Dad And The Art Of Trying

One of the qualities I observed about my dad when I was growing up was he was always trying. He’d enroll in Dale Carnegie courses, Marriage Enrichment, or Zig Ziglar. There were different diets and exercise plans. He learned Greek, picked up Chess, studied the book of Romans, enrolled in college courses, and read the complete works of Shakespeare.

He continued to try.

Life had not exactly been easy for my dad. Home life was at times difficult. In his young adult life he was drafted into a war that left permanent physical and mental challenges. These challenges took a toll.

He continued to try.

Trying is a noble quality in a person. It requires a level of grit and determination to refuse to accept the deck you have been dealt. To refuse to accept your present reality as your permanent reality. To refuse to simply throw in the towel.

We have been dealt a difficult hand this year. You might wonder what you can do during this season of difficulty. Today, I am remembering a lesson I learned from dad years ago….

You can try.

You can try and learn a new skill.

You can try and pick up a new hobby.

You can try and enroll in an online course.

You can try and master a book of the Bible.

You can try and learn a new language.

You can try and make a difference.

You can try.