Afterwards, Begin Again

Scripture References: Isaiah 53:4; John 16:33

Thomas Carlyle spent a year in research, gathering materials. Then he wrote for endless hours daily through many weeks to complete the first volume of his history of the French Revolution. He then submitted it to a friend for inspection. The manuscript was accidentally and ignorantly destroyed by a servant. Carlyle bore the loss with equanimity and never openly criticized his friend’s carelessness. He wrote to Emerson that he had to recruit his resolve and return to work. “I began again at the beginning. . . .”

An 8.1 personal quake won’t shake some people while a sonic boom unravels others. Some with every advantage fail when confronting disaster while others, with no advantages, succeed despite the disaster. Whether we recover from tragedy slowly, quickly, or not at all depends on our reaction to it. Seeing obstacles as unsought opportunities can unleash creative forces within to recover and surpass what was lost. Resilience in life—the ability to constantly bend without breaking—will protect us from self—defeating responses when we confront the inevitable monsters of mayhem.

Courtesy of Speaker’s Sourcebook of New Illustrations by Virgil Hurley © 1995 by Word, Incorporated.
Unless otherwise noted, Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV © 2011 by Biblica, Inc.®
Used by permission. All rights reserved.