Tag Archives: failure

One reason we’re broke…

June 11, 2010

Today’s post will be a bit out of the ordinary. Inspiration and blessing are foundations of this blog. Today, however, is a combination of observation and, well, I’ll be blunt… venting.

Both the world and the USA is broke – at least on paper. Any bankruptcy judge would look at the ratio of assets to debt and sign the papers. Why?

Bankruptcy of Reason

There is a difference between supporting each other in fellowship and requiring all to underwrite the selfish ambitions and bids for celebrity of the few.

In decades and centuries past risky ventures had underwriters; those who were willing to take a risk in return for a potential reward. The risk was taken voluntarily. If the venture ended badly, well, they failed.

Today anyone can set out on a venture of their own choosing and require that the rest of us make an investment in their pursuit of fame or fortune.

The risks of selfish behaviors have been mitigated by the unwilling participation of the many.

New York Times photo

Abby Sunderland

Fine, so this California family seems to have a rite of passage: each child needs to sail around the world as a sixteen year old. Abby’s older brother did and now she is making the attempt. If that family thinks this is a good idea I take no issue with that; it’s none of my business.

Oh, but wait. Abby’s emergency beacon began transmitting yesterday from somewhere in the Indian Ocean. So far an airbus was leased by a Maritime Authority to search for her. A “‘naval” ship has been reported by Fox News to be rerouting two and a half-days off it’s present course to go to her aid.

Off to the rescue

A kid from her neighborhood, Shawn Guzman, 15, said he didn’t think her attempt to sail around the world was reckless. “If it’s her dream to sail, and she wants to follow her dream, that’s courageous. ”

Courageous or not, this wasn’t the dream of the taxpayers of France, Australia, and soon the United States. One little girl’s quest for celebrity and family achievement now involves millions of taxpayers and millions of dollars.

The World Awaits

Well, this may be the fulfillment of her dream. Satellite news crews flood the area outside the family home. Every news engine is generating stories about the poor little girl lost at sea.

Each of us is free to take a personal risk. When did my choice to climb a mountain, ride in the basket of a balloon, or said around the world become the responsibility of the world? Rescue is only rescue when the person in danger didn’t accept the risk willingly. In the case of Abby Sunderland, as with so many others, the risk is being shared by us all.

I hope Abby returns safely to her family. Let’s hope the next venture she sets out on won’t make us all unwilling investors.

My mother taught me that my freedom ends where yours begins.

That’s it. My venting is over. We went off course went we lost the ability to identify the limits of freedom.

Thanks, Mom.  Have a good day.

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Were you successful yesterday?

May 10, 2010

Was yesterday a great day, or did it end up on your list of those that ended in frustration or failure?

Was Yesterday a Success?

Defining Success

The definition of success I use is “achieving an established goal.” The trick, of course, is to properly select your goals. If your list of daily goals reads more like an epic poem than a short recipe, you probably book considerably more days of failure than success.

Who is Most Vulnerable to Failure?

Those who most frequently fail are those who try the hardest to succeed. People seldom fail who seldom try.

Natural leaders and entrepreneurial types are most vulnerable to daily failure. They are ambitious to a fault; the fault centered in setting impossible goals on a daily basis. These gifted folks often lose sight of the speed bumps directly ahead as they focus exclusively on the top of the mountain they intend to climb.

Climb one step at a time. Blake Hannah Photography

The Recipe for Success

Baking, as opposed to cooking, requires strict adherence to the recipe. Not being precise when measuring and adding ingredients out of order leads to failure. Success is much the same. In both baking and success the key is maintaining proper balance as each new ingredient is added.

Adding too much of a favorite or more impressive ingredient will cause your pastry to flop, and setting goals that put you out of balance will do the same to your day. And, as days add up, the flops combine in continuing failure.

Establish Balance

Each successful day is the result of balancing the proper ingredients:

  • Caring for family and daily chores
  • Learning and forward movement (climbing upward)
  • Maintenance: not backsliding as you add to achievements attained.
  • Contemplation, vision, and planning for tomorrow’s climb
  • Rest

Perseverance

The tortoise won the race by slow steady forward movement. The rabbit made flashy sprints and bursts but became distracted. Set goals that take care of the business of your life, then seek to obtain just one or two more steps up the mountain every day.

Some days your goals will concentrate on preparation and maintenance, not gaining elevation. The circumstances of your life are like weather changes on a real mountain.Some days it would be just foolish to try and climb when conditions are completely unfavorable.

There's No Success in Solitaire

No Success in Playing Solitaire

Take care of important relationships. There is no true success in playing Solitaire.

Learn something new or achieve one more step each day.

Don’t lose past wins. Include time in your day to maintain achieved skills and contacts.

“A” is for Apple

As a child you could not learn to read until you mastered the alphabet. You could not master the alphabet until you learned the letters. Like the rest of us, you began with “A” is for apple. Set your daily goals in the same way. If your goal for today is to read “War and Peace,” you are destined to fail if you have not mastered “A” is for apple.

Be realistic. Be successful. Every day.

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Imagination and a suit of clothes…

February 10, 2010

How many of us worry, fret, and ball ourselves up into tight little bundles as we look at the magnitude of obligations that loom before us; as we consider the future of our children and the nation; as we try to figure out how we can possibly get our ‘list’ accomplished; or even just how we are going to get through until bedtime?

One of the legendary instructors at Dallas Seminary compared Christians to suits of clothes. He nailed it when he said that we are to be empty suits of clothes, animated by the Spirit of God. Can you imagine that for yourself?

Unleash Your Imagination

Just Imagine...

Impossible.

It’s impossible! In today’s world it is factually impossible to do all that we commit to, want to, and need to – our feeling of failure for what we didn’t get done growing like a snowball gaining speed and girth as it makes its way down a long, long hill.

The secret of life…

The secret of life is relationship with God. The important question is not how, why, where, or when – the important question is ‘Who’? **

Imagination is what gives us the power to exceed the limits of our human vision. Imagination allows us to see ourselves as an empty suit of clothes, ready for animation by the Holy Spirit. Imagination lets us suspend our belief in only what we see, opening the door to relationship with God. The heartbeat of that relationship is faith.

Intellect stunts imagination

Christians are nourished by faith; led by faith; emboldened by faith; become fearless by faith. Intelligence is a great asset, but IQ by itself gets you nowhere in any spiritual sense. Actually, it is often more difficult for one with great intellect to move past what can be known, and on to what truly matters. That takes imagination.

Once we imagine ourselves to be but an empty suit of clothes, we become willing to let the Spirit of God direct the movements of our limbs, the direction of our travel, and the words we speak.

Security and peace

Parents who set limits for their kids tend to have more secure, happier children. Horses need boundaries to be secure and balanced. The same is true of every species that is herd or relationally based.

Our suit of clothes is visual evidence of our personality and our path. Some of us wear haute couture, some denim overalls. We still have our unique qualities; indeed God delights in them. God has no use for Stepford saints.

Let God use your suit of clothes. Once you do, you will find that your endless to-do list goes away. Priorities are established in quick order. Many of those previously pressing concerns will find a new home in the round file labeled, “Doesn’t really matter.”

You will find security, joy, and peace. God is on His throne. He is in control. Your imagination and faith will put you right where you both want and need to be.

Becoming threadbare

Like any suit of clothes, we all wear out. Let your imagination consider that truth. Our bodies get creakier and slower as our suit of clothes becomes worn and threadbare.

When the day comes that our suit of clothes has reached the end of its service, we are promised a brand new suit – designed by the Master to be immortal.

If your vision isn’t giving you the picture you hoped for, try using your imagination instead. Trust a higher vision.

My suit seems to have developed holes in the elbows and knees. But, I keep it as clean as possible, and offer it again today. I am not concerned. I am not afraid. I am not overwhelmed.

I’m just a suit of clothes.

** Excerpt from the Introduction of “AMAZING GRAYS-AMAZING GRACE: Pursuing relationship with God, horses, and one another.”  For more information, click HERE.

AMAZING GRAYS cover

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Yesterday I needed therapy…

January 12, 2010

It was only Monday, but by early-afternoon I was fried. After a weekend of trying to figure out how to find and use copyright free images online, I had searched, copied, registered, signed-up, and still had not one picture to show for all my efforts.

I found a mesmerizing photo of a horse backed up by heavenly light; received permission from the photographer to use the work which was not copyright free… then was unable to find the image again to try and download it. I searched his site without success.

The last straw

Just as I had surrendered to a particular image website, I got an email from Linda Walker who is going to produce our first tiny little video. Her email listed the places I would need to go to find images, music, and sound effects. All of it required me to do just what I had spent the weekend attempting with abject failure. The last straw was a referral to that same site that had just bested me moments before.

I don’t get off-center easily. It is highly unusual for me to feel like I’ve been put into a bind, rushed to do something I am unprepared to do. Yesterday was like that. I sent an email back to Linda and begged off for the day. I went out and called Bo into the barn. I needed therapy.

Yesterday's therapist

Yesterday's therapist

Mistakes used well become lessons

After my time in the saddle on a glorious winter afternoon I recognized why I had become fried. It was, of course, entirely my own fault. No one required me to burn the candle on Saturday and Sunday. That was my own idea.

No one gave me a deadline of becoming adept at image retrieval by today. That was my own idea.

Yes, this is a skill I will have to master in the near term. However, my Boss does not give me work that He does not prepare me to do. He was probably watching me all weekend, shaking His head, waiting for me to figure it out.

The whole thing was my idea. That sums it up.

Finding peace

Have you ever seen a toddler run around so fast you know the only way they are going to stop is when their little fanny hits the dirt? Small children don’t have the coordination to do speed sprints gracefully. I don’t either.

Jesus taught His disciples one last lesson on the shore of Galilee the third and final time He appeared to them after the Resurrection. The seven fishermen had failed dismally to catch any fish after their long, cold, fruitless night on the water.

At dawn Jesus told them where, when, and how to let down their nets. The result was an amazing catch of 153 large fish. So great a catch and yet the net held fast. Jesus even had a hot breakfast ready when they got to shore.

The moral? We fail when we rely solely on our own experience and strength. If we do what we are asked, when we are asked, and how we are asked by God – our success if assured – and there will be a hot meal to sustain us.

I’m back in harness today. It’s a beautiful day. May you all be blessed.

Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you. (John 14:27)

Visit Linda Walker at www.LWVideoproductions.com

Photo taken by Karen Smith, www.topshelfphotos.com

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Evidence of failure: is it just me?

September 17, 2009

The usual practice is for folks to hang pictures, plaques and awards on their walls as a reminder of their greatest successes. Trophies line their shelves along with souvenirs of great experiences.

At the end of Amazing Grays-Amazing Grace there is a chapter that describes my greatest failure in life. Until the words appeared on the paper I wasn’t even aware of what that failure was. It was a big one.

I find that I am most blessed by having about me reminders of my greatest failures. Keeping evidence of my failure close at hand serves me so much more than does any prize, degree, or memory of great success. In my study there is a picture of a horse and me. On a shelf below is just one of the bronze trophies he won for World and National Championships. The picture reminds me of miserable failure. The bronze is not a memorial to the amazing day it was won, but just more evidence of how I screwed up.

In that failure I am reminded of the grace I receive daily and how I am equally called upon to give the same to others. The awards of success build us up, allowing us to experience the height of achievement again and again in memory. The reminder of failure brings me closer to God. Knowing that, I am better served by evidence of failure, rather than success.

Is it just me?

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