Climb the Mountain with God

[This week, in honor of the popular movie Lincoln, I am sharing my favorite stories from the past three years of TMAS on Abraham Lincoln.]  

            You’ve probably seen this before:

Lost Job-age 23

Defeated for Legislature-age 23

Failed in business-age 24

Elected to legislature-age 25

Sweetheart died-age 26

Nervous breakdown-age 26

Defeated for Speaker-age 29

Defeated for Congress-age 34

Elected to Congress-age 37

Lost re-nomination-age 39

Rejected as Land officer-age 40

Defeated for Senate-age 45

Defeated for Senate-age 49

Elected President-age 51

            Abraham Lincoln knew little success in his life, but when he succeeded, he succeeded well. However, his life serves as a reminder that much of life is NOT succeeding. Most of life is climbing the mountain, with some of that climb being imperceptible. A temporary portion of the journey can even be descending the mountain. Nevertheless, we continue the journey.

            I think the most satisfying climb is one traveling with God.

            Climb the mountain with God.

Too Succeed… You’ve Got to Fail

            I have in my files a bulletin article written several years ago by a fellow named Coy Roper. It is so good—I thought I would pass it along in its entirety. Be encouraged!

            Baseball fans are all talking about the new base-stealing record set by Ricky Henderson of the Oakland A's. The last time I heard, he had stolen 122 bases, breaking Lou Brock's one-season record of 118, with more than a month still left in the season!

            But before he set that new record, he set another; he broke Ty Cobb's old record of being thrown out 38 times in one season, when he was thrown out for the 39th time in 1982 in a game with the Tigers!

            And that reminded me that Babe Ruth not only held the career record for home runs for many years; he also held (and still holds) the career record for strikeouts!

            And the moral of the story? To succeed much, you've got to try much--and expect to fail often. The preachers who make the most mistakes are the preachers who preach most often. The personal workers who have the greatest number of failures are also the personal workers who win the most souls. Don't quit just because you get "thrown out"; it's those who try often and fail sometimes that end up succeeding.

The Young Writer

            I appreciate stories that encourage perseverance. An old story tells of a little girl, who was diligently pounding away on her grandfather’s computer. 

            “What are you working on?” he asked.

            “I’m writing a story,” she replied.

            “What’s it about?” he asked.

            “I don’t know,” she replied. “I can’t read yet.”

            Write on, young lass! 

            Some say a major theme of the Bible is perseverance. I would agree. For example, I think Paul was speaking of perseverance when he wrote this, “But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus”(Phil. 3:13b-14.) ESV

Climb the Mountain with God

            You’ve probably seen this before:

Lost Job-age 23

Defeated for Legislature-age 23

Failed in business-age 24

Elected to legislature-age 25

Sweetheart died-age 26

Nervous breakdown-age 26

Defeated for Speaker-age 29

Defeated for Congress-age 34

Elected to Congress-age 37

Lost re-nomination-age 39

Rejected as Land officer-age 40

Defeated for Senate-age 45

Defeated for Senate-age 49

Elected President-age 51

            Abraham Lincoln knew little success in his life, but when he succeeded, he succeeded well. However, his life serves as a reminder that much of life is NOT succeeding. Most of life is climbing the mountain, with some of that climb being imperceptible. A temporary portion of the journey can even be descending the mountain. Nevertheless, we continue the journey.

            I think the most satisfying climb is one traveling with God.

            Climb the mountain with God.

Perseverance

            Last week’s SPORTS ILLUSTRATED told about the Dallas Mavericks arriving in Miami in the late afternoon, two days prior to Game 1 of their Finals series with the Heat. All of the Mavs scattered to various restaurants for supper—all except one. Dirk Nowitzki headed over to Miami’s American Airlines Center… to practice shooting.

            This is Dirk’s habit. Hour… after hour… after hour, Dirk Nowitzki, practices shooting the basketball. Last night, against Miami, Dirk was one of twelve shooting in the first half. He was, however, five of six in the fourth quarter and finished with 21 points, leading Dallas to their first world championship.

