We’re gearing up for volleyball season in the Vogt household — and the season lasts a long, long time. There’s the school volleyball season, which runs right into the club volleyball season … and that ends about the same time as the school year ends.
Yeah. And then this summer? You got it. More volleyball.
I’ve learned so much watching my daughter compete. About winning and losing … and choosing how you respond to both. My daughter plays to win. Who doesn’t? But in the losses … oh, how the glory of what she believes, who she chooses to be, comes out.
My daughter makes her own choices on the court, before, during, and after a match. She’s anchored to her faith and was born with a resiliency that amazes me — and that I try hard to mirror. Yes, yes, we can learn from our children.
In Your Words: We’ve talked of victory and defeat before — and I know at least one member of this community who stares down defeat on a daily basis. (Right, Andrew?) But there are those times when defeat shakes the soul … and glory — hope, determination, a deeper understanding of yourself, or of God — comes out. When has that happened for you?
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I agree we learn a lot from our children:) As for defeat, the writing world can be full of it! God’s taught me so much through every single step. Great post today, Beth!
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Susan:
My children have revealed both my weaknesses and my strengths — and I am thankful for both.
And yes, the writing world had defined and redefined me. So long as I submit it all to God as the turest of Refiners — I’m good.
AMEN!
The only true and lasting failure is the decision to abandon principle for expediency.
Whom do we remember from Thermopylae? Certainly not the Persians.
And is Santa Ana enshrined in our hearts?
Death is merely inevitable; we leave a wake as we pass through life, and the legacy of honour, decency, and fair play that remains after we’re gone is our measure of success. Nothing else.
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I was waiting for your thoughts on this, even as I wrote the post last night, Andrew. I know your attitude on defeat is NO DEFEAT. NO QUITTING.
And knowing you has made me stronger — less of a quitter.
One thing I have learned is that the determination not to quit has to be reaffirmed every day. It’s not easy, at least not for me. I have to do things intentionally – choosing what I read and what I watch with care, and making myself do those things I want to do, and should be doing, every day.
Right now, for instance, I’m in enough pain that I would really rather have a cigar (which help a bit with both pain and nausea), and settle down with a good book or DVD.
But instead, I’m here at the computer, writing. Every word’s a bit of a struggle, and the pain’s making me lightheaded, but I know that I’ll be the happier for having made progress on the tasks I’ve set myself.
I know that tomorrow it’ll be the same; with each sunrise comes the need for making the choice to accept the pain, and hope that it will somehow work in a higher cause, and fit into God’s plan. Even if the books are never published, I have to believe that the ‘wake’ I leave will spread out, and touch distant souls, long after I’m gone.
I loved this quote, Beth. It’s such a beautiful reminder that a failure is not a permanent loss. Rather, glory can come from it. God has used defeat in my life a number of times . . . trying to find a job after college, dealing with infertility, writing disappointments, there have been many opportunities for God to shake my soul and let the glory out.
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Jeanne: I love the “shake my soul” part of this quote … I do. It’s the soul-shaking changes that are the transformative ones.
I think defeat brings us closer to God where often, victory becomes an I did it type thing. Good post.
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Absolutely agree with everything you wrote, Pat. Nicely summed up.