Do Not Fear Failure, Part II
The great were once as you. They whom men magnify today once groped and blundered on life's way. Were fearful of themselves and thought, "by magic was men's greatness wrought."
Edgar A Guest
I've never been a big fan of poetry, but I have to admit that I have loved this particular poem since the first time I came across it. If you ever have the opportunity to read the poem in its entirety, do so as it will be well worth your time. It speaks to the fact that the so-called "great men" are just like you and me. They have the same fears, the same self-imposed limitations, the same doubts. What sets them apart is the fact that they overcame those fears and accomplished things that they previously only dreamed about.
No person in recent memory exemplifies this better than a British woman by the name of Susan Boyles. For twenty-three years, Susan dreamed of being a professional singer. She had the talent - a beautiful voice - but she did not have the physical beauty normally associated with the modern day entertainer. So she just stayed home with what seemed to be an impossible dream.
Then, one day, she decided to enter Britain's version of American Idol. Her first appearance was about what you would expect. This plain, simple woman took the stage to the barely concealed smirks of the judges and some open laughter from the audience. Then she started to sing and, incredibly, soon had the entire audience mesmerized with half of them in tears. The rest is history, with this newly emboldened woman selling more copies of her debut album than the initial albums of the Beatles, Elvis or any other artist in the history of music.
So let me ask again, what is it you have been putting off because of a fear of failure? Could it be just barely possible that God has something in store for you with the talents that He has placed within you? You will never know until you overcome your fears and try. And if you don't... you will simply never know. So, what have you got to lose?
I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.
Philippians 4:13, NIV