63: Persistence and Joy

Reflections on Generosity

"...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..."
This week, I’m reading from Citizenship in a Republic, a speech given by Theodore Roosevelt in 1910.
Reflection question:

• How will you let the dust, sweat, and blood from last week go and look forward to daring greatly this week?

Reflection on Quote:
Earlier this week, I attended the grand opening of our local library. The capital campaign had been delayed and had faced many obstacles and criticisms. Despite of all this, the volunteer members of the fundraising committee persisted. And, the joy at the grand opening was contagious all because these volunteers decided to keep going.
Too often we are distracted by obstacles and criticisms. Our work is hard, dust, sweat and blood. We make errs and we will come short at times. But, we are spending ourselves for a worthy cause and we are daring greatly. And, when we persist in our work, we like the volunteers on the fundraising committee have ability to bring joy to those in our communities.

This quote has entered the public domain.
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