The Man in the Arena
“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.” – Theodore Roosevelt
In restoring your identity class this week we watched a TED Talk about shame, by Brené Brown. In her talk she used the above Theodore Roosevelt quote. It really resonated with me and where I’m at emotionally. I legitimately did the best I could in this past season, entering the arena and giving it my all. The critic in me is brutal. It’s easy for me to give others grace; it is significantly harder to give grace to myself, especially when the stakes are so high and I fail. Yes, I made mistakes. Everyone does, and I will make mistakes in the future too. But that doesn’t negate the fact that I tried my best, and will try my best in the future.
The critic cannot diminish the accomplishment of the man (or woman) in the arena. It’s not their place, because they never entered into it. I’m talking about my critical self. It’s time I learn the art of extending grace to myself. I thought I learned how to do this on the race, but I realize I was just stepping into it. Like a painter who just discovered the joy of finger painting as a child. That art is great and beautiful in it’s own right, but an artist refines his craft and that’s where I’m currently at, in the refinement process of extending grace to myself. Please pray for me in this.
I hope you have a Fantastic Friday!
Love,
-Paul
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