“Try again. Try again. Fail better.”- Samuel Beckett
Pastor Tom Eggebrecht writes in Chapter 9 (“Help People” of Fully and Creatively Alive that the way to improve any relationship involves honoring the other person’s dreams. Therefore, first determine what the other person wants to do, become, or achieve. Next, help them do it. Tom strongly encourages:
“Your help will more than likely mean far more than you’ll ever know. Help someone today.”
Furthermore, listening to the stories of others- or sharing your own- and retelling them potentially becomes an integral part of one’s own passion or dream. In Chapter 10 (“Tell a Good Story”), Tom notes that people very often identify with a character’s transformation.
As a result, center on the darkest time in a character’s life. Then, locate the moment when that person crosses a threshold. At that point, that person does something they wouldn’t have done otherwise. Part of getting your message out- and across- necessitates telling your story.
In addition, the author notes, it’s surprising just how many people connect with you when you’re honest about all your failures, warts, and troubles. They’ll want to hear the next chapter of your story!
In conclusion, Tom exhorts us to move forward and take the next step:
“So go ahead and live it [the next chapter]. Then tell it: through your art . . . a blog . . . your website . . . through any means possible. People need what you have to give. People want to cheer you on. . . to participate in your transformation . . . to feel like they have a stake in it. So let them in. Let them listen. Let them help.”
Today’s question: Following your ministry downsizing or vocation loss, how have you learned to fail better? Please share.
Tomorrow’s blog: “The help of other people”
