OF ALL THE CHARACTER TRAITS THAT MARK A SUCCESSFUL PERSON, DETERMINATION is at the top of my list. There’s a great deal to be said for those who have the ability to keep on going when they’re sure of their course. Here’s an example.
One cold January morning in a little town in Wisconsin, on the southern shore of Lake Superior, something astounding took place. It happened to be the Saturday when they had their annual dog sled derby on the ice. A one mile course had been staked out by sticking little fir trees in the ice. The whole course was easily visible because of the steep slope of the shore.
It was a youngsters’ meet and the competitors ranged all the way from large boys with several dogs and big sleds to one little fellow who didn’t seem over five with a little sled and one small dog. He looked kind of silly among so many larger contenders. But it didn’t seem to bother him. He was there to win the whole thing, regardless of his size, or the lack of several powerful dogs.
They took off at the signal and the little fellow with his one dog was quickly outdistanced. He was hardly in the race. All went well with the rest until, about halfway through, the team that was second started to pass the team in the lead. They came too close and the dogs got in a fight. And as each team came up the dogs joined the fight. None seemed to be able to steer clear of it. From where the spectators were, all they could see was one big black seething mass of kids and sleds and dogs---all but the little fellow with his one small dog. Somehow he managed to avoid the whole mess and finish the race in first place!
As I reflect on the many vexing problems and the stresses of our times, this simple scene from long ago comes vividly to mind. And I draw the obvious moral: No matter how difficult the challenge or how impossible or hopeless the task may seem, if you are reasonably sure of your course, just keep going!
“Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 3:12-14
One cold January morning in a little town in Wisconsin, on the southern shore of Lake Superior, something astounding took place. It happened to be the Saturday when they had their annual dog sled derby on the ice. A one mile course had been staked out by sticking little fir trees in the ice. The whole course was easily visible because of the steep slope of the shore.
It was a youngsters’ meet and the competitors ranged all the way from large boys with several dogs and big sleds to one little fellow who didn’t seem over five with a little sled and one small dog. He looked kind of silly among so many larger contenders. But it didn’t seem to bother him. He was there to win the whole thing, regardless of his size, or the lack of several powerful dogs.
They took off at the signal and the little fellow with his one dog was quickly outdistanced. He was hardly in the race. All went well with the rest until, about halfway through, the team that was second started to pass the team in the lead. They came too close and the dogs got in a fight. And as each team came up the dogs joined the fight. None seemed to be able to steer clear of it. From where the spectators were, all they could see was one big black seething mass of kids and sleds and dogs---all but the little fellow with his one small dog. Somehow he managed to avoid the whole mess and finish the race in first place!
As I reflect on the many vexing problems and the stresses of our times, this simple scene from long ago comes vividly to mind. And I draw the obvious moral: No matter how difficult the challenge or how impossible or hopeless the task may seem, if you are reasonably sure of your course, just keep going!
“Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 3:12-14
posted by kazookid | 8:41 AM
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