So how’s that for a title?!? Did you immediately say to yourself “Is this guy for real!?!” “Not me!” “Hmmm… I never thought of it that way?” “Am I???”
Well let me just say that I agree… with all of those questions AND that none of them are the point!
I would start with the example of Walking, but that doesn’t apply to everyone who “could” be reading this post, so instead… since you ARE reading this post (or listening), I’ll start with Language.
You ALL speak and most here READ English. You understand it… you use it to navigate the very essence of life and make your way in the world you live in. It (Language) is the very “water” you swim in and, like fish in water, we don’t even think twice about it’s value in most of our day-to-day interactions. And yet… We ALL failed at Language. Repeatedly. From Birth!
Do you see that? You didn’t come out of the womb quoting Shakespeare or being able to piece together a cohesive sentence… or and if you are a walker (or a runner… maybe even a dancer) you certainly didn’t start you “Cupid Shuffle” within the first 6 months of life!
You Failed. And then you took a step… and you Failed again. And then you said your first word (and received accolades from all those around you for the “success” you had) and then you FAILED again and again as you screamed to “get what you wanted” and yet no one seemed to understand a “word” you were saying! (Ever see that 15 month old desperately trying to get something and no one understands them?!?)
But see… You didn’t stay there. Unable to walk, unable to talk, unable to ________ (Fill in the blank). You grew and learned and dug into what was important. And then you “succeeded!” But was the ladder you had been climbing all that time leaning against the “right” wall?!?
A site I really appreciate has an article describing someone else’s journey of “failure” and I would encourage you to take some time to look at Vaneetha Rendall Risner’s article titled “Weakness and Failure Will Build Your Faith: Letter to My 30-Year-Old Self” is powerful and certainly makes me interested to read her book “The Scars That Have Shaped Me: How God Meets Us in Suffering.” I love her quote…
“And I slowly realized this epic failure was a huge gift.”
~ Vaneetha Rendall Risner
You are God’s child… You are His and He Love’s you JUST the way you are! You may have “failed,” but you are NOT a failure. You are His Masterpiece, His Perfect “Instrument” (I’ll share more about that someday) and He has prepared works for you to do… works that you don’t even know you could do. You are the Oak tree become. I am the Oak Tree becoming… just a “nut” (an acorn) that God sees in all my potential and I am thankful that you have chosen to join me on this journey… a Journey of #PossibilityMe.