fear of failure

Sometimes fear of failure paralyzes us. Sometimes we’re afraid to step up to the plate. Afraid to swing at the ball because we might strike out. Some people’s motto: If at first you don’t succeed... destroy all the evidence and never try again.

I was reading about a guy who wanted to become an orchestra conductor. But people thought he was just weird. During soft passages, he would crouch down to the floor. For loud sections, he’d jump in the air and even scream at the orchestra. He often got mixed up and even lose his place.

When playing from the piano, he would get into trouble. During one song he jumped from the bench, and bumped all the candles off the piano. At another concert he knocked over a choirboy.

He often cued the orchestra at the wrong place, causing confusion. The musicians ignored him. They even asked him to quit and go home. They considered him a horrible conductor.

WHO do you suppose I’m talking about? Ludwig Van Beethoven. Considered to be one of the greatest composers and creative genius’ to ever live. And YET as a conductor, he was horrible.

Failure isn’t fatal. It’s not going to kill you. You’re NOT going to be good at everything. But God has placed you here for a reason, and there is something that you probably ARE good at.

Be thankful for what you CAN do, and do it with all you might.