Relationships Affect Talents

Winston Churchill instantly comes to mind when I think of persons whose fortitude has elevated and tested their talents. Young Churchill had high expectations for himself. When a friend asked Churchill about his future at the age of 16, while he was a student at Harrow School, he firmly said, 'I can see enormous changes coming to the calm world today. I tell you that London will be in peril, London will be attacked, and I shall defend London splendidly... My responsibility in my lofty position will be to protect the Capital and the entire Kingdom. Churchill's vision made the goal very obvious. Churchill led Britain alone against the Nazis for two years after Europe had fallen. He stood up to Hitler and worked tirelessly to bring his people together while they were subjected to repeated Nazi air assaults and the danger of invasion. Prior to the war, in the 1930s, Britain's policy was to unconditionally compromise with Hitler. Following that time, Churchill consistently rejected compromises. Britain searched for a brilliant leader to succeed Neville Chamberlain when he was forced to quit as prime minister in 1940. Of course, the Earl of Halifax, who served as Chamberlain's foreign minister, could succeed him. Halifax, however, rejected the idea of that assignment because he was conscious that he did not, personally, have the attributes required to lead Britain through the war. Churchill, who was 66 at the time, was asked to take over the role. Churchill's selection as prime minister: Why? He did not have unanimous backing. Why would anyone think Churchill was courageous enough to steer the nation through a trying time? Churchill's courage is the answer; it has withstood the test of time and demonstrated his skill.