Learning from Our Failures

There is an old story about a seeker who came to a holy man for guidance.
“Tell me, wise one, how did you become holy?,” he asked.
“Two words,” the holy man responded.
“And may I ask what are they are?”
“Right choices.”
The seeker was fascinated.”How does one learn to choose rightly?”
“One word,” said the holy man.
“One word! What is it?” the seeker asked.
“Growth.”
The seeker was thrilled. “How does one grow?”
“Two words.”
“What are they, please tell me?”
“Wrong choices.”

It is so true, isn’t it? Failure can be our greatest teacher. Because failure is painful, we don’t readily forget what we got wrong – which can be a good thing. Failure can also give us compassion, experience, and strength to help others. It can help us grow in compassion because it is humbling to fail. It reminds us that we are merely human – just like everyone else around us.

It can also help us grow stronger.

There’s a line in this book by Ernest Hemingway, A Farewell to Arms that has stuck with me over many years. Hemingway writes, “The world breaks everybody. And many are strong in the broken places.” The truth is we fall down a lot. And when our wounds heal, there is the potential for us to come out on the other side of it much wiser, kinder, and stronger.

May you learn from your failures in life. May you become strong in the broken places. May you turn back and use your strength to strengthen others. May you know that no matter what happens to you in life, God never gives up on you.

Let us pray: God of grace, we thank you for your love and forgiveness. Take our past mistakes and failures and use them to form us more and more in your image. And then, use us as instruments of your love and grace. We ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.