Resolve to Succeed

 

I'd like to start out today's message of hope with the content of a letter written by Abraham Lincoln to a friend, Isham Reavis back in 1855 years before Mr. Lincoln's presidency and his battle to hold a fractured nation together during the Civil War. Apparently, Mr. Reavis was considering becoming a lawyer much like the pathway our future president of the United States had taken. The protege must have been questioning his choice to become an attorney and here is what Abe's advice sounded like: 

"If you are resolutely determined to make a lawyer of yourself, the thing is more than half done already. It is but a small matter whether you read with any body or not. I did not read with any one. Get the books, and read and study them till, you understand them in their principle features; and that is the main thing. It is of no consequence to be in a large town while you are reading. I read at New-Salem, which never had three hundred people living in it. The books, and your capacity, for understanding them, are just the same in all places ... 

Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed, is more important  than any other one thing. Very truly, 

Abe Lincoln"

Two lines are what really grabbed me and pulled me into Honest Abe's advice. The first was Abraham's recognition that if Isham had resolved to be a lawyer then more than half of the work was already done. Then to close out his mentoring session, Mr. Lincoln adds, "Your own resolution to succeed is more important than any other one thing." Today's title offers a challenge to us all, resolve to succeed, shall we proceed?

Lincoln's advice to the law student is laced with him sharing that it doesn't matter if you read with others, or if he were studying in a larger town as opposed to a smaller community. He even goes on to say that the content of the books won't really change regardless of where you read them. The main thing according to the future statesman was to read, study, and read some more until he understood and knew all of what he had been reading. Applying this to today's work ethic and mindset, we don't necessarily need to find the latest and greatest tool on the market to support our efforts, regardless of what that may be, but at the end of the day, our resolve to finish what we start and to never give up in the face of adversity will have a more robust impact on our success than almost any other tool we incorporate. In other words, if you don't think you can do something, you are probably right. I'm reminded of the words of Henry Ford, "Whether you say you can or you say you can't you are most usually correct." You must have that dogged determination that just won't allow you to give in or throw in the towel!

You have to be willing to adopt a "mind over matter" mentality in my opinion. If you don't mind, it don't matter! There will be obstacles in reaching your goals, you will face mountains and valleys during your life's journey that should be a given, but how prepared you are to face life's challenges is where you or I are the difference maker. If we accept that challenges will exist, but we also hold firm to the belief that overcoming obstacles is just part of the journey, the obstacle itself is diminished. That my friend is our resolve. We accept life's challenge, but only because we believe that we have a destination to reach and we will do what we need to do to overcome challenges because that is what needs to be done. Our resolve is the gas in our tank when we are traveling towards our purpose in life. 

Competitive athletes will tell you that 80% of the outcome in their endeavors is mental. A weightlifter can't look at the bar with multiple plates on each side and say "I don't think I can lift this weight". Well I guess he or she can, but it is almost certain that if that is what is going on inside their head then they most certainly will not be able to lift the weight. That is no different for us in life's challenges. If we see the weight of the world as too much for us to bear, then almost certainly we will give in to the challenge that stands in front of us. In James 1:2-4 we are told to "Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." Persevere, be resolved, see it through, you have a manifest destiny with God's purpose for your life. 

I have met so many people in my life that on paper should not have made it to where they are today. Over comers, over achievers, and the most unlikely to succeed that have truly exceeded anyone's expectations. Each one of those individuals have developed the resolve to be successful in their endeavors. Abraham Lincoln resolved to see this great nation persevere and that is exactly what happened. Even in the darkest days of the Civil War when it appeared that the divide was going to be too great to hold our nation together, our president held firm to his belief that the United States would remain one country. Whatever it is that you are facing today, it is up to you to decide will I overcome or will I succumb? Either way you will most definitely follow the path you choose. I choose to step up and resolve to succeed! 

Coach Carter