T'is the season for giving... giving up and giving in.
The desire to quit has never pummeled me harder than this week. Some could argue the feelings arrived because of a winter slump. Others could say a new semester on the horizon has channeled so much fear the anxiety has paralyzed me.
For me, arguments don't help. Often, a quote, a verse, any sliver of encouragement thrusts me through a difficult day.
Take the advice of those who "failed" time and time again. If you quit now, you'll regret it.
I have received a hundred some rejections (what I consider to be "failures") in the publishing business.
The lightbulb gave good old Tom 1,000. Not to mention, two jobs fired him because they thought he lacked productivity.
In the first world war, Churchill lost 250,000 troops in an epic defeat. (One of his many failures).
We cannot think about World War II without Churchill. He formed an alliance with FDR and Stalin. Serving as England's prime minister, he helped the war against Hitler ultimately end in a victory.
The Apostle Paul's contemporaries would not have given him a prize for success. Before his conversion, he had a considerable position in the Jewish religion and had a Roman citizenship (a costly commodity at the time).
Post conversion, Paul faced considerable persecution, jail time, desertion of friends, and martyrdom. But, if he quit, we would not have 13 out of 27 New Testament books -- which provide instructional living and encouragement for Christians today.
302 rejections. Over 300 times, entrepreneurs turned down the idea of Walt Disney World. 300 bankers couldn't handle the vision of a talking mouse.
A $143 billion-dollar company would beg to differ.
The boy who lived was the boy who was rejected a dozen times.
Believe me, when you send out a query to a publisher and they reject it, you feel like they shoved a burning fireplace poker down your throat.
Facing that 12 times for a story as incredible as Harry Potter? Submitting to the unlucky (but later lucky) 13 must've taken an immense amount of courage.
Tis the season for giving. Giving your dream your all. Do. Not. Give. Up.
