Wednesday, January 7, 2009

Damaged goods.

Ever feel like somebody gave up on you? I know none of us care what others think. YEAH RIGHT! We are all independent free thinkers. Yet the scope of our actions is like the wake of a boat affecting the very environments we live in and creating choppy waters for those traveling with us.

Two best motivators: success and recognition. Allow someone to do what they are capable of and notice when they do. It's worth more than money, time off, or any bonus. Let someone do something beyond what they think they can do, help them, praise them, point it out to others, and you'll have a friend for life.

But what about failure? What about when things don't go as planned? Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. It's only a failure if we don't learn from it. Isn't that what losers say? I know the stories of Abe Lincoln and Albert Eisenstein, but at what point is "try, try again" just a lesson in futility.

Ever feel like you got kicked while you were down? Like your legs got chopped off? Like your hands are tied? I love a challenge as much as the next guy, but come on. There's always the very spiritual God argument. Maybe God is not allowing this for a good reason. Or the seemingly more spiritual Devil argument. You must be doing something right because the enemy is on the attack.

Regrets? Yeah I got them. Hindsight's 20/20 eh? Righteousness? Only from Jesus. I don't have a leg to stand on, in and of myself. I'm selfish, sometimes lazy, unsympathetic, run by fear and what's easy. When will I mature, find discipline, and be that guy that everyone hopes for... myself included?

I really can't blame anyone besides myself. I made this bed. With sheets of hopefulness and a comforter of naivety. What was I thinking? Like Alfred from the dark knight... all my loved ones say I told you so.

Now what? Where do I go from here? Will another Re-wrap work? Is it time to just file a claim and let it go? Is the product inside still good? Is it possible only the outer packaging is damaged? My heart hurts. My head is cloudy. I need healing, clarity, and grace.

You know what, I don't believe in damaged goods. I believe in redemption. I believe in beauty from ashes. I believe in consistency, faithfulness, and grace. I will not give in. I will not give up. I will press on.

3 comments:

Carla said...

This is a beautiful post.

C. Busby said...

I doubt this will help but I was thinking the same thing and a friend recommended a movie called revolver. It's a guy richie film so don't watch it with the kids. in fact the wife probably won't like it. It didn't really help me. But it's interesting.

Anonymous said...

"I don't believe in damaged goods. I believe in redemption. I believe in beauty from ashes. I believe in consistency, faithfulness, and grace. I will not give in. I will not give up. I will press on. "

That's what I had to read the entire post to find, and let me tell you: "That was worth the effort and the wait."

You are not a failure, nor a quitter, because your God has not quit on you, and we both know that God NEVER fails!. You will succeed, even if those around you are whispering that you will fail, give up, go back to where you first came....

You will succeed because God is still, and will always be, in complete control.

Pastor Paul