I would love to say that today I settled in and battled, but I was forced into fighting rather than courageously leaning forward. The fight was forced on me at 8:12 pm this evening and at 9:11 and change my attitude and my resolve changed. I redoubled my efforts, took a deep breath and re-engaged. I don’t know if I will prevail, but I do know that the tide turned.
I believe this scenario is not unique. Many time we find ourselves in a position where we seem to be continuously and mercilessly beaten. Our adversaries seem to have unlimited strength and ability and, yet, we still hang on. It is in theseH time, like today, that I look back at history and draw strength.
For all the times that Goliath wins, there is that one David. There is an NC State to counter Houston, a Giants to counter the Patriots, and a Golden State to fall. For as much as Goliath tends to win, history recognizes and celebrates David.
I am no David, but I have learned that persistence and focus can defeat most of the Goliaths in our lives, because most of them win when we refuse to engage, and I think this is the reason Goliath wins so frequently. I really think that whoever wants it more tends to win. There are certainly times when the one who wants it worst wins, but I think that is less than 50% of the time rather than less than 10% of the time, which is what you would expect.
Today, I decided to stand my ground against the Goliath in front of me. I won’t know for several weeks if I won, but had I not stood my ground I know I would have fallen. Even more importantly I became actively engaged again in the fight. The money momentary elation I am experiencing from fighting back may pass. I may lose the battle and when this war, but I know in my deepest depths that j will have gone down fighting…and that makes all the difference. You may lose significant battles in life. You may lose major conflicts and even experience great defeat, but the bigger question is how you decide when to fight.
So, tomorrow I may lose. It is a possibility I cannot discount, but it is a definite possibility. Likewise, I may prevail. The odds are against it, but is also a potential outcome. In either event, I am better off for having fought. In the end I am reminded of the quote 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 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 enthusiasms, 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 the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.
Have a great day tomorrow and we will keep you posted.