            I think Dirk’s shooting was emblematic of his team.

            There have been other years when Dallas had more talent and seemed more likely win championships. Dallas has suffered some devastating playoff losses, enough to crush a team and discourage it from ever hoping to win a title. Yet, Dirk kept shooting and the Mavs kept trying.

            Now, in the most unlikely of years, Dallas has won a title. Their leader, Dirk Nowitzki, is a champion.

            Dirk Nowitzki and the Mavs remind me that we, as Christians, will face many challenges and discouraging moments in our walk with God. Yet, as Paul writes, we press on: 12 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. 13 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, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus (Phil. 3:12-14.) NIV 1984

Marathon!

Did you see the headline last week: “Isner Wins Marathon Wimbledon Match, 70-68?”

In a match of the ages, American John Isner defeated Nicolas Mahut of France in, what we call here, a Texas death match.

The match lasted over 11 hours. The fifth set alone lasted 8 hours and 11 minutes. The match comprised of 980 points.

How do you survive after that win? How do you carry on after that loss? I think both will do fine. Let me explain.

Seizing the day with lofty goals and high expectations is great—if you live only one day. But to live a life with that kind of aspiration can be draining. It is no accident that too often, the smartest people do not get their doctorates, the most talented athletes don’t last, the greatest actors perform in fewer movies, the most talented singers produce fewer records, the brilliant executives do not become president of the firm…

This tennis match is a great example of how to live life. Both players were dedicated. Both gave great effort. Both failed many times. Both fought on. There are more talented players, who would have packed it in much sooner.

A life, given years, is a life filled with many failures. Those whom we view as successful are people, who have a high tolerance for failure. They see life as a marathon; therefore, they shake off any failure along the way and move on. Too often, the best and the brightest cannot tolerate failure, so they quit.

I predict both Isner and Mahut will squeeze every bit out of their individual talent before their careers are done. Consequently, both will retire as successes. And, both will be remembered, if for nothing else, for this epic battle.

So, if you are sitting there this morning lamenting your lack of brains or brawn, be of good cheer. Perhaps, you are blessed with an even more important component—the temperament to proceed even after failure.

Rom. 5:3-5: “3Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.”

The Patient Warrior

Not being a math whiz myself, I appreciated a story I read a few years ago. A young man traveled to St. Louis to take the entrance exam to West Point. He was from a poor farming family, and his hopes for a college education hinged upon an appointment to the military academy.

Upon his arrival, he learned he would be competing with twelve other young men. His chief competition, much to his chagrin, had been preparing for the exam for over a year!

The exam was to take four days, each subject lasting four hours. The exam on algebra was the major obstacle for this young man. It was mandatory to solve 67 percent of the problems. After two hours, he had solved only 20 percent. Discouraged and convinced he was a complete failure, he picked up his papers and walked to the desk of the officer in charge, ready to hand them in. He had wasted everyone’s time, including his own. He was going home, ready to spend the rest of his life farming.

Arriving at the desk, the young man noticed the officer completely focused on a book he was reading. He did not want to disturb the officer, so he returned to his desk and decided he might as well try one more time.

Then, something happened. The young man began to recall the theorems he had studied. He became enthusiastic and hopeful. After four hours, he had completed more than the necessary 67 percent. The rest of the exams were tough, yet the young man pressed on.

Last week, I saw the grave of that young man in Arlington National Cemetery. The tombstone had five stars on it. Omar Bradley, received his appointment to West Point, became a hero of World War II, and grew to be one of the most beloved and revered generals in military history.

During his entrance exams, Omar Bradley found temptation to quit. He grew frustrated and his emotions told him to leave. Yet, he remained patient, overcame his emotions, and he persevered.

Omar Bradley defied the military stereotype. Consequently, I find Prov. 16:32 particularly fitting to him—and ironic:

32 Better a patient man than a warrior,
a man who controls his temper than one who takes a city.

Omar Bradley was a patient man (who held his emotions in check), a warrior, and he took a city---many in fact.