Categories
motivation

Why Give up Too Soon?

"Many of life's failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up." Thomas Edison

Could it be that tomorrow is the day you will succeed? Could it be that the only thing keeping you from success is your temptation to give up?

I ran my first marathon in 2016. I was tempted to give up in the middle of my training because my shoes gave me heel blisters. I was also tempted to quit during the race on the twenty-first mile when my hamstrings gave out.

Each time, I was determined to keep going. It was only because I had faith I could finish the race. In spite of the obstacles, I reached the finished line.

Many of life’s failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.

Thomas Edison

I like Edison’s quote with one exception. People are not failures. People take actions that either succeed or fail. But as long as an individual keeps going, she cannot be considered a failure.

I don’t know what you are going through today, but I encourage you to have faith to keep going. You may be surprised and grateful to find your success is just around the corner.

Categories
motivation

Failure Over Excuses

Quote: "It's easier to go from failure to success, than from excuse to success." John Maxwell

In John Maxwell’s book, Intentional Living, Maxwell encourages us to live each day with intentionality instead of merely good intentions.

One of the biggest regrets I’ve had was that I never attempted to become a newspaper syndicated cartoonist. I sent plenty of magazine gag cartoons and I had modest success. I even put together a submission to send out for syndicates. But I never took the first step and mailed that packet.

On the other hand, when I took a risk and went with my wife to Arizona, I felt I failed because I only got steady work just weeks before circumstances made us head back to the Midwest. Yet, I don’t regret it for a minute. We made good, new friends and I learned I could do what it took to make a living without the aid of old friends and family as support.

Maxwell is right, I regret the excuse I made for never submitting a syndicated comic strip more than the failure of trying a move that didn’t quite work as we expected.

Categories
Book Review

Creativity in the Young and the Old

"Creativity is not the sole province of the young." Rich Kaarlgard
From "Late Bloomers" by Rich Karlgaard

When I heard of this book, I had to check it out. In the beginning section, Rich Karlgaard makes the case society places too much of an emphasis on achievement at too early of an age. Not only does it devalue older people but places extreme pressure on the young.

I love this quote in page 43 of the book:

Creativity is not the sole province of the young. Some of us simply need more time.

Rich Karlgaard

When I took art lessons as a teen, one of my best memories was watching retirees paint beautiful paintings. Karlgaard gives many examples of people that achieved success later in life. One I didn’t see was Grandma Moses. Here was a woman who didn’t begin her painting career until she was 78 years old.

Whether it is work or the arts, never count someone out because they appear too old, or even too young. This book is a reminder patience and perseverance are more important in a productive, creative life than a person’s age.

Categories
teaching

Waiting for Patience

This morning, I get to talk to kids about patience. Everybody loves that topic, right? I mean, who doesn’t love to wait for things that they would like right now? But patience allows us to put off the good for the better.

The lesson is based on the story of Simeon in Luke 2:22–35. This quote sums it up:

Patience is the companion of wisdom.

Saint Augustine on Goodreads.com

Patience teaches us to mind our temper. It allows us to make better choices and to invest in the future. Patience is a virtue that pays off in spades.

The kids I will teach on this Sunday morning may have a hard time getting this morning’s lesson. Heaven knows I wasn’t a patient kid. but my prayer for them this morning is if they don’t get it now, this lesson will come to them when they really need it. May it keep them from making a dumb, urgent decision at the expense of a better future.

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Bible Sermon Notes Sketch notes

Jonah, the Rebel | Sermon Sketch Notes

Sketch notes based on a sermon by Steve Chiles at Salem Church of God | Jonah 1:1-17

Sermon Copyright 2019 Steve Chiles. Sketches Copyright 2019 Kevin Spear

At least once in our lives, we are running away from something. Jonah was the classic example of someone who knew better. When he ran away from his calling, things went from bad to worse.

This is one of the Bible stories that has caught the attention of people for years. Today, avoidance is hardly an effective technique!