So I decided to talk about the 'discovery' topic in my Dale Carnegie class. Wasn't even 3 sentences into it and the instructor interrupted me. Normally I can handle that and can improve fairly well. I think my problem was that I decided at the last minute that I wasn't as well prepared as I thought I was.
I normally don't have problems speaking in front of crowds. I'd been performing at piano recitals and choir performances through most of my adolescent years. Even had a few solos. But one thing that occurred to me last week is the amount of preparation that goes into musical performances. It's hours and hours and hours of practicing just to spend those few moments in front of a crowd. I have never put that much effort into a speech. Even through college when we had to give presentations. I'd jot down a few notes and wing it. And I usually did well. Certainly never failed.
Holly cow did I feel like I failed. I'm certain it was more my feeling than any actual failure, but that doesn't really make it better.
Next week is coming. Our assignment is another talk about something we've accomplished. I already know exactly what I'm going to talk about....
Nothing.
It's not that I've never accomplished anything. It's just that anything worth talking about hasn't been from me. You might think my choice to stick it out with my wife is an accomplishment...and it is...but it wasn't from me. It was entirely God's doing.
What about my kids? Hey! I successfully had sex. At least 3 times!
As far as raising them? Any patience I have doesn't come from me. It's God. I've always had feelings and practical actions of love towards them, but again, it's entirely founded on the grace of God.
Graduating college? Huh. Someone else paid tuition and I showed up to class. Yippee. Don't get me wrong, I learned a lot and enjoyed it. But it was just something to do.
My biggest accomplishment...that didn't even come from me...was realizing how inept I really am. God granted me His grace. It took an emotional crisis for me to get to the point of receiving it. All of it was orchestrated by God. I had no other choice. Thank God.
Good point. We make plans and then they fall through... its because it wasn't in His plan. When it happens right... that was His doing too.
ReplyDeleteCredit where credit is due.
Well, that sounds like something you could get up and talk persuasively about.
ReplyDeleteJust read your comment on my page! Happy Birthday!!
ReplyDeleteI attribute some of my strength and patience from God, but I believe that we all have the ability to produce our own strength and accomplish things on our own as well.
I have to respectfully disagree with this method of thinking. It is my personal opinion that by giving God all of the credit for your accomplishments, you greatly diminish your own self-worth and abilities. You are the one who is raising your kids, you made the decision to stick it out with your wife and you studied hard and passed the tests to graduate college. All of this came from you whether you want to believe it or not, at least that's the way I see it.
ReplyDeleteI completely understand the point of achievements being from one's self. To that effect, I also believe in free will, which enables us to make decisions and suffer the consequences, good or bad.
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