Life is filled with peaks and valleys..
That’s an overused analysis frequently said when somebody is down. It isn’t really comforting, but those making the comment feel better, because they don’t know anything else to do.
What seems like the bottom can become worse and never improve, but most of the time, there will be a positive change. That upside can go higher than the imagination.
One can never predict when the grand opportunity will occur. Dedicated preparation is not a guarantee. However, “the harder you work the luckier you get.”
There are occasions when feats are accomplished in a first attempt, while harder working competitors appearing to have greater talent never succeed to that level. Personal objectives can’t always be achieved, but generally that should not deter the effort.
This brings to mind when a livestock judging team composed of only high school underclassmen won a major national contest. Their coach had trained the students diligently, and they had hoped to win, yet others contended the judgers were “too young.”
That dedicated instructor responded, “We worked hard, and we’re privileged to have accomplished our goal. This is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and we’ll take it when the chance comes our way.” Reminders of those comments came several times recently.
When the world champion professional cowboy collected his trophies, he evaluated, “You can never say never anymore. I’ve been to the bottom of the valley, there have been plenty of ups and downs, but this definitely feels a whole lot better.”
A sideliner who’d been in the same limelight several years before summarized, “Winning doesn’t last forever. The highs sure aren’t near long enough.”
Then the bow-legged cowboy whose championship buckle of decades earlier wasn’t even visible below his pot belly nodded: “Enjoy the ride while you can.”
That sentiment was repeated at a recent recognition of top ranch rodeo cowboys: “It doesn’t get any better than this.” One doesn’t know that for certain, but it is crucial to appreciate our blessings when they are bestowed.
Likewise, we must remember Deuteronomy 28:1: “If you listen obediently to the voice of God, and heartily obey all his commandments, your God will place you on high. All these blessings will come down on you and spread out beyond you, because you have responded to the voice.”
+++ALLELUIA+++
V–3–1-16-11