"Do or Do Not. There is No Try."

The older I get, the more I realize how wise Yoda actually was...

I love to hear people's stories of how they have triumphed over something in their lives - be it illness, relationship issues, addiction, money trouble, etc - I love to hear how they stood firm and ultimately broke on through to the other side.  The Bible is full of these tales - Moses, Noah, Joseph, Peter, Paul - just to name a few.

But, there is one problem.

It doesn't take long to tell a story.  No matter if the problem persisted in the person's life for weeks, months, years or decades, it only takes a few minutes to tell.  Maybe I'm alone, but that has messed me up in the past.

I would face a problem in my own life armed with the stories of other's victories and think, "I can do this!  I just need to apply a little tenacity and pretty soon it will be all over."

That "pretty soon" gets me every time.

Did you know that from the time Joseph's brother tossed him into that cistern to the time that Pharoah placed the ring on his finger was 20 years?  20 YEARS.  How about Moses?  From the time he knew he was the deliverer until he lead the children of Israel across the Red Sea was 40 years. That means if he fled Egypt and went to Midian when I was born, he is just now leading the people through on dry ground.  Noah spent 120 years building that boat.  It just took you a few seconds to read those words, but let them make an impact on your soul.  They walked through those trials moment by moment, minute by minute, hour by hour.  I am sure they all had times when they felt like throwing in the towel - "that's it!  I tried it!  I tried to believe God, to hang in there, to keep my chin up!!  It doesn't work!!"

No.  That's the wrong way to look at it.

Do or Do Not.  There is No Try.

All of those people whose stories we love to hear, they just kept on marching.  They didn't know where they were in the process or when they would ultimately overcome.  They just kept on going.  And going.  And going.

I didn't say they always felt like it.  I'm sure they didn't.  But, they kept going.

I don't know when, my friends, but one day someone is going to be reading or listening to my story and being all inspired.  They will.  Because I am not going to quit.