Success is not final;
Failure is not fatal;
It is the courage to continue that counts.
-Winston Churchill
Aspire
A couple of years ago, I joined the “word of the year” group
of bloggers and selected a word for 2013. My word for that year was Endurance
and boy did I have to endure many challenges that year. My word for 2014 was Aspire because there was
so much I wanted to aspire to.
But, like most human beings, I fell short of my goal. I
accomplished some, but failed to accomplish all that I had in mind for the
year.
When I came across this quote by Churchill, it truly spoke
to me because I know so many people who are afraid of failure. In fact, the
fear of failure paralyzes them. It defines them. If they cannot succeed at
something, they pretty much won’t even attempt it.
Failure
What is it?
Webster’s defines it as nonperformance, proving unsuccessful;
lack of success.
Churchill knew of what he spoke. He felt like a failure
during World War I in which he made bad political decisions about Gallipoli that left him
ostracized in the political community. He failed at government. He failed at leadership.
Winston Churchill was a failure.
But did that fact paralyze him? Did he never attempt
anything again?
No.
He learned that failure isn't fatal. After having served as an officer in the British army in the Second Boer War, he rejoined the military
and fought alongside British soldiers in World War I and succeeded at leadership so
much so that he enjoyed much favor in politics when he returned home and
ultimately became Prime Minister of England during World War II.
And the rest is history.
But even then, Churchill realized that success wasn’t final.
He continued on and endured much during World War II. He saw more successes and
more failures in his life…but he continued and that’s what counted most of all.
For me, I set goals for myself in 2014:
I aspired to finish and publish 2 books.
Success! I completed my first self-published book, "The Children Under the Ice", and
released it to much acclaim. My readership truly enjoyed it and immediately
requested more. The last book of "The Dragon Forest" trilogy was completed and is
with my publisher today.
It’s always a tremendous feeling to complete a goal.
I aspired to be a better teacher this year so I took a
professional development course in teaching writing. I aced the course and saw
my teaching improve. To meet that professional goal was a sweet victory after
my horrible first year of teaching.
I aspired to participate in and finish the Marine Corps
Marathon in October. I trained all year and even endured an injury over the
summer, but my husband and I made it to Washington DC so that I could meet my
goal. Even after a car accident the night before the race, I was able to run
and finish that marathon…the hardest race I have participated in yet.
Having my husband of 26 yrs there with me as I accomplished
that goal truly was a blessing.
But did I accomplish every goal I aspired to this year? No.
I aspired to gossip less this year…and I failed.
I aspired to be more zealous for God this year…and I failed.
I aspired to study God’s word more fervently this year…and I
failed.
So, like many people of the world (including Churchill…) I
am a failure by my own standards.
I am a failure.
But not to God.
You see, although I did fail
to gossip less this year, I did succeed at spending more time in prayer
everyday than ever before. I knew I needed the Lord’s help with this particular
weakness and He met me at my desk in my classroom every day for prayer.
I did fail to be more zealous for God this year, but I did
succeed in providing a Christian witness in my classroom each day without
uttering one word about the Lord. At the end of the school year, one of my
former students told me she saw Christ in me and knew He was there with me all
year.
I did fail to study God’s word more this year, but I did
write a Bible study based on one chapter of the Bible I studied over and over
again all year.
So I was successful after all!
But, as Churchill said, success isn’t FINAL.
I will not stop
here.
I will have the courage to continue on with setting more goals and
committing to more efforts to improve this year.
And that’s my word for this year: Commitment.
I will commit to be a better witness for Christ, a better
teacher overall, a better runner, and better writer than ever before.
I will commit to trying new things I have never tried before: a sprint triathlon and a 52mi ultra marathon.
With the Lord’s help, I will commit to serving Him with my
gifts and talents this year. I know I cannot do it alone, but I am excited to
see how He will do these things through me for HIS GLORY and not mine.
That’s what it’s all about: watching God move through us for His glory.
As I look back over 2014, that’s what I see. I see how the
Lord worked through me and used me in and out of the classroom, with my
writing, and with my running to inspire others to keep going no matter what.
As Churchill said, "It is the courage to continue that counts."
Commit your way to the Lord;
Trust in Him and He will act.
Psalm 37:5
Blessings,
Ruth
