“The size of your success is measured by the strength of your desire, the size of your dream, and how you handle disappointment along the way.”
–Robert Kiyosaki, American entrepreneur
The week before last, excitement built in the greater Charlotte area as ten to twelve inches of snow were predicted for the weekend. In a scientific poll of one (me), taken for the purpose of this post, most adults disclaim any interest in seeing snow, but secretly hope for it. As the week progressed, the forecast changed daily, and we ultimately got a couple of inches of light snow, sleet, and freezing rain–the infamous “wintry mix.” Thundersnow, a rarity in these parts, was a possibility. We never got it.
In a way, that’s a microcosm of our lives, isn’t it? We anticipate something we’ve missed, hoped for, or prayed for, only to have it not come to fruition: a titillating teenage romance, the “reach” college application, the ideal job landing, the “golden parachute.” The list goes on and on.
We get up each day with expectations, only to be disappointed at times. We make plans, and God laughs. Twenty-seven hundred years ago, the prophet Isaiah warned us of this: “‘For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,’ declares the Lord (Isaiah 55:8 NIV).” Believers and non-believers alike have struggled with this truth for centuries.
For brevity’s sake, here’s a snippet from Theodore Roosevelt’s “Man in the Arena” passage in his Citizenship in a Republic: “… who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.” Search for it and read the entire passage. It’s inspiring.
Somehow, we’ve gone from a childlike wish for snow to a memorable quote from one of my all-time favorite presidents. What’s my point?
Most of us are highly-motivated, goal-seeking individuals. We expect a lot of ourselves. We put a lot of pressure on ourselves. And, when we don’t reach our goals, we’re disappointed. But we learn from that, and we soldier on. As the tagline for this website suggests, our setbacks are part of our journey, not our destination . . . unless we let it be so.
Our lives will not be defined by how we fail, or disappoint others and ourselves, but by how we respond to failures and disappointments. As Teddy intimated, better to get in the arena, then try and fail greatly, than to remain on the sidelines of life.
And know this: Someday, everything will be revealed, and all of life’s experiences, both expectations realized and disappointments endured, will make sense (paraphrase of 1 Corinthians 13:12).
postscript: As I wrote this, another snowstorm was predicted for the greater Charlotte area. This time, we got eleven inches of snow!
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“The size of your success is measured by the strength of your desire, the size of your dream, and how you handle disappointment along the way.”
–Robert Kiyosaki, American entrepreneur
The week before last, excitement built in the greater Charlotte area as ten to twelve inches of snow were predicted for the weekend. In a scientific poll of one (me), taken for the purpose of this post, most adults disclaim any interest in seeing snow, but secretly hope for it. As the week progressed, the forecast changed daily, and we ultimately got a couple of inches of light snow, sleet, and freezing rain–the infamous “wintry mix.” Thundersnow, a rarity in these parts, was a possibility. We never got it.
In a way, that’s a microcosm of our lives, isn’t it? We anticipate something we’ve missed, hoped for, or prayed for, only to have it not come to fruition: a titillating teenage romance, the “reach” college application, the ideal job landing, the “golden parachute.” The list goes on and on.
We get up each day with expectations, only to be disappointed at times. We make plans, and God laughs. Twenty-seven hundred years ago, the prophet Isaiah warned us of this: “‘For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,’ declares the Lord (Isaiah 55:8 NIV).” Believers and non-believers alike have struggled with this truth for centuries.
For brevity’s sake, here’s a snippet from Theodore Roosevelt’s “Man in the Arena” passage in his Citizenship in a Republic: “… who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.” Search for it and read the entire passage. It’s inspiring.
Somehow, we’ve gone from a childlike wish for snow to a memorable quote from one of my all-time favorite presidents. What’s my point?
Most of us are highly-motivated, goal-seeking individuals. We expect a lot of ourselves. We put a lot of pressure on ourselves. And, when we don’t reach our goals, we’re disappointed. But we learn from that, and we soldier on. As the tagline for this website suggests, our setbacks are part of our journey, not our destination . . . unless we let it be so.
Our lives will not be defined by how we fail, or disappoint others and ourselves, but by how we respond to failures and disappointments. As Teddy intimated, better to get in the arena, then try and fail greatly, than to remain on the sidelines of life.
And know this: Someday, everything will be revealed, and all of life’s experiences, both expectations realized and disappointments endured, will make sense (paraphrase of 1 Corinthians 13:12).
postscript: As I wrote this, another snowstorm was predicted for the greater Charlotte area. This time, we got eleven inches of snow!
12 Comments
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At times our fears of failing keep us sidelined. But oh how we yearn to have been in the game with a chance to succeed. And, as you have written here, we have opportunities each day. Thank you for sharing these important thoughts.
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Tim, I love this ! I especially liked your paraphrase of 1 Corinthians 13:12, because I do look forward to that day where all our questions will be answered and we will understand why things happened.
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Awesome message, Tim! A good reminder for us all. ☺️
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Food for our soul. Such an elegant way to express something so many struggle with. “…our setbacks are part of our journey, not our destination . . . unless we let it be so.” Thanks for the en-courage-ment. And the Teddy Roosevelt quote was a perfect compliment to your voice. Thank you. I’ve read a few books about him.
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Thank you for your insights, Tim. Yes, the expectation of success can be frightening and intimidating. I’m grateful God helps me know what He wants me to do, and then helps me as I do my part.
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Your message was encouraging for me, Tim. As authors, we often experience failure, but how we react to it, makes all the difference. Wasn’t it Robert Frost who said, “Two roads diverged in the woods and I took the one less traveled by and that has made all the difference.” That’s what we do each time we receive another rejection–which road will we choose–learn from the failure, make changes, and keep trying? Or will we give up?
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At times our fears of failing keep us sidelined. But oh how we yearn to have been in the game with a chance to succeed. And, as you have written here, we have opportunities each day. Thank you for sharing these important thoughts.
Good points, John. Thank you!
Tim, I love this ! I especially liked your paraphrase of 1 Corinthians 13:12, because I do look forward to that day where all our questions will be answered and we will understand why things happened.
As do I, Pam. As do I. Thank you!
Awesome message, Tim! A good reminder for us all. ☺️
Thanks, Lissa!
Food for our soul. Such an elegant way to express something so many struggle with. “…our setbacks are part of our journey, not our destination . . . unless we let it be so.” Thanks for the en-courage-ment. And the Teddy Roosevelt quote was a perfect compliment to your voice. Thank you. I’ve read a few books about him.
Thanks so much, Laura!
Thank you for your insights, Tim. Yes, the expectation of success can be frightening and intimidating. I’m grateful God helps me know what He wants me to do, and then helps me as I do my part.
You’re so right, Joni!
Your message was encouraging for me, Tim. As authors, we often experience failure, but how we react to it, makes all the difference. Wasn’t it Robert Frost who said, “Two roads diverged in the woods and I took the one less traveled by and that has made all the difference.” That’s what we do each time we receive another rejection–which road will we choose–learn from the failure, make changes, and keep trying? Or will we give up?
Yes, there are a lot of bumps in the writing road, for sure, Katherine!