I am in Australia right now, helping with a course called the “Faith & the Arts Summer School” that Fusion hosts each January. The hope is to do this course in Canada. As part of the preparations, I have been working on a journal, which the participants will use throughout the week. I’ve been on my own creative journey of learning how to use InDesign. I think I have stirred the latent graphic designer in me – I want to learn more!
I wanted to share a quote from the journal with you, from Madeleine L’Engle (Author of ‘A Wrinkle in Time’).
“Human beings are the only creatures that are allowed to fail. If an ant fails, it’s dead. But we are allowed to learn from our mistakes and failures.
And that’s how I learn; by falling flat on my face and picking myself up and starting all over again. If I am not free to fail, I will never start another book, I’ll lever start a new thing”.
How does that help you think about hope? For me, there is something about being in a place where it’s okay to be always growing, learning, moving beyond what we see and understand. That our weaknesses and failures are not things that get in the way, but invite more growth, understanding and life.
What are your thoughts?
And remember… we’d love for your to send in a photograph for our online gallery, as well as for our arts exhibition later on this spring. Hope to hear from you soon!
- Heather
#1 by Dave Von Bieker on January 28, 2011 - 4:24 pm
I read “Failing Forward” by John Maxwell some time ago and when I got to the part about how many times most successful business people had failed previous to their success, I remember thinking, “boy, I’m glad I don’t have to go through that”. I’m older now, and, I pray, a little wiser. I know I’ve failed.
As Danny DeVito’s sage character remarks to a younger, naive man in “The Big Kahuna”, “oh you’ve done plenty of things to regret, you just don’t know what they are yet” (a paraphrase of sorts).
I’d tend to a agree. Those who think they have not yet failed most likely do not know yet that they have. Failure is almost unavoidable. But you’re right, it leads to growth (if we can get past it).
I’ve been able to crawl through and out of failures, and continue to do so, and that certainly gives me hope for the future. There is also a sort of subversive recklessness in losing the fear of failing. It’s empowering, and it makes you feel a little crazy. That’s likely a good thing.
Thanks for the thoughts. I’m glad I’m not an ant, too.