Success

“Nobody’s Perfect… But Everybody’s Trying!” This title recently graced the cover of an ESPN the Magazine. On the cover was Tiger Woods, seeking a rebound from his fallout with adultery. While many rightly criticize his choices, could the title of that article not be said of us all? In my life, I can think back to moments of which I am happy and proud. However, for every such moment I can recall one moment I would do differently if the chance presented itself. A clear sign of wisdom and humility is the ability to look back upon one’s failures and learn from them without letting them keep you down. One might say this is a true feat of strength.

If a Navy SEAL slips in a mission or for a moment loses composure, is he a failure? I sure hope not. This doesn’t mean that his mistakes can’t have ramifications, because they can. However, that SEAL must wipe his brow and fight on. True failure would be making a mistake and choosing to give up, right then and there. Success is making a mistake and using that as fuel to overcome. I have yet to meet a perfect man and I suppose you have not, either. A man I admire is one who is not perfect, but is truly striving for it. Those men make the best baseball players, politicians, doctors, and scientists. More importantly, they make the best sons, husbands, and fathers.

Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is the only perfect man to grace this earth, and we will not live in perfection until we leave this life and enter the eternal. Until then, I hope and pray for men who are not perfect, but are trying to be. One, who falls down, yet pushes himself back up. One, who makes a mistake, yet apologizes for it and changes course. One who misses an assignment but catches back up and finishes strong. I hope and pray that I will be such a man. One who stays, and finishes, strong.

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” II Timothy 4:7