
to play in a game. His dream came true during the last two minutes of a
home game with Georgia Tech.

Ruettiger told the United Methodist Men that he has not quit dreaming,
and he warned them not to quit on their dreams no matter how much people
may discourage them.

"Don't yield to people who say you can't do that," he said. "My father
said you can't go to Notre Dame; you were third in your class (from the
bottom) and you're dumb."  A teacher told him that he could not realize
his dream because he did not know the identity of the fifth U.S.
president.  "You don't need to know who the fifth U.S president was to
be someone," he said. "Get rid of those goofy thoughts."

He told the men that possessing character and spirit would not allow
failure.  The purpose of each thing we do is about having significance
and leaving a legacy, he said.	"That is more important than becoming
the richest guy in the world or the best-looking guy in the world."

A legacy comes from finding your purpose in life, Ruettiger said. Once
your purpose is found, it becomes passion, which manifests into goals,
he said.

He encouraged the men individually and collectively to have a dream.
"It is simple and clear," he said. "Have a dream, have the purpose, have
significance to that purpose and you will find out that no matter how
old you really are, you will do things you never thought you would do."

Ruettiger received the John Wesley Fellow Award, recognition given by
the United Methodist Men's Foundation, for his contributions to youth
and community service work.

*Green is a United Methodist News Service news writer based in
Nashville, Tenn.

News media contact: Linda Green, (615) 742-5470 or newsdesk@umcom.org.

********************

United Methodist News Service
Photos and stories also available at:
http://umns.umc.org

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