Authentic Perseverance

(Note: This is the original [long] form of a speech I gave at The Bridge in Xiamen; you should be able to listen to this speech at matb.org) Authentic Perseverance Michael Krigline (January 17, 2015) www.krigline.com
Let’s start with some quotes and definitions about perseverance and it’s twin persistence. (I love www.brainyquote.com & www.quotationspage.com) Permanence, perseverance and persistence in spite of all obstacles, discouragements, and impossibilities: It is this, that in all things distinguishes the strong soul from the weak. --Thomas Carlyle (influential Scottish author, historian, philosopher, 1795-1881) I've known entrepreneurs who were not great salespeople, or didn't know how to code, or were not particularly charismatic leaders. But I don't know of any entrepreneurs who have achieved any level of success without persistence and determination. --Harvey Mackay (Businessman, author; 1932- ) Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful people with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan "press on" has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race. --Pres Calvin Coolidge (1872 – 1933; 30^th US Pres 1923-29) Perseverance is failing 19 times and succeeding the 20th. --Julie Andrews (English actress/singer, 1935- ; famous for her starring role in The Sound of Music) In the realm of ideas everything depends on enthusiasm... in the real world all rests on perseverance. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (German poet, 1749-1832) Clearly, it sounds like perseverance is extremely important, but what is it? I think a simple definition is that “Perseverance just means staying on track.” When I think of “tracks” I think of my grandfather, who was an engineer in the golden age of railroading (i.e., before Americans just starting driving or flying everywhere). He got to go to places others just dreamed about, and he “pulled” lots of people with him! After he retired, he even “pulled me” to many places, and I learned many valuable lessons at his side. “Perseverance just means staying on track.” I like this definition because perseverance is about the journey, not the destination. When you board a train in Xiamen, you and the person next to you could end up at very different destinations, because either of you could change trains at any number of places along the railway. But you won’t end up where the rails don’t run. And you will only end up somewhere good if you stay on track. So perseverance recognizes limitations, opportunities, and even the need to make changes; but perseverance doesn’t give up. Today, I’m going to give you five keys to perseverance, and this is the first one: 1. Perseverance means to stay on track, but be willing to transfer to a different train (and remember that tracks imply both limitations and freedom). That last part, about both limitations and freedom, means that we must understand our limitations—the tracks can’t take you where they don’t go; and if you know nothing about computers (for example), you won’t become a successful computer programmer. But within your limitations, there are many, many opportunities—many destinations that the track CAN take you. 1. Perseverance means to stay on track, but be willing to transfer to a different train (and remember that tracks imply both limitations and freedom). I’ll get to the other keys in a while, but I want to tell you a story. Dr Seuss (1904-1991) Dr. Seuss may not be very famous in China, except for movies like The Grinch and Horton Hears a Who—both excellent movies—but if you were an American child, you would know exactly who he is. For one in four American kids, their first book is a Dr. Seuss book. This famous author’s real name was Theodor Seuss Geisel, so I’ll call him Ted, or Dr. Seuss. At the time of his death (at the age of 87, in 1991), Ted had written and illustrated 44 children’s books. Over 20 million copies, in 15 languages had found their way into homes and hearts around the globe. Wikipedia says that 16 of the top 100 children’s books (in English) of all time were written by Dr. Seuss, whose popularity continues over 20 years after his death. His stories have also inspired more than 11 TV specials, a Broadway musical, and (so far) four major motion pictures (as of 2014, these movies alone had grossed over $1.1 billion—wiki). He also won many awards, including two Academy Awards, two Emmy awards, and the Pulitzer Prize. I don’t think that any of us would argue that Dr. Seuss was not successful! But his legendary success didn’t come automatically, or overnight. Julie Andrews said perseverance means failing again and again, so let’s see how often Ted failed. #1: He was fired from his first writing job, as editor at his college humor magazine, but he kept writing under the nickname “Seuss.” His dad wanted Ted to become a college professor, but studies bored him; he started working on a PhD at Oxford University, but (failing again) he dropped out. But, to please—or tease—his father, Ted added “Dr” to his pen name—“Dr Seuss” was born! Ted wanted to be a cartoonist, and some of his early cartoons were published in popular magazines. His career got off to a good start, but two years after he left Oxford the Great Depression hit—when lots of people failed. Life was hard, and to support himself and his new wife, he created advertising campaigns, esp. for Standard Oil—ultimately for 15 years. Fifteen years. So, by the mid 1930s he still wasn’t a