It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly, who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows the triumph of great achievement, and who, at worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place will never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.
– Theodore Roosevelt

So I keep replaying the end of the Super Bowl in my mind as I listen to those on both sides of the fence, those disappointed with the failure of the Seattle Seahawks, those amazed at the triumph of the New England Patriots.

“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles…”

Reality check: a 3-6 inch difference in either the placement of the ball or the angle of the receiver and Pete Carroll becomes an instant genius, a skilled coach and strategist. Tom Brady is trounced for his two interceptions. Seattle is the greatest team in the history of the NFL. Ok, maybe not the last one.

“The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood…”

That ‘s what I love about the quote from Teddy. We don’t deserve any credit. Our criticisms of what should or should not have been done are silenced. Our insight and blather are just that, so much Taurus faecus.

“who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming…”

In our criticisms, we take on the voice of our enemy. He is the one that condemns and ridicules our every decision. He is the one that keeps us from moving as we second guess ourselves and live in fear of failure.

“… but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows the triumph of great achievement…”

What is your dream? I think we offend God more by asking too little than from asking too much. He is our Father. He knows every hair on our head and every dream in our heart. He knows better what we can do in Him, what He can do through us. He calls us to it.

“… and who, at worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place will never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.”

You may fail, but what will He accomplish in your failure. You may win, it is His desire for you. People may laugh at you, question your sanity, outright fight against you.

Just get in the arena.