I’ve been thinking a lot about failure and the need to get back in the saddle.
Last month, get this, I fell off my horse.
Cowboy Jesus falls off his horse – how embarrassing.
I wasn’t bucked, whupped, or twirled off. No, when I was getting on, I lost my balance and fell off. Phoebe laughed. My horse was disgusted. I whacked my back and ribs. I had to get up, get over the embarrassment and try again. Don’t tell me I’m too old to ride.
This summer a horse trainer I know - a highly skilled, highly respected, award winning, people from all over the country seek his advice type of person – made a rooky mistake. He told his horse to go one way and he went the other. He flipped off his horse. Unlike me he shattered his leg. I talked with him this week. After months of recuperation, he’s back in the saddle competing and training again. He dusted himself off and got back in the saddle.
You know Paul Simon, right? Of Bridge over Trouble Waters? This guy, who everything he touches turns to gold, as in big money, fame, and global recognition, well I’m listening to a book about him. It’s a great book where Malcom Gladwell interviews Simon about his history as a musician, his creative process, and life in general. What I learned is Paul Simon had a major failure. He wrote and produced a Broadway Musical. He invested a ton of time, money, and talent into the production. He poured his heart and soul into it. He thought it was going to be great because he’s Paul Simon. It wasn’t. It was panned by the critics. It ran for sixty-eight shows and closed. It was a total failure.
What did Simon do? He licked his wounds for a little while, but then he got another creative idea, and he was back at it making music. He fell off his horse, but he got back on to keep on riding.
Failing is a part of my life. Not only have I failed miserably as a husband and father, but in my work it’s a part of the job. When I preach on Sunday, I pour my heart into it. I study and write for months before it’s preached. I take nothing for granted. But after all the preparation as the words are coming out of my mouth on a Sunday morning, I think to myself, “Well this sure sucks.” What do I do when it’s over? I lick my wounds for twenty-four hours, but then I dump the sermon from my mind and get to thinking about what I’m working on for next Sunday. Here comes tomorrow. I have to get back in the saddle.
Failure is only momentary. Things happen. You say stupid things, you do stupid things, you make bad decisions. Sometimes there’s a hefty price to pay for your mistakes. People lose jobs and relationships because of their failures. But what are you going to do? Sit there on the ground? At some point you have to decide to get up and move on. Get back in the saddle.
Apologize as best as you can to those you’ve afflicted. Pay the piper to whatever or whomever you owe. But then, it’s time to move on.
Build a bridge, dig a ditch - and get over it.
I also believe you need to learn from your mistakes. Let’s not waist the pain. Look at your decisions, what got you in this situation where you have egg on your face? Learn, incorporate, integrate, but then move on because it’s time to get back in the saddle.
I say cut your ties, emotionally, spiritually, financially, and familial, count your loses and get back on the horse.
The afternoon I fell off my horse, after I got back on, Phoebe and I had the most beautiful ride enjoying an autumn afternoon. Yea, my ribs hurt, my back ached, but it was beautiful none the less.
It’s the promise that comes with getting up and getting on with your life, someday, sometime, somehow, you too will venture into some new glorious tomorrow.
Get on with it. Get up, dust yourself off, and get back in the saddle.
Steve
No comments:
Post a Comment