By Fr. Joel de los Reyes
No one has traveled to reach the port of success without crossing first the bridge of failure. Someone said that a mistake is the first step of success, but the fact is that the correction of mistakes is the first step to succeed. A positive outlook on failure helps us see our weak spot and double the dosage of our desire to get up and improve. When you flunk an examination, fail in your career or an endeavor, do not take it as a death sentence or the end of the world for you; but trust in God’s mercy, for he always reserves one more spot, one more time and one more chance for you to recover, pick up the broken pieces, clean up and start all over again. Besides there is always a reason why things happen; and if the reason proves to be adverse, perhaps he is testing your patience. And if you cannot change the situation, change your view and attitude toward the situation. Was it not Abraham Lincoln who lost seven times in prior elections before ascending to Capitol Hill?
God never promised an easy journey in life, only safety on board. Our Lord’s life journey itself was rough and tough, but he kept going and did not allow public opinion, criticism or opposition to stop or deter him from sailing on to fulfill his mission. It is not what you have been though in your life that defines who you are you. It is how you got through it that made you the person you are today. Remember that happiness needs sadness, goodness needs evil, love needs hatred, victory needs defeat, gain needs pain, crown needs thorns, forgiveness needs sins and Easter needs Good Friday. “Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced” (James Baldwin). Someone mentioned that life does not give you the people you want; rather, it gives you the people you need: to love you, to hate you, to break you and to make you the best you are meant to be.
Sometimes you have to shut up, swallow your pride and accept that you are wrong. It is not giving up—it is called growing up. Bruce Lee, the great and legendary martial artist, once said, “Do not pray for easy life; pray for the strength to endure a difficult one.” God will show you the way, but you still have to make the journey. It is not always fine and easy, but you will arrive at your destination safely. Sometimes you just have to die a little inside in order to be reborn, rise again and come up stronger and wiser. Bear in mind that every story has an end, but in life every end has a beginning. You may not understand why you are going through difficult times, but do not try to figure out. Keep trusting God’s Divine Mercy for he knows how to bless you in unexpected ways. It is said that where dry land ends, green grass grows.
Remember that failure is not the opposite of success; it is a part of success, for life has so many different chapters, and one bad chapter does not mean the end of the book. Moreover, your life may not be perfect, but thank the Lord it is good. It may not have all you want, but you may have all you need. What an ironic life we have indeed, for it takes sadness to know happiness, noise to appreciate silence, and absence to value presence. And here’s the best line said by God: “I cannot promise to solve all your problems, but I can promise that I will never let you face them all.” Amen on that folks!!
In diary entry no. 584, St. Faustina wrote Jesus’ words to her: “Oh, if souls would only want to listen to My voice when I am speaking in the depths of their hearts, they would reach the peak of holiness in a short time.”
Tune in to KOLG 90.9 F.M. for the Divine Mercy prayer at every 3 p.m. Recite daily the Chaplet of Mercy for peace in the world and the conversion of sinners.
Thanks to Del San Nicolas for the presentation of the Divine Mercy and the veneration of the sacred relic of St. Faustina last Sunday afternoon, Jan. 27, 2013, in her home in Barrigada Heights. Likewise thanks to the Divine Mercy prayer team for their faithfulness in the Divine Mercy Sunday afternoon home apostolate and to the participants of the Divine Mercy Symposium last Saturday Jan. 26, 2013, at Santa Barbara Church parish hall. May the good Lord continue to bless you and your families with the abundance of his grace and mercy.
To arrange for a Divine Mercy home presentation, prayer and the veneration of the sacred relic of St. Faustina, please contact Amy Borja at 472-7778. Thank you.
Source:
http://umatuna.org/failure-a-bridge-to-success