As day passes into night, lives also pass from life to death. We have a short time on this earth and that is it. During that time we can sit back and watch others make mistakes and still others accomplish great things. We can watch as others find true happiness while others lose their last chance at happiness. Yes, we can sit back and watch all this happen, waiting for the right time to take that bold step into the unknown and when we do, we never find what we have wanted. We have never dared to take a chance, to risk failing, or allow others a chance to hurt us. When we do that we effectively close so many doors that may never open again.

There are times that test us to our very limits and times when we see no way to have a viable solution but we must decide. Do we attempt the impossible? Do we reach for that which is just out of reach? Or do we sit back and complain about the way things are? At the end of our lives we will either have found peace within ourselves or we will have great turmoil as we pass from life to death. Is it not better to have attempted and failed than to have never tried? When we do not reach for what seems so far out of reach we surrender to failure. The shortest distance to failure is to have never tried.

The homeless shelters attest to the failed lives of so many. Some are not there by choice, although many are. It appears the need for homeless shelters is growing each year. There are people who choose to live on the street and seek shelter only when it is very cold. There are others that move from shelter to shelter, staying as long as they are allowed at each one. There are others that for one reason or another have sought shelter because they find themselves temporarily out of work. All attest to failed lives in one way or another.

There are other failures also; those who have seen an opportunity and were afraid to act upon it. These are perhaps the saddest of all the failed lives. These people may have everything this life has to offer except the one thing they desire most and this one thing is denied them because they were afraid to take that first step; the step into the unknown. Am I guilty of this? Are you?

I think there is a hidden fear in all of us that prevents us from taking bold steps. Perhaps it is that fear that prevents some from achieving while others overcome that fear and step out expecting the best and working towards that end. Some may never know they have that fear yet their lives reflect it as do their faces. I think it is time for us all to look deep inside and determine what it is we want, and then take steps toward achieving that goal.

Be strong and let your heart take courage, All you who hope in the Lord. Ps 31:24 NASB