cartoonist, but he was good at drawing illustrations and advertising had made him relatively successful. In fact, he and his wife (who never had children) were wealthy enough to travel to 30 countries together before 1936. He had illustrated a children’s book, and then created his own in 1932, but no one would publish it. Ted was now in his thirties, having failed or “gotten off track” time and again. Most of us would have “given up” on the dream of writing children’s cartoons. And if Ted had just gone back to what he was good at, he could have lived a “normal” happy life. But you and I would have never heard of him, and millions of children would have been deprived of a wonderful author. But Ted persevered. On the way back from Europe in 1936, the ship’s rhythmic engines inspired him to create another kids’ book, called “And to Think That I Saw it on Mulberry Street.” The first publisher rejected it, as did the second and third. Put yourself in Ted’s shoes, and tell your partner how many publishers you would be willing to submit your work to. How many times would you be able to face their rejection without giving up hope? Later, Dr. Seuss couldn’t even remember how many times he had been rejected—somewhere between 25 and 40! Most of us would have given up long before that. And this is why perseverance is so important. As Thomas Edison said, “Many of life's failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.” Edison also said: “Nearly every man who develops an idea works it up to the point where it looks impossible, and then he gets discouraged. That's not the place to become discouraged.” When things look bad, of course we get discouraged. Dr. Seuss said that he was very discouraged by all those rejections. After being rejected one more time, he was walking home to burn his manuscript. But he happened to run into old College classmate who was now in the publishing business. Soon thereafter, this man’s company agreed to publish the book. Ted called that “luck” but I call it “Divine intervention.” Ted later said, “If I had been walking down the other side of Madison Avenue, I'd be in the dry-cleaning business today.” To me, this shows that hard work, perseverance and good ideas are not always enough. We all need a helping hand now and again. So, value your friends, and it never hurts to be on friendly terms with Almighty God! Dr. Seuss’s story doesn’t end here. He wrote more books, and in World War 2 he served the army by making animated training films. Some of his work over the next 15 years was very successful, but his place in history didn’t arrive until 1956—20 years after that first book. A publisher decided that books for the youngest readers were too boring, and he challenged Ted to create a book too interesting for kids to put down, but using only about 250 “beginner” words. Ted thought he could do it in two weeks, but failed to finish it month after month. Nonetheless, he persisted for a year and a half, and when “The Cat in the Hat” was released in 1957, Dr. Seuss became the definitive Beginner Books author and illustrator. Poetry isn’t easy for non-native speakers to understand, but here’s a part of a Dr. Seuss story, related to perseverance: “on you will go though the weather be foul. On you will go though your enemies prowl… On and on you will hike. And I know you’ll hike far and face up to your problems, whatever they are.” --Dr Seuss Simon asked me to talk about this topic because I’ve also had some experience with perseverance myself. For example, at my graduate school, an MA degree in Teaching English as a Foreign Language normally takes two years. When I received my MA degree in 1999, the Dean pulled me aside. He and his wife had both been my teachers, so we knew each other. He told me, “Michael, you hold the record for earning this degree in the longest amount of time. You started 13 years ago, but you didn’t give up. Congratulations!” And of course, if I HAD given up during those 13 years of distraction and financial limitations, none of you would have ever heard of me; and I would have missed out on some wonderful friendships with you. I’m glad I didn’t quit. More recently, I’ve needed a lot of perseverance during this past year. In April, I was told that my job at Xiamen University would end during the summer. They told me that according to new university goals, our department had too many English teachers. I looked for a position at several other departments, but couldn’t find anything suitable. I applied to several other universities, both in Xiamen and even abroad. Either they didn’t find me qualified, or I didn’t find their program attractive enough to invest my time in. Each application was sent in hope, and each rejection was hard to bear. In June, a local e-commerce company said they would hire me as an English trainer and consultant. Vivian and I had to go back to the US, get many costly documents, and take care of many steps to meet China’s requirements. Each step took time. I wondered if it was worth it. But something—which I’ll talk about later—kept telling us that it was important to be in Xiamen during this season of our lives, even if I didn’t have an income. Before my XMU work visa expired, I bought a return ticket (in faith and hope) and returned to the US. When the return date came, I still didn’t have a work visa, so we returned to Hong Kong and had to enter China on tourist visas, leaving the country every 30 days, and paying a lot for all this travel. After waