Director of Spiritual Care Jim Andrews
Have you ever had a really hard time doing something that you knew you needed to do? How frustrating it can be! We gear ourselves up, give ourselves pep talks, tell ourselves it is going to be different this time, and then plunge in – only to fail again. It can be so disheartening. Mahatma Gandhi, the small framed man from India who fought tirelessly for his country’s independence, knew a thing or two about encountering these difficult situations. Here is a favorite quote on the topic:
I know the path.
It is straight and narrow.
It is like the edge of a sword.
I rejoice to walk on it.
I weep when I slip.
God’s word is:
“The one who strives never perishes.”
I have implicit faith in that promise.
Though, therefore, from my weakness I fail a thousand times
I shall not lose faith.
Regardless of our faith tradition, there is a gem of wisdom here. As long as we keep trying, missing the mark is a learning opportunity, not a failure. Even if we fail a thousand times, success may be awaiting us on the 1,001st attempt. So, if you are feeling discouraged about something you need to start doing or stop doing or do more or do less – don’t give up! Harness all of that energy that we tend to channel in to self-recrimination and re-purpose it towards achieving your goal.
Have a great week, everyone!
Jim