Many of our failures have the ability to sweep us to greater
heights of success, even higher than we ever hoped for in our wildest dreams.
Life in many regards is simply a successive unfolding of successes from
failures. In discovering America, Christopher Columbus even experienced some
absolute failures. His ingenious reasoning and experiments led him to believe,
that by sailing westward he would eventually reach India. Consequently every Native
American carries the name “Indian,” as the perpetuation of the memory, of this
failure by Columbus. The Genoese navigator obviously did not reach India as
calculated; so the cargo of “human souvenirs” he took back to Spain to show to
Ferdinand and Isabella as proofs of his success, really attested his failure.
Yet the discovery of America, wound up becoming a far greater success than any
possible finding of a “back-door “to India could ever have been.Another great example of great failures redounding to successes
would be in the life of David Livingstone. He was a man who supplemented his
theological education by completing a medical education course before heading
into the missionary field. For over three years he studied tirelessly. With all
energies concentrated with one aim; to spread gospel in China. The hour finally
arrived when he was ready to embark enthusiastically for his noble chosen work.
He had a mindset, to give his life unselfishly and relentlessly for such an
ambition. Then word came from China that
the current “opium war,” would make it folly to even attempt to enter this
country. However, disappointment and this setback, did not long daunt him. He
instead offered himself as missionary to Africa—and he was accepted. His
glorious failure to reach China opened a whole continent to light and truth.
His study proved an ideal preparation for his labors as physician, explorer,
teacher and evangel in the wilds of Africa, [The Trumpet]
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| Dr.Thomas.V.Thomas |
Young people, especially students want this and that, and
expect it instantly. Thus, when they
cannot get it, they allow the situation to get the best of them, and end up
miserable. Many of them go through years of agony as they try short cuts to
happiness, through drugs, alcohol, sexual experiments etc. They want to “shine”
in front of others and equate that to greatness and sources of happiness. They
want others to appreciate them just like everyone else, yet if that is not a
result, they often become devastated. Can we accept failures as a part of our
lives while living on this earth? We must learn to not be too quick to rush out
to achieve success, and at the same time, expect it to happen every time. There
is nothing wrong in trying, it is noble in itself, but it is essential to
maintain the mindset, of expecting the best, but being prepared for the worst.
Consequently, it garners no reason, to lead into a mental breakdown. Is it not far better for us and others around
us, to simply live a happy life, and reach your goals slowly and steadily?
Many of our life’s failures or setbacks play an important
role in sweeping us to greater heights of success, than we ever hoped for in
our wildest dreams. Most often people, when they are faced with failures, the
initial responses are anger, frustration, and disappointment. However, only few
who face the courageously, are willing to make the “super human” effort in
order to turn such setbacks events into better tomorrows. Poverty and trials in
a person’s life have historical precedence, in being the catalyst that brings
out the greatness in us to shine.God teach us through failures too. “Failure is one of God’s
educators. It is through experience which leads man to higher things; it is the
revelation of a way, a path hitherto unknown to us. The best men in the world,
those who have become among the greatest successes, look back with serene
affection on their failures. The turning of the face of Time shows all things
in a wondrously illuminated and satisfying perspective.” [Trumpet Magazine]
It is quite a disappointed, when successes made through hard
work fades away. However, if we use
these stumbling blocks, and allow them to rather become more of stepping
stones, we will find ourselves on our way to better future. The failure of the
caterpillar results in the birth of the butterfly. The bible very clearly says:
destruction of the seed is the prelude to its resurrection, as wheat. We must
die first in order to be resurrected. Everyone wants to go to heaven, yet no
one wants to die. We all want to succeed but no one wants to fail. Almost all
achievements result only because someone else failed many times first, before
such successes are manifested. Darkness comes before the beautiful morning with
all its brightness. Failure is like darkness, but we must remember that it is
darkest before dawn when the sun begins to rise in the sky. Our gloomy past can
be the 1st stepping stone to a bright tomorrow. No child ever walked
few steps at a time but started with little by little falling down first, then
rising up, and falling again. Birds fly miles but not on 1st day of
its hatching. The mother bird watches over its little ones as they learn to fly
against difficulties.
