One Man's Way (1964) - full transcript

[growl]

[SINGING] And
never more shall be.

Holy, holy, holy, Lord
God almighty,[inaudible]

sinful man Thy
glory may not see.

I'm not going to smoke.

I'm never going to drink.

My old man's the preacher,
and my pants are pink.

Shut up.

[singing]

[banging]

Boys.



What is the meaning of this?

He started it.

He hit me first.

And I'll hit you again.

I'll knock your block off.

Well, that's nice talk
from a minister's son.

Don't you call me that
or I'll hit you too.

Norman, that is enough.

He said I was sissy.

He said all preacher's
kids were sissies.

Did you have to prove
him wrong in God's house?

Anyone calls me a
sissy, I'll fight him.

I'll fight him anywhere
And I don't like God.

I don't even believe in him.



Then leave his house.

I'd talk to that young
man in the woodshed.

And I'd use a razor strop.

Mr. Melton, ladies
and gentlemen,

please resume your seats.

We will continue
with the service.

Robert, leave your sweater on.

Now there has to be some
other place to look.

Anna, I am hungry.

That isn't my fault. And I
won't go near that kitchen

until Norman is
back in this house.

He's out there all alone
someplace, too frightened

to come home.

We looked all over,
even in the mill pond.

Clifford!

All right Anna, all right.

I will go and look
for him myself.

Leonard, come here.

Give me that.

I said no one eats in this
house until Norman is back,

and I mean it.

But he's back.

What?

At least he's almost back.

Saw him sneak in the church
a couple of minutes ago.

Now you wait here.

I will take care of this.

What are you
going to do to him?

That young man has spent
all day with his conscience.

And you know what a
conscience he had.

I don't think I'll
have to do anything.

It wasn't true God.

I do love you.

I did turn the other cheek once.

Then he hit that one too.

I don't want to criticize
you or anything,

but I don't think you
should have picked

me to be a minister's son.

I mean, I'm liable to give
your church a bad name.

You know what you
should have made me?

A doctor's son.

Then when I was bad, what
could they do to my father?

I mean, well, they
couldn't fire him.

Does it seem that
bad to you Norman?

Being a minister is
one of the richest,

freest callings in the world.

Why?

Well I'm not sure I
can explain it to you.

If the Lord ever calls
you, you'll know.

If the Lord ever calls
me, I'm not going.

I mean, God's not going to
call on me to be a minister.

He's going to make
me a ball player,

or a judge or something.

But there's one thing I'm
never going to be-- a minister.

Norman, come here.

[music playing]

Norman hurry it up will you.

We've got a real
bead on this one.

Blood and gore all over the
floor and you without a spoon.

Wait, wait, wait.

Hey, are you a brother?

Norman Peale, the general?

Hey, he's a reporter.

Take our picture.

All right, watch
the front of you.

-Smile.
-That was good.

That's a good shot.

Is the murderer still up there?

Unless she killed a
roomful of cops she is.

[MOCKING] Unless she killed
a roomful of cops she is.

Do you want me to put her down.

All right, now where were you
standing when you're shot him?

Over there where the marks are?

Norman, when I take this
shot, grab that picture.

What?

The picture, murderer and
victim in happier times.

I'm not going to take that.

Oh no, not again.

OK, boyscout, mommy will do it.

Get a good story then.

Good night all.

See you later Ev.

Can I get you something?

A glass of water,
a cigarette maybe?

Why do you keep staring at me?

This ain't no zoo.

This ain't no zoo.

[SHOUTING] I ain't
an animal in the zoo.

[music playing]

Hey.

Look, page one.

Don't pay any
attention to him Harry,

he's suffering from remorse.

Hey Charlie, how about
a couple of drinks.

-I'll get 'em Evelyn.
-No you don't.

It's my scoop.

I'm buying.

Hey Charlie.

Improve your mind.

It's a really nice
piece you wrote for us.

Thanks.

Well all the papers had
about the same facts-- names,

ages, what happened, where.

But ours was the only
one where the whole scene

came alive really.

The crowd outside the house,
the policeman, the reporters

inside, the body on the
floor, and the poor forlorn

figure of the woman scorned.

Nice reporting.

I'd say that was
as much of a scoop

as Evelyn's honeymoon picture.

Yeah.

Oh yeah.

Norman, what are you thinking?

I'm thinking that I'm watching
children playing in tall grass

and a snake comes
slithering through the grass

and poises to strike
at the children.

And what do I do?

Do I cry out a warning?

Do I stamp the snake
to death with my heel?

No, I take out my notebook.

And I describe how employees it
poises there, how it strikes.

You're a reporter,
not a doctor.

Your job is not to cure Norman.

It's to find out and present.

And you've got to remember that.

But am I going to spend my
life writing these miserable

stories for people to lap
up with their morning orange

juice?

What good does that do?

I keep asking myself, what
makes people so afraid?

What makes them so
cruel, so violent?

Because they're bad.

Thanks, honey.

Look lover, you've got
to learn that the world's

aren't all full of boy scouts.

There's lions, and tigers,
and bears out there.

But who's really good,
and who is totally bad?

There's a dividing line.

It's called the law.

[explosion]

Norman, what was that?

I don't know.

It shook up the whole place.

Well come on, you're
a reporter aren't you?

[loud banging]

Let me in.

I've got to get a telephone.
Let me in.

Hey mister, what is
it, what happened?

A building down the
street, it blew up.

[music playing]

POLICE: Now stay
back here people.

Oh, it's coming down.

Now stay back.

WOMAN IN CROWD: My sister,
she was in that building.

Lady, you go to go.

POLICE: Move those people
back, get them out of here.

-You too ma'am, stay back.
-Where's and the Herald?

[SHOUTING] Oh, come
and get me, please!

Somebody come and get me!

Listen to me Mary.

I can't get to you.

This board won't
support both of us.

But you can get to me.

Please, all you have to
do is crawl on the board.

Come on.

[SHOUTING] I can't, I'd fall.

Oh come and get me please.

Oh please somebody
come and get me.

[shrieks]

Oh come and get me.

[sobbing]

Mary, don't look down.

Listen.

Can you hear me?

Help me, somebody help me.

There's nobody over there
that can help you Mary,

but there's someone
with you who can.

[CRYING] There's
nobody up here.

Yes there is Mary.

God's up there with you.

He's holding out his hand.

He wouldn't let you fall.

I can't.

I can't.

I can't.

Yes you can Mary.

Now listen, to me, but to God.

In quietness and confidence
shall be your strength.

God's waiting to help
you Mary, but you've

got to work with him.

He put that board there for you.

He meant for you to use it.

[sobbing]

Mary, believe me, God
is there with you.

He told you so himself.

I am with you always.

That means now Mary.

OK Mary, that's it.

Now crawl out on the board,
the bridge God provided.

It's good, and strong,
and plenty wide.

I can't.

I can't.

Think Mary, think.

If that were on the
ground, you could

cross it with your eyes shut.

Well close them now,
you don't need them.

Go Mary.

[sobbing]

[board creaking]

[crash]

Just say to yourself, with
God's help, I can do it.

With God's help, I am doing it.

God and I are doing it.

With God's help, I can do it.

With God's help, I am doing it.

God and I are doing it.

It's inches now Mary.

With God's help you're doing it.

Mary, it's done.

You and God have done it.

[music playing]

That was some truth.

I'm not a preacher.

Well you should be mister.

You sure should be.

[telephone ringing]

Hello.

Hello.

Yes.

Detroit?

Oh yes, I'll accept the charges.

Hello, is that you Norman.

Dad, listen.

What would you say if I
told you that I was going--

[italian shouting]

What would you
say if I told you

I was going to be a minster?

Hold on a minute.

No, no, never mind.

You don't have to
call me tomorrow.

You can tell me in person.

I'm going to come home.

Right.

Bye bye dad.

What are you doing?

Evelyn, in recognition of our
short but sordid association,

I will to you my
shield and my sword.

I had such high
hopes for you and me.

What?

I thought of us as a team,
not just on the paper here,

but magazines,
maybe even a book.

Evelyn.

Your soft heat is perfect
for the sob sister stories.

And with me to push you, we
could go right to the top.

But now you think you're John
the Baptist or something just

because a child finally
does what anyone

with any guts or
common sense would

have done in the first place.

Maybe that's why I'm chosen,
to remind people that they've

got guts and common sense.

Don't you give me
that chosen stuff.

If anyone's chosen,
they choose themselves.

Evelyn, I may be a nut, or a
religious fanatic, or whatever

you want to call me.

But there's a little
girl not far from here

who's alive now instead of dead.

There was a power that
used me for that job.

Now I don't care if you
call that power luck, or

soft heartedness, or pea soup.

I call it God.

Pea soup.

Anna, Norman's
coming home, but he

won't get here any sooner if you
stand there watching for him.

A minister.

Norman is going
to be a minister.

We'll see.

We'll see.

Now, let's get some sleep.

Reverend Norman Vincent Peale.

Dr. Norman Vincent Peale.

Oh.

Bishop Norman Vincent Peale.

Ha.

It's a pity he
can never be pope.

[music playing]

Excuse me.

Can you tell me where
the seminary is?

Right in here.

They don't take you
if you can't read.

What?

[laughter]

Good luck Reverend.

Not for three years yet.

But thanks anyway.

So it seems obvious
that-- or logical

that when Paul said to the
Corinthians that-- the Romans.

When Paul said to the
Romans the wages of sin

is death, that he
must have been talking

about a spiritual death.

When a man lives
against the will of God,

he dies spiritually.

At least that's
the way I see it.

Let us pray.

Yes indeed, let us pray.

Mr. Peale, If I want to watch
a dance, I go to the theater.

You have two feet.

Stand on them.

And for the level of heaven,
in the most literal sense,

look at me just once as if you
believe what you're saying.

It is obvious Mr, Peale
that the elements of Greek

are beyond your comprehension.

Beyond my interest.

It's the Bible
that interests me.

And believe me, that's
Greek to a lot of people.

And let thy grace, thy
peace, thy love find

within our hearts, not
merely a resting place,

but a springboard to the
hearts of all mankind.

Amen.

I made it.

Two years and I finally gave
a sermon without falling flat

on my face.

We shall postpone the
awarding of medals Mr. Peale.

We still have one
more year to go.

No, I can't accept that
image of an angry god

up there throwing
down thunderbolts.

The God of Jesus
is a god of love.

He--

Mr. Peale, this is my class.

You are here not to question.

You are here to listen,
to accept, and to answer.

Is that clear?

I didn't come here
to be a scholar.

I came here because, because--

Go on.

I'm fascinated to hear
just why you came.

Because I heard a
call to serve God.

But I've got to find my
own way to serve him.

Norman, what can I say to you?

I admire your boundless
youthful vitality,

and I put up with your
doubts, your questions, and

your groping for three years.

I've put up with them because
I believed you were sincerely

reaching for something.

But in these three years,
I failed to discover

what that elusive something is.

I appreciate that sir.

But if I'm going
to be a minister,

I've got to follow
my own beliefs,

not what somebody else
says I should believe.

Norman, our objective here at
the seminary is very simple.

We have to, if you'll excuse
the expression of the layman,

turn our a product-- in
this case, a minister.

Now just where am I
going to send you?

What kind of a church
can I find for you?

If you're ever in Berkeley,
come here me preach.

Well, now it don't
seem likely that I'll

ever get to California.

Well not Berkeley, California,
Berkeley, Rhode Island.

But believe me, it's
going to be just

as sunny, just as warm, and
just as beautiful as California.

Good bye Lafe.

Good bye, Reverend.

[music playing]

Hello.

Do you ladies happen to
be members of this church?

We are.

I'm your new minister.

I'm Norman Peale.

You're the first
of my congregation

I've had the
pleasure of meeting.

You weren't due 'til Saturday/

Well this is my first church.

I couldn't wait.

Now I'd like to get in.

Is there a key someplace?

Why don't you just
try the handle?

You see how excited I am?

Oh excuse me, I forgot to
ask you ladies your names.

Mrs. Thompson.

Mrs. Elwood Thompson.

S.E Collingswood.

Miss S.E. Collingswood.

Mrs. Thompson, Miss
Collingswood, thank you.

Thank you very much.

Well S.E., what do you think?

Don't look smart enough
to come in out of the rain.

And pushy.

I love these people.

I love Miss Collingswood.

I love Mrs. Thompson.

I love this town.

And I'm going to
give them a sermon

Sunday they'll never forget.

Why am I so empty?

Why can't I think of anything?

Psst.

Dad.

Dad, boy am I glad to see you.

What makes you think I'd
miss your first sermon?

Aw, that's just it.

The Lord sent you
as a rescuing angel.

I have no sermon.

What?

Dad, give me some
ideas will you?

Just give me a few high points
from one of your sermons?

I will not.

What I should give you
is a good swift-- well

what were you doing for
three years at the seminary?

The seminary doesn't prepare
you for anything like this.

What can I say to these people?

I haven't lives long enough
to tell them anything.

God loves them, doesn't he?

God looks out for
them, doesn't he?

Remind them of that.

Yes.

Tell them that.

What else is there, hmm?

First, let me
tell you how happy

I am to be here in my first
pulpit and of how grateful

I am.

My text this morning
is from Psalms 118:24.

This is the day
the Lord hath made.

Think of that.

This is the day
the Lord hath made.

And he made it for
you, and for me.

So let's rejoice
and be glad in it.

But every day is a good day,
a day the Lord hath made.

It just isn't in his nature
to make anything that's bad.

When the Lord created the
world, he created the firmament,

and he created the waters,
and he created night and day.

And when he was through his
creation, he stepped back.

And he looked at it and
he said, this is good.

We have to start every
morning of our lives

with a belief in the goodness
of God, loving human beings,

being glad we're alive,
being thankful for the work

we have to do.

But how many of us
really leave this way?

I know I don't, not always.

We say aw, I just
don't have the ability.

I just don't have
the intelligence.

You know, when you hear yourself
saying something like that,

you should stop yourself
and you should say,

this is an affront
to the Almighty God.

This is an insult
to our creator,

saying he made us badly.

God doesn't make us wrong.

We make ourselves wrong.

When God made you,
he made you right.

And he didn't make
you weak either.

But if you hamper yourself,
and you pamper yourself

with all kinds of
fears and timidities,

ah, you're going to
make yourself weak.

I wonder, how many
of you here know

that old story of the two frogs
that fell in the can of cream?

Now they thrashed
about in there.

And they tried to leap out,
afraid that they're drowned.

But after a while they
were pretty exhausted,

and they had gotten nowhere.

So one of the frogs, well
he just sort of gave up.

And he said, well what's
the use of struggling.

I'm never going to get
out of this can of cream.

If I'm going to die, I might
as well die peacefully.

So he folded his, whatever
it is that frogs have,

he folded these, and he
slid down into the cream

and he drowned.

But, that other frog, he
had a different training

and a different background.

He said I may not win this
fight, I may even die.

But if I do, I'm going to go
down with all flags flying.

I am going to die in the
ancient and honorable tradition

of frogs.

Well he got his
little legs going,

and he got these
things going, and he

started pumping like pistons.

And he pushed
against that cream,

and pushed, and pushed, and
kicked and thrashed around,

and never gave up.

And pretty soon,
tired as he was,

he began to feel something
firm beneath his little legs.

And he gave ever
much more effort.

And he pushed and he
pumped those little legs.

And pretty soon he had solid
ground beneath himself.

And he gave a mighty
spring, and he leaped out

of that can, which
had become by now

not cream, but solid butter.

Well that's just a fable I
know, but it might be true.

God gives even to the very
least of his little creatures

such an amazing
resources of strength,

of energy, of capability.

This is my first day
in my first church.

This is indeed for me the
day the Lord hath made.

But there have been
some days in my life

that I'm not so
jubilant in recalling,

days that didn't
begin with a feeling

of gladness, a feeling of joy.

As a matter of fact,
on some of these days,

I wondered why I bothered
to get out of bed at all.

But you know, unimpressive a
candidate as I might have been,

the Lord had his eye on me.

And he called me
to be a minister.

And I could remember that
day when God spoke to me.

It's as clear as a bell,
his voice ringing my years,

when he said to
me, Norman I have

come so that you may have life
and have it more abundantly.

And I give it to you right now.

So I stand here before you.

I am new.

I am both shy and I am brash.

I am full of confidence,
and I'm scared to death.

Be patient.

Pray for me.

Oh Mr. Snyder, that's
what I call preaching.

Anybody asks me what
I heard this morning,

I could tell them.

You did all right my
us this time Mr. Snyder.

He's able.

Yes.

Well, how do you feel now?

Like it's going
to be all right.

And I love every
one of these people.

Not bad.

Say, that was pretty spiffy.

All right Anna.

Now it's your turn.

Go ahead, open it up.

Look at the size of it.

It must be terribly expensive.

Norman never did know
how to save his money.

Come on mom, let's see.

You've been holding
that five minutes.

Well it's my present,
and then I can

hold it as long as I want to.

No.

No sir, I'm going
to send it back.

That's what I'm going to do.

What?

I'm going to send it
back and ask Norman

to use it for train fare.

Oh mother.

Well you don't know
how lonely it gets here

with you boys at the
university and Norman

way off up there in Syracuse.

All right Anna, I'll
send him the train fare.

All right.

But you made me a promise, and
I'm going to keep you to it.

You understand?

All right.

Come on, open it up.

I want to see what it is.

It's a picture.

That's Norman's new church.

Brother, look at
the size of it.

I always knew he'd
have a big church,

but I never knew it
would be so grand.

Well it's-- that's a cathedral.

Can't you just see him
standing there and the pulpit

in his long black robe.

He doesn't wear robes Anna.

Well if he doesn't, he should.

I'll make him one,
that's what I'll do.

Silk-- silk.

And black velvet
down the middle,

and big sleeves
so when he throws

out his arms-- well why not.

Do you expect a main
with a church like that

to preach in his shirt sleeves?

No sir.

Norman's a man of position,
and stature, and dignity.

[buzzing]

You come about the stove.

No Mr. Duncan--

Duncan moved.

I live here now.

Now look buster, take it
easy on that furniture of you

don't get paid.

I don't want to take
up any of your time.

But let me introduce myself.

I'm Norman Peale.

Whatever you're
selling, I don't want.

Seeing that you're new
in this neighborhood,

I thought maybe you'd
like an invitation

to come to church next Sunday.

University Methodist?

Unless of course you have
a church of your own.

Mister have you
got the wrong man.

My name's Feldman, Sam Feldman.

Well then you're in luck.

There's a beautiful synagogue
not six blocks from here.

I met the rabbi,
he's a great guy.

Go see him.

We both work for the
same boss you know.

And my invitation still stands.

You come and visit us anytime.

Sure, why not.

Shalom.

Shalom.

You sure do a job.

Well thank you.

But I got to, otherwise
Floyd across the street

gets all my business.

You know, every time I see
a man going about his work

with a big smile on his
face, I say to myself,

now there's a man that believes.

Don't you?

Why not?

I got good products.

No, I don't mean that.

I mean has faith in himself,
the kind of faith that

comes from going to church.

You're kidding me?

No.

What, do you think I
have time to go to church?

You owe me $2.85.

Supposing I talk
Floyd into down closing

down on Sunday mornings too.

Then you both
could go to church.

I don't get it?

You're what?

Well who are you?

Are you a preacher?

Yep, University Methodist.

Oh.

This is the first time I've
ever heard of a preacher trying

to drum up his own business.

Well he's just the
man that should.

He's the one with
something to sell.

Yeah.

I'll be in again,
make a fresh pitch.

Good.

Oh, your change.

[horn]

[bang]

If your hurt, sue him.

I'll be your witness.

I'm suing him too.

I'm charging him with
fraud, criminal negligence,

loss of my valuable time,
and attempted murder.

Hey, listen.

You listen to me.

I paid you to fix the
brakes, the transmission,

the clutch, and that,
whatever you call that thing.

And you did nothing.

I didn't.

Absolutely nothing.

I could have killed that man.

Oh wait a minute.

When you see your
doctor, send him the bill.

Oh I'm not hurt.

I don't know about my car.

Well how do you know
you're not hurt?

Sometimes these things
don't show up for 48 hours.

I had an uncle who went around
a whole week with a concussion,

and he was never the same again.

You haven't even got
a scratch on your car.

When can I get
in touch with you

in case I should develop
a slight concussion?

The Alpha Phi House,
university campus.

Just ask for a staffer.

There's always someone
there to take a message.

There is?

Yeah, up until
10:00 in the evening.

Well, what are you going to do?

Oh, you're leaving the car?

You're darn right
I'll leave it.

And this time you're
going to fix it.

Oh yeah, I will.

I'll take it apart inch by inch.

Now how do I get home?

You can get a trolley.

May I drive you
home Miss Stafford?

Oh I wouldn't think of it.

Really, I've already
caused you enough trouble.

If you should happen
to be going my though--

That's exactly
the way I'm going.

Oh, I forgot your change.

Thank you.

Look, I may just
drop in some time.

You do that.

I'll be looking for you.

[music playing]

I suspect you think I
have a terrible temper.

Yep.

But I never like
wishy-washy people.

It's just that I paid that
Robert two weeks allowance.

I'm sorry, I really
shouldn't call him that.

He seems to be a friend
of yours, Mr.-- Mr.?

Norman Peale.

Dr. Norman Peale.

The Dr. is a new title.

I kind of like the sound of it.

Really.

Syracuse isn't much
like Rhode Island is it?

How'd you know I was
from Rhode Island?

Your license plates.

You passing through
or just visiting?

Oh, I think I'll
stay for a while.

Getting to like it here.

I think you will once you
get to know the people.

There are lots of
fun things to do.

I was wondering about that.

I think I need to change
of pace about now.

What would you recommend?

Well, you can always take
a drive in the country,

have dinner at one of those
quaint little restaurants?

There's usually a name band at
the hotel if you like to dance.

You look as if you did.

Well, I'm not much of a dancer.

All good dancers say that.

There's always a movie.

Here we are.

[brakes squealing]

Of course, students
can't date every night,

but seniors are allowed
Wednesdays and weekends.

And it just so happens that
this term I'm a senior.

And this just happens
to be Wednesday.

That's right isn't it?

Say, I tell you what.

Why don't we take one of
those nice little drives

in the country, and
we'll have dinner

at one of those quaint
little restaurants.

Oh no Dr. Peale,
no, I really would

feel as if I sand bagged you.

It would be very
friendly to a stranger.

All right, if you
put it that way.

Good.

I'll pick you up at 5:30.

OK.

Oh no, wait a minute,
better make it six o'clock.

I have an appointment
at the church.

The church?

University Methodist.

I have to meet with my choir
director for a few minutes.

What kind of doctor are you?

I'm the minister.

Minister.

Yes.

It surprises me sometimes too.

Six o'clock?

Yeah, six o'clock.

Please don't bother
to get, I can manage.

Goodbye Dr. Peale.

It was very kind of
you to drive me home.

Bye bye.

Six o'clock then?

Dr. Peale, I--
I'm terribly sorry.

I really am very stupid, but
today is Wednesday, isn't it?

I completely forgot I
had a date for tonight.

I guess so mad back
at the service station

that it just slipped my mind.

Please forgive me.

I've got to rush.

Bye bye.

I'll call you tomorrow then.

Tomorrow's Thursday.

Well, I have an exam
coming up, and I do have

a date Saturday and Sunday.

Well I'll call you anyway.

Those little restaurants will
still be there next week,

won't they?

Bye bye Dr. Peale.

Goodbye Ruth.

[bell]

Alpha Phi House.

Just a moment, I'll see.

Ruth, it's him again.

I'm sorry Dr. Peale, Miss
Stafford seems to be out.

I surely will.

You're welcome.

He said to tell you he called.

What's the matter
with him anyway?

Is he old, dull, a wolf,
or just plain repulsive?

Let's just say he's someone I
could never be interested in.

Gee, maybe one of us will be.

You can always
use a good doctor.

He's not that kind of doctor.

Should be.

Well, what a pleasant surprise.

Mr. Johnson.

Doctor.

Mr. Marcus, I expected to
have to look all over town

for you gentlemen,
and here you are.

Yes, well you see, I had--

Now where was that thing.

--decided.

Ah, here it is.

Gentleman, what about
this mortgage that's

been hanging over our heads?

Well, it's traditional for
an old established church

to carry a mortgage doctor.

Yes, but after 20 years
of only token payments,

ours is getting a little
long in the tooth, isn't it?

Now I have an idea
that just might

get us this building free and
clear, in just a little while.

Some theatrical
scheme, no doubt.

In a way, yes.

Yes, and that's
just what I though.

Now Sam, please.

No, no, it's time a few of us
spoke in some plain English.

Dr. Peale, this church
is not a circus, and you

who are not a paid entertainer.

Oh, we don't mind
you evangelizing

to win new members.

But just plain
vulgar advertising.

On my way here today, I
saw a series of signs,

like those shaving
advertisements.

Here, lost your gal?

In a lurch?

Don't panic pal.

Go to church.

And a big arrow was pointed
directly at this church.

Now you can't build
the house of the Lord

on a foundation of the devil.

I see.

Sam, don't be so
black and white.

No, no, no,
that's, that's good.

Mr. Marcus, let's
talk plain English.

When our Lord walked this
earth for his three years,

he used the best
means of communication

then known to man.

He set up on a
mountainside and he talked.

But since that time, God
has given us other ways

to reach men's hearts.

Among these gifts
is advertising.

In other words, letting
people know what you have

and where they can get it.

Now I'm not ready to turn this
great gift over to the devil.

I'm in competition for the
hearts of the young people

of this university town.

I need all the
energy, all the, all

the originality, all the sense
of humor that God has given me.

That's the reason for
those silly little signs.

And that's also the reason for
this little idea I have not.

Come in Henry.

Where do you want
this Dr. Peale?

Set it right down
here-- down here.

Thank you.

You're welcome.

And in case you're
wondering what

kind of a devilish vulgarity
that may be, it's a ladder.

Every Sunday it lies
across the last four pews

of the balcony of our church.

Since nobody ever
sits there, it's

the best place to store it.

Well tonight I asked Henry
to bring it up here to me.

Every time I look
at this ladder,

I want to say to myself,
Peale, you better

get up off your laurels
and start advertising,

or you're going to spend
the rest of your life

at Syracuse preaching
to this ladder.

[music playing]

I do appreciate
this Mrs. Miller.

I'll return them
as soon as I can.

No hurry Dr. Peale.

Any time we can give assistance.

Thank you.

Miss Stafford?

Beg your pardon.

I saw Miss Stafford.

And like Apollo chasing Daphne.

[laughter]

I recognize you Dr. Peale.

Though I'm not a church
goer, curiosity impelled me

to attend one of your services.

I appreciated it that
kind of primitive drive,

but I didn't know that you
practiced it so recklessly.

[laughter]

No, I tremble to think of
Miss Stafford's fate were we

not here to offer sanctuary.

Now wait a minute Professor.

Just because I'm
a minister don't--

Really Mr. Peale, you've
created enough diversion.

Would you go quietly and permit
the class to return to order?

Not until I've apologized
to Miss Stafford

for embarrassing here.

I'm all right Dr. Peale.

Just go.

I will.

But first I'd like to
tell the learned professor

that he was quite right.

I was pursuing Miss Stafford,
and I intend to keep it up.

That is a man's prerogative
until he's satisfied himself

the chase is futile.

If men didn't pursue women, this
world would be in a sorry mess.

No one's ever been able
to explain why one person

falls for another person.

But when that attraction
becomes mutual,

that's God's most potent
chemistry, maybe his greatest.

[whistles]

Be strong.

Be of good courage.

Be not afraid,
neither be dismayed,

for the Lord thy God is with
you, with or so ever you go.

If you believe that, if you
practice it, if you yield

yourself to it, doesn't
matter what kind of obstacles

and difficulties you may face.

Recently I came across a
thrilling and remarkable story.

Even the title is glorious--
"By Wheelchair to the Stars."

Now you wouldn't think
you could go to the stars

in a wheelchair, would you?

But this man did.

At 17 years of
age, he was totally

crippled by rheumatic fever.

The mere wearing of his
clothes was torture to him.

He'd cringe at the
flapping of a window shade,

so, so tender were
his nerve ends.

They told him, you're finished,
washed up, useless forever,

and at 17 years of age.

His parents were poor, so we had
to sit around the house all day

long in a little
crude wheelchair

that his father
had made for him.

Useless at 17, 18, 19, day
after empty day-- useless.

And that word useless cut into
him and hurt him more than

his painful body did.

He didn't want to be useless.

He wanted to do something.

He wanted to be somebody,
amount to something.

One day a friend of his
said to him casually,

you know, you could
make greeting cards?

Now that wouldn't
thrill you, would it?

But he said he'd try.

And he set to work.

And after six months,
he made one card,

and he sold it for a nickel.

And just when he
thought he was making

a little progress with
himself, he fell out

of his wheelchair one morning.

And he lay on the
floor trying to get up.

But he couldn't.

And he squirmed there like a
helpless little newborn animal.

Finally he heard the mailman at
the door, and he called out to.

And the mailman came
in and saw him there,

and lifted him, and set him
back in his chair again.

And said, are you all right?

But the boy just threw back
his head and he laughed.

The mailman looked at him and
he said, Harry, I just don't

know where you get the courage.

And the boy answered him.

Well, I don't have much.

But what I do have I get from
a book where it says, with God,

nothing is impossible.

The next year he
earned $800 selling

greeting cards by mail order.

And he took all that money
and he made a down payment

on 12,000 Christmas cards.

His mother said to him, son,
what if you don't sell them?

What then?

But he said, mother, with
God nothing is impossible.

Well he didn't sell those
12,000 Christmas cards.

He sold 19,000 Christmas cards.

And today he's one
of the greatest

manufacturers of greeting
cards in the entire world.

Now don't think that
this story impresses

me solely because it's a
story about material success.

It is that, and it's good.

But it's much more
than just that.

It's proof of what God can do,
proof that when people say,

you're useless, you're
helpless, finished, through,

that you can still
find the greatest

secret in life, which is
that with God, nothing

is impossible.

Now Norman Vincent
Peale, you listen.

Listen to what you just said.

And the next time you have
a tendency to whine or be

defeated by anything,
remember that you can go

to the stars in a wheelchair.

And you out there, you
with your little troubles,

or maybe you've
got big troubles.

But you listen to
this because this

is a fact worked out
in the laboratory

of Christian experience.

Be strong.

Be of good courage.

Be not afraid,
neither be dismayed.

Practice that.

And why can you be sure of it?

Because in the glorious
last line, the Lord.

Now remember this, the
Lord thy God is with you,

wither so ever you go.

Yes, even in the
darkest shadows.

And with him by
your side, you can

have courage over all of life.

Spread the word
around the university.

I like to see young
faces out there.

Hello Ruth.

Good morning Dr. Peale.

If you're not busy, I'd
like to talk to you.

I feel I should explain why
I didn't answer your calls,

why I told the girls
to tell you I was out.

I'm not going to listen
to your explanation.

Dr. Peale--

At least not here
on the church steps.

We've got a long over due date
for a ride in the country.

Would you risk a ride with
the wrong kind of doctor?

[music playing]

You're going to tell me why
you didn't answer my calls.

There was no point to it.

Could you be more specific?

I just didn't want to become
involved with a minister.

Is that all?

I was afraid that
you were engaged

or there was some
serious drawback.

But, why wouldn't
you want to become

interested in the minister?

I don't mean me, I just
mean ministers in general.

Well for one thing, I
am not the type of girl

that a minister should
waste his time on.

I'd never do for him,
he'd never do for me.

Mm hmm.

Why not?

I like excitement.

I don't want my life to
be dull, not for a minute.

What else?

I like independence,
like pretty clothes.

Short skirts are
going to be in style.

Mine are going to be are
short as anyone else.

I'm just using short skirts
as a figure of speech.

Is that all?

That's all.

You want to go straight
home, or would you like

to stop for dinner some place?

Well it's a long ride back.

You're probably hungry.

I've never been so
hungry in my life.

I hope I didn't offend you by
what I said about ministers.

You didn't say anything
at all about ministers.

You just told me what
you wanted out of life.

And I agree with you.

I like excitement.

And I certainly like
my independence.

Good night Dr.
Peale, and thank you.

Norman, please.

Oh look, I meant what
I said about ministers.

I just can't see me-- I tried
to tell you what I'm like.

Charleston, Charleston.

You see what I mean?

Ruth, Wednesday night is
still dating night, isn't it?

I'll be here at 6 o'clock, OK?

Alma, come on.

All I can think of is
that it's the last time

we'll be decorating
Alpha Phi for a dance.

What are you wearing
tonight Ruth?

I'm not going.

Not going?

You haven't missed
a formal since we

came to school, not even the
time you almost had pneumonia.

I know.

I never thought.

A minister isn't
allowed to dance, is he?

What makes you think I'm
going out with Dr. Peale?

Well now who else would it be?

He's the only one you've
dated since Christmas.

But to miss the
formal-- Miss Stafford,

have you been holding
out on your own roommate?

Are you engaged?

Of course not.

No, it's just that
I can't-- well,

it's the last chance I have
to see him before graduation.

Do you realize that I'll never
see him again after next week?

Well I can't very well leave
here without saying goodbye,

can I?

Oh Alma, come on.

Stop sitting there
staring at me like that.

[music playing]

I thought it was a fine movie.

I haven't cried so
much in a long time.

You know there's something
about a spring dance,

a soft night like
this, and the music.

Boys all shined up and the girls
in those long party dresses.

Come on.

Where?

I haven't heard a band
like that in a long time.

Do you know that this is our
first date where you haven't

had to rush home for a curfew?

You've been given a gift of
time, we might as well use it.

What are you doing?

Charleston.

I know it's the Charleston.

But you never said
you could dance.

Birdie's Gardens, Detroit,
every Saturday night.

That's wild.

Oh, you're marvelous.

I'm dead.

I don't understand it.

Doesn't it ever bother
that you had to give up

exciting things like dancing?

Does it bother you?

Well, I haven't
given up dancing.

You have since we've
been going together.

Oh, but it's not
the same thing.

I haven't given it up for good.

I couldn't.

How can you?

Because dancing just
isn't that important.

I've got so much else instead.

You want to know
something stupid?

All my life I've
been saying, when

I graduate, when
I start teaching,

when I'm finally out on my own.

And all of a sudden here it
is, and I don't believe it.

In three days I'll be gone.

I'll miss Syracuse,
Alpha Phi, and you.

You know, I used to
laugh at people who,

who would cry at
weddings, and graduations,

and things like that.

I don't seem to be
laughing anymore.

Oh linger on sweet
flower of youth.

Thou art so beautiful.

See what this
night's done to me?

I'm quoting poetry now.

You picked the
wrong time for it.

No girl is that beautiful
when she's crying.

You are more beautiful tonight
than you were yesterday,

yet not as beautiful as
tomorrow you will be.

I don't even want to
think about tomorrow.

Scared?

You shouldn't be.

Tomorrows are made for
people just like you,

people that really
know how to live

every moment of their lives.

And you do I saw
that in your face

the first time that your
ran into me in your car.

And I've seen it ever since.

You just can't hide
a thing like that.

It's like that sunlight.

Every time that we walk along
the street and pass a child,

you reach out to it.

Every time we see
something beautiful, you,

you hold it up to me, as if God
made it just for the two of us.

You really look at life.

You hear it.

You-- you feel like.

You're not afraid to
laugh, and-- and you're

not afraid to cry.

What a lucky man I've been
to share this world with you.

I-- I think I ought to go in.

I'm not very good
at saying goodbye.

Miss Stafford, may
I have this dance?

A minister's not
supposed to dance.

In public.

But I'm alone now with my girl.

Norman, I'm not your girl.

I don't want to be
a minister's girl.

One dance then, not with
a minister, but with me.

Norman, I'd never
make a ministers wife.

I haven't asked you yet.

Then ask me please.

Ruth, I love you.

Norman look.

Someone sent me flowers.

What do you know?

Ruth, I don't understand
it, the honeymoon's over,

but I still feel
love you madly, Norm.

You phoned this
in from the lake?

Oh that woman at
the florist talks.

She's going to tell
everyone she knows.

Oh I love you.

And I love this house.

And I love the town because
it loves you so much.

What's the matter?

Ruth, we are going
to leave here.

It was a hard decision to make
because I love this place too,

but I've accepted
another pulpit.

In a few months, we're
going to New York.

New York?

The Marble Collegiate
Church on Fifth Avenue.

That's one of the oldest
churches in the country.

Yes, I know.

I've been doing a lot
of praying about it.

I think it's what God wants.

Means your work is finished.

The debt is paid.

The church is
filled every Sunday.

Ruth, you want to go?

Yes I do.

It's a challenge.

Yes, it certainly is.

You don't think I'll flop?

Flop?

What's all this confidence
you're talking about?

You're not a fraud are you?

I certainly hope not.

Am I so funny?

No.

I was just laughing at myself.

Remember when I
thought that life

would be dull married to you?

[music playing]

You have everything you need?

It's a long trip.

You go get dad.

I'll take care of
John and Elizabeth.

I can take care of myself mom.

Me too.

Now listen to me.

For the next couple of days we
can't bother daddy, you hear?

What's the matter?

What are we going to do?

We're going to grandma's.

We're going to visit grandpa.

But it won't be like
the other times.

Grandma-- grandma won't
be there this time.

Danny, want get the door?

OK.

Come on.

[music playing]

I can't speak the words that
I'd prepared to say today.

They were gloomy words
that sprang from my sorrow.

And now my heart is too
full of understanding.

Our mother hasn't left us.

In our hearts, we know that.

We don't try to
prove immortality

because we want to believe it.

We try to prove it because
we can't help believing it.

If a baby not yet
born could think,

he might say, oh,
this is a warm place.

I'm taken care of.

I'm secure here.

I like it.

He'd look upon the
process of birth

as if were death because it
would mean the end of the state

that he was in.

And he'd say, I
don't want it to end.

What to us is life
is to him death.

And he resists it.

But soon the day comes when
he does die to that world

and is born into this life here.

What happens to him?

He's cradled in loving arms.

Soft hands touch him
and hold him gently.

A kind face looks down on
him, and he loves that face.

Soon he begins to
grow and love life.

Oh he has some hardships
and some struggles

which toughen his fiber.

But he learns to love
God, and people love him.

Finally he's an old man, and
he's told you have to die.

He protests, I
don't want to die.

I love this world.

I like to feel the
sun on my face.

I love to hear the
whisper of the rain.

I don't want to die.

But he does die.

And he's born into
the next world.

Can we believe that all of a
sudden the character of God

and the nature of the universe
will change so that he'll

be born into a place
of terror and gloom,

or that he'll suffer
complete extinction?

No.

That person awaken to
find himself young again.

Loving faces will greet
him, and loving hands

will reach out to him.

More beautiful sunlight
will fall on his face,

and sweeter musical
will sound in his ears.

And he'll say to himself, why
was I so afraid of this thing

that we called death, when as
I now know, it is really life.

[laughter]

And that time you
bought her the diamond

ring from the ten cent store?

Remember dad?

Your mother always wanted
to believe the unbelievable.

It never occurred her that I'd
of had to rob a bank to get

her a real ring that size.

You know, there was a time when
I used to think that laughter

after a funeral was sacrilege.

Well, it isn't.

It means that someone,
well like your mother,

has given us a wonderful
legacy, memories of good things.

But there's one memory that
none of you can share with me,

and that's the
memory of your mother

when we were first
married-- young and eager,

filled with wonderful
ambitions for the children she

wanted to have.

Oh, what's all this?

Momma, you've got to
do something about John.

He won't go to sleep.

You're having a party down
here and I want to listen.

John, over here on
my knee, this one.

I'll give you five
minutes, and that's all.

We are not having a party.

We are having a
serious discussion.

That's all we do
at home is talk.

Dad knows more
words than anybody.

That's because he's a minister.

And I'll tell you
something young man,

your grandmother always wanted
you to be a minister too.

Not me.

That's something I've never
going to be, a minister.

Sometimes it's bad enough
being a minister's son.

[laughter]

You little scallywag.

Does that sound familiar?

Yes, yes it does.

Your mother was
pleased when you

went into the ministry Norman.

But I don't think that was
the plan she had for you.

Now she always knew when Bob
was born that he'd be a doctor,

and that Leonard would
be a minister like me.

But you were a puzzle to her.

I think she had more in
mind for you, a writer.

He is.

Norman's written a book.

Well all right here kiddies,
now it's time to get to bed.

Well now you see
what she-- your mother

always told me that
she had a seventh sense

about her children.

Yes, yes, Norman is
a writer of a book

that nobody wants to publish?

No one?

What do you mean, no one?

One publisher turned it down.

Another one's
reading it right now.

Oh Ruth, he's reading
my book because he's

a member of my congregation.

Norman, that is not the reason.

Can I get in the
family argument

and ask what the
book is all about?

I bet it's a mystery.

Oh no.

The only mystery about
this book is why I ever

started it in the first place.

You know, I can get up and
I can talk my head off.

But if I have to sit in front
of a blank piece of paper

with a pencil in my hand and
try to put something down on it,

oh, I'm scared to death.

Come on, tell us
what it's all about.

What is it called?

It's called "The Power
of Positive Thinking."

Oh brother, that's a mouthful.

You can chew on that title.

And I hope some publisher is
going to find the rest of it

equally worth the chewing.

I read this very carefully.

Believe me, I did, and
I like what you said.

But my company publishes
religious books.

Tom, this is a religious book.

This shows people how to
apply the power of God

in their daily lives.

Everything I've learned
is in this book.

Look, there a thousand
men in New York City who

can write, but there's not one
who can preach a sermon the way

you can.

All right Tom, I get the idea.

Thanks for your trouble.

And I mustn't keep
you people from dinner.

I wish I could do
something more.

Oh, I understand.

You know, Doctor,
publishing is a business.

Of course it is.

Good night.

Good night Tom.

Good night Mrs. Peale.

Good night.

[music playing]

Oh, it's perfectly ridiculous.

You'll find a publisher,
I know you will.

No, he's right.
I'm no writer.

I'm a preacher.

I've got work to
do, important work.

I can't waste any
more time on this.

Don't touch that.

That's where it stays.

Honey, I mean if.

You are not to take this
out of the wastebasket.

That is a manuscript.

Yes, it's a little
hard to explain.

I'm sure.

Now why don't you go to one
of the recognized agents?

Last Thursday I heard
Mr. Boardman speak,

and I believe he
said a publisher

has the duty to bring out books
that are for the public's good.

He does.

But there are channels
we just have to follow.

A man Mr. Boardman
has a schedule.

I know about schedules.

My husband has one too.

But I also know that there
are odd moments in the day

and that's all this
will take, just one

of those little odd moments.

I can't.

Rules are rules.

I'll just have to wait
until Mr. Boardman comes up.

Very well, if you have
nothing better to do,

and you don't mind making
yourself slightly ridiculous.

I don't mind.

Nothing else on the calendar
is there Mrs. Grayle?

No Mr. Boardman.

Mr. Boardman, please.

There is something else.

It'll only take a moment.

This is Mrs. Peale.

I tried to persuade
her not to wait.

This is my husband's book.

For reasons I'd
rather not explain,

it had to be delivered this way.

Well didn't Miss
Grayle tell you?

Yes, yes she did Mr. Boardman.

But please, just for
once break the rules.

Read this book.

This is my telephone number.

And you call me when
you finished it.

[music playing]

May I help you?

Yes.

Please, do you have "The
Power of Positive Thinking"

by Norman Vincent Peale?

Under both hands.

Well in that case, I'd
better take both of them

before you run out.

Cash or charge?

That will be cash.

Well on second though, I
think I'll take a third one

while they're still in stock.

Don't bother to wrap them.

Excuse me.

Is it really that good?

It's a wonderful book.

A little spicy?

Full of spice.

But don't take my word for it.

Why don't you find
out for yourself?

Let me make you a gift.

Thank you so much.

Here you are, two more bags.

No, no, no, give them to her.

No, no, no, I can't take them.

Give them to her.

Good morning Dr. Peale.

Good morning.

Here are your appointments
for the rest of the day.

Thank you.

Six months after we published
the first copy of "The Power

of Positive Thinking," I felt
that, well, maybe 15 or 20,000

copies would make a good sale.

But now here we are.

Not 15 or 20,000, but cop copies
later, and still going strong.

I wasn't using
positive thinking.

[laughter]

All right, who has
the first question?

Rod Allenberry, "Akron Press."

What do you call this
approach of yours,

a method, a philosophy,
a system, or just what?

It's just plain Christianity.

What's in my book
is exactly what

I've been trying to
say ever since I've

preached my first sermon.

Could you hold up the book
when you talk Dr. Peale?

Yes, course.

This is a guide, a
roadmap you might say.

And there's nothing
I've invented in here.

It's all written right
there in the Bible.

It's stated again and again.

Together God and
you can do anything.

I have a question on
that topic Dr. Peale.

The statement--

Identify yourself please.

Mae Michaels, the
"Eternal Fate" magazine.

The statement you made that
you and God can do anything,

isn't that blasphemy?

The God for whom the mighty
King David bowed down

in fear and trembling is
not here to do what you want

at the snap of your fingers.

Well I certainly never--

You are a dangerous
man Dr. Peale.

You are preying on all the
paganistic dreams of this

world-- greed, power, money.

Miss Michaels, you're
completely out of line.

God is my life.

But he's an avenging God
to those who would use him

for their own selfish purposes.

Miss Michaels.

I want an answer.

If you'll be
quiet for a minute,

I'll give you an answer.

Why don't you sit down and
give the man a chance to talk?

Don't any of you
see what he's doing?

Yes.

John Hellman of the
"Christian Adherent."

Though Miss Michaels expresses
herself perhaps too emotionally

Dr. Peale, there's great
concern among the leaders

of religious thought
that you have reduced God

to the status of a
servant, there to do

what you want when you want it.

I don't say that at all.

I merely state that man is
not a helpless creature, born

to frustration and failure.

And that God had darn well
better not let you fail.

Mr. Hellman, we didn't intend
for this to become a debate.

Now if you have a
question, please state it.

Very well.

Dr. Peale, is it the
lamb of God you worship,

or is it the golden
calf of success?

Mr. Hellman,
you're out of order.

Gentlemen please, gentlemen.

Mr. Hellman
please, Mr. Hellman.

[chatter]

What is this, some
kind of a nightmare?

Have I ever preached these
things they're accusing me of?

Have I ever said that you could
use God to get what you want?

I don't think I've
ever preached anything

but what's in the Bible.

Norman, what you
believe in is right.

This criticism is
vicious and unfair.

You can't let it upset you.

I know, I know.

I've always warned people
about not letting resentment

cloud their thinking
and now look at me

I'm getting hurt and angry.

Well then stop it.

Norman, I love you too much
to see this happening to you.

It's eating away
all your strength.

Oh but Ruth, these people
are not crazy fanatics.

These are some of
the most respected

theologians in this country.

They say I'm a menace to my
congregation, to my church,

to mankind at large.

Why?

I've got to find out why.

How do you do Dr. Peale?

You should know sir.

Sit down.

Tell me, why have
you contacted me?

Bishop Hardwick, you're a man
I greatly respect and admire.

And to put it simply,
I'd like to know

what you have against me.

My first impulse is to make
the conventional reply that I've

nothing against you personally.

But that wouldn't be true.

It's impossible to separate
you from your doctrine.

Peale and positive
thinking, you've become

part of the current idiom.

And you think that harmful?

I've said so publicly.

Did you expect me to
recant because we're

meeting face to face?

You occupy the pulpit of the
oldest continuous Protestant

pastorhood in this country.

With that pulpit, you
inherited a great tradition,

a sacred trust.

I humbly agree.

Humbly?

Do you deny that you stand in
that pulpit Sunday after Sunday

and preach your own version of
Christianity, a new religion?

I certainly do deny that.

Examine yourself Dr. Peale.

Haven't you sought
the spotlight?

Haven't you enjoyed being the
best known minister in America?

Now I've said publicly
that I deplore

the easy kind of Christianity
you've made so attractive.

Now I say privately that
I suspect you Dr. Peale.

I suspect your motives.

[music playing]

Give me an answer Lord.

I'm so tired of arguing,
tired of fighting.

Have I become proud?

Do I need to have
my spirit tempered?

Only you know how to
temper a man Lord.

I'm not going to
question your judgement.

I saw him.

I'm going to resign
from my pulpit.

I've got to do it.

I have to get away from this
church, away from everything

if I'm going to think.

And I have so much
to think about.

I'll write up my
resignation tonight,

and then I'll read it
tomorrow in church.

It's going to seem funny,
without all those speeches

to make, all those
pressures, maybe I'll just

get a little parish some place.

And-- and we'll have
time, time for the kids,

and time to go fishing, time
to really enjoy ourselves.

Why don't you say
something Ruth?

Another Ruth said it for me.

Whither thou goest, I will go.

[telephone ringing]

MRS GORDON: [ON
PHONE] Dr. Peale.

This is Norman Peale.

MRS GORDON: This is
Mrs. Arthur Gordon.

My husband is Dr. Gordon
of Mercy Hospital.

I need you desperately--
772 Central Park South.

Mrs. Gordon-- when
do you want to see me.

MRS GORDON: Now, please?

Well I guess if I needed your
husband at 4:30 in the morning,

he'd come.

I'll start right away.

Thank you for coming.

I'm Arthur Gordon.

My wife is upstairs with
Mary Ann, our daughter.

Mary Ann has been in
a coma for four days.

Tonight, some of the finest
medical minds in the country

confirmed what I already knew.

She's going to die.

But my wife refuses
to accept that fact.

How about you?

Dr. Peale, I let her call you
because I thought you might

be able to help her, not because
I believe you can help my girl.

Dr. Peale.

Mrs. Gordon.

I had no right to call you.

We've never been a
religious family.

I don't even know how to pray.

Dr. Peale, in your
book, you said there's

healing in divine power.

I've got to ask you, do
you really believe that?

Yes.

I believe it.

Then please, teach us to pray.

[music playing]

She loved the sun.

Arthur.

Look.

Hello there.

Thank-- thank you very much.

Why are you thanking us?

It's a long, long story.

Dr. Peale, do you
believe everything

you wrote in that book?

Yes.

I've got to tell you, even
after what happened, I can't.

I don't.

Oh, but I do Dr. Gordon.

I do.

There's one favor you
could do for me doctor.

Would you lend me your neck tie?

I'm sure there's no
one here today who

is unaware of the
controversy that

has been raging in the
newspapers, the magazines,

and Church journals.

The issue is whether my
beliefs and my preaching

are in harmony with the Gospels.

Some of the finest
minds in the clergy

believe, and believe
sincerely, that I

am bringing reproach
if not actual discredit

upon my calling.

If this is true, then I
have but two alternatives.

The first is to change my
message and my methods.

But this I cannot do,
for the simple reason

that I believe in them both.

The second is to withdraw myself
as an object of controversy,

to resign not only from
the pulpit of this church,

but from the ministry.

Seems strange after so
many years of telling you

what I believe and tried
to follow in my own life

that I should be called upon
to defend these beliefs,

as if I had invented them, when
there is not one that doesn't

come from the greatest
teacher who ever lived,

and who still lives.

I believe that every
individual is meant to be

what God would deem a success.

Now if this word success means
the amassing of money or fame

to some people, I am sorry.

It does not mean that to me.

And it certainly doesn't
mean that to God.

A successful person is
nearly an integrated loving,

creative individual,
who lives in harmony

with himself and his God.

Now if There's.

Anything wrong in being that,
I have failed to find it.

There are entirely too many
people in the world today

who are being defeated by the
everyday problems of life.

They struggle through with
a dull feeling of resentment

at the bad breaks
they're getting.

Well there may be such
a thing as bad breaks,

but there is a
spirit and a method

for overcoming these breaks.

The spirit is God.

The method, well, you can
call it whatever you want.

I call it positive thinking.

Now by this, I
don't mean that you

just ignore all the
hardships and all

the tragedies of the world.

Quite the contrary, you face
every problem of daily life,

but you seize control of it.

You don't let it control you.

Now is this idea contrary
to the scriptures?

I could name you
dozens of passages

from the Bible that would
support what I've just said.

But there is one now that
comes to my mind more salient

than all the others.

It is from Philippians 4:13.

Now listen to this, Because.

This is one of them
greatest statements ever

made in the history of mankind.

I can do all things through
Christ who strengthens me.

Now if you will hold
that idea in your mind

and let it live
within your heart,

then you can have triumph
over all your weaknesses,

all your sins, and
all your fears.

But, the final analysis,
it is in theology.

It isn't religious theories,
or schisms, or isms,

or any of these things
that really matter.

What matters is people.

God thinks people so important
that he gives us authority

over all other creatures.

He is giving us
authority over an ever

expanding part of his universe.

And he loved us so much that
he gave his only begotten son

to suffer degradation, insult,
and death so that we may live

as we are meant to live, not
as a weakling, but as a person,

a person with a giant in him.

You are a child of God.

Live that way.

With true humility, yes,
but with the dignity

of your own importance,
for that giant in you

is the power of God.

Shall I leave this church?

For many days I have suffered
and prayed over that question.

But, this morning the
answer was given to me.

It was given to me in a
way so glorious, so perfect

that I can't tell it to you now
without bursting with emotion.

Perhaps later.

But now I have my answer.

For as long as God
needs me, I'll remain

in this wonderful calling.

For as long as you want me,
I'll remain in the pulpit

of this great old church.

[chatter]

[music playing]

I'm so proud of you.

It's not going
to be any picnic.

Who wants life to be a picnic?

I told you a long
time ago I'm the kind

of girl who wants excitement.

You'll never know
what it's like to have

that small congregation.

I know what it would be like.

I won't have time
to go fishing.

You hate fishing.

And I'll never have
that extra time for you.

I married a very special man.

He's like the magic fountain.

The more I share him with other,
the more I have for myself.

There's an office out
there filled with people.

Let them wait.

You can't.

Let them wait.

I haven't seen my
girl since last night.

I never got to kiss you
good night or good morning.

Good morning darling.

Good morning darling.