Facing the Failure
Who errs and mends, to God himself commends.
Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra A rooster's crow pierced the heart of the frightened and derelict disciple. One glance at the Master's expression, and all Peter could do was weep bitterly. Yet Peter is not remembered as a man of tears and failure. Certainly he filled his quota of mistakes. Previously, his brief trek on the water turned into treading water, and later Paul would rebuke him publicly for his snub of the Hellenistic Christians. Still Peter stands in our minds as the rock — a venerated founder of the church. Why? Because Peter learned to face failure. Failure wasn't the end for Peter; it was merely one milestone. Other more significant monuments marked the greater course of his life, overshadowing the lesser markers of mistakes. He who tried big, blundered big, but he continued on. And we are all blessed because of it. Biting the Bullet
Richard Kew, an Episcopal rector, discovered that failure wears a dread countenance. A couple of years ago he wrote autobiographically: "Last week I resigned from parish ministry. My marriage is in trouble and my nerves have been in tatters. Less than a year ago I was considered a high flyer in my denomination, having held a series of highly responsible positions of leadership by the time I was in my mid-thirties. "Now all that is gone. I have burned out. The succession of emotions I have experienced over the last couple of years has been devastating — depression, despair, disgust, anguish, panic, sadness — and all the time it has been increasingly impossible to put one foot in front of the other. Every time I stood in the pulpit or at the Communion table, I felt myself digging for spiritual and emotional resources that no longer were there. Like ...
Like the preview? To read this complete article
and 18,013 more in the archive—JOIN NOW!
Easily find high-quality, well-researched materials that provide a Christian perspective on topics ranging from headlines to history.
Start using this invaluable tool TODAY for preparing your Bible studies, presentations, class lectures, sermons, meetings, and more.
|
It's easy and quick to join:
Brought to You by Christianity Today Int'l |  |
|
| 
Find similar articles
E-mail this page
