Before you get upset or disappointed please know upfront this post is not an attack on either candidate or either party.
Now, you may choose to either continue reading or not. I hope you will continue!
Regardless of the outcome of last week’s election one group of Americans was going to be elated and giddy while the other group was going to be disheartened and disappointed.
Let’s start with Hillary Clinton.
Hillary lost, nothing new for any of you with that.
Here’s what impressed me about Hillary.
She was in the game. She was all in. She lost but no one can question her effort or desire to become the first woman president in our history.
Hillary had the courage to go where others had not.
She lost but she was in the game. When you’re in the game you have a chance to win.
Far too many of us sit in the stands and watch while others courageously play the game of life.
This game is a difficult one with victories and defeats each with their own lessons.
In a couple of different accounts I read that the reason Hillary sent John Podesta out to speak to her followers was because she was devastated and inconsolable by the unraveling of her dream.
When you’re in the game you’ll experience great emotion.
As I watched Hillary on Wednesday morning as she addressed her followers for the first time I thought of a passage titled “The Man in the Arena” by Teddy Roosevelt:
“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the
strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better.
The credit belongs to the man (or woman) who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred
by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again,
because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds;
who knows great enthusiasm, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause;
who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at worst,
if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly….”
My lesson from Hillary is that it is far better to be in the competition and lose than to just sit in the stands and watch others play the game.
Hillary failed while daring greatly.
Donald Trump triumphed while daring greatly.
Roosevelt’s quote begins, “It is not the critic who counts…”
Donald Trump’s quest for the presidency was filled with these critics, people who were more than happy to point out how often he as stumbled and how his deeds could have been done better.
These critics painted a caricature of a man who had no chance of winning, his candidacy was folly and a mockery of the system we have had for 240 years.
Donald didn’t listen to them.
Lesser individuals would have crumpled under such scorn and contempt.
Donald didn’t listen to the critics. He didn’t care what others thought. Donald was in the game.
Far too many of us are too concerned with what others think. What we think others are thinking puts us in the stands and makes us spectators. I know that is the case for me too often.
My lesson from Donald is that what our critics think isn’t important. Often they criticize because they themselves are too afraid to get in the game.
Hillary lost but was in the game and dared greatly.
Donald won because he was in the game and dared greatly.
Do you have the courage to get in the game today?
What will you do today to DARE GREATLY?
1 Peter 4:12-14
Have a STRONG and COURAGEOUS day!
I’m in the game and daring greatly. Thanks for the wise words and gentle reminder.
Yes, you are, Ron, and thank you for setting a great example for so many of us!
Dave
Dave, I almost did not read as I am so tired of everyone second guessing this mess we find ourselves in. However, I could not resist and of course so agree with your assessment. Too often today we find ourselves sitting on the sideline of life, complaining about all that is wrong around us, and do nothing.
I can only hope our Country will allow this circumstance to work its way out, give it all a chance and pray to God he has us in his hands. Marching, bitching and complaining will not get it done, being open minded, loving, caring and most of all color blind might just be the magic that will bring us all together again! God Bless us and God Bless America!!!
Craig, I was a little concerned that people wouldn’t read this for the very reason you mention. Thank you for moving forward and reading!
I wholeheartedly agree with your comments in your second paragraph. We have lots of challenges but also lots of opportunities!
Blessings to you, Craig!
Dave