Perseverance

Never lose hope.

TO BEGIN WITH

Below is an excerpt from my book of essays, Coffee and Mornings. Hope you dig up a treasure or two from it.

PERSEVERANCE

Most of us give up too easily in nearly everything we attempt or hope to do. Designing a bridge takes talent, building it, muscle and diligence. Each of us has those qualities in one measure or another. Why is it we can identify these talents so easily in others but find it hard to discern them in ourselves?

That is not so much a question as it is a fact. Early in our lives many of us (and I include myself in that number) never stick to a plan long enough to fail at it. No one succeeds in everything they try… but without failure, how do we learn to prevent failing the next time?

In love? Well, yes, sometimes. It may be that an ordinary act of making love makes us feel extraordinary – though what is so ordinary about an act of gentleness toward another, when we are told by preachers, teachers, and over-reachers of these times, that we shouldn’t concern ourselves with self? The secret is to learn how to catch yourself when you fall and fail, and not repeat it again.

Whether it’s career, athletics, or raising a family: Make a plan. Stick to the blueprint until you’re sure it doesn’t work. Rethink, come in sideways if front on doesn’t lead you to your destination. You will be amazed and strengthened as you discover how many hidden talents you employed in getting from A to Z. And, of course, all of these should come with prayer and guidance from God; I assume we all know that.

Living your life without a plan is like building a house destined for destruction. Imagine constructing a building without a plan, well, it’s bound to be in ruins. God will be with us if we choose Him to be with us. He’s the type who doesn’t force Himself on His created beings. But He always waits for us to make a step towards Him, and He promises to step towards us threefold.

There’s no easy way through life, but I promise you, perseverance works. Never lose hope. It built The Pyramids and the China Wall. Apply it. Surely it can do a little something for you as it did for me.

- from “Coffee and Mornings”, 2010 essays

Raymund's Random Insights

To love, it is more important to learn the needs of others than to dwell upon our own.

You can’t give what you don’t have.

Being a lover doesn’t necessarily make one capable of loving.

Poem of the Week

TWELVE

by Emon

Loving each other

            is more than just

for our good pleasure,

the sameness, the differences

that tell us what we truly are:

selfish in our needs

yet willing to give everything

to please our God

            not just each other.

Loving makes us see

the part in us that’s best.

We cherish our parts unselfish, unafraid,

understanding, unnoticed by many,

because we learned

and are moved to love.

(April 2008)

- from “Love Letters”, 2008

AND FINALLY

I hope everyone is well as we chug along October and prepare for the coldness of December. Love you all.

Thanks for stopping by - see you next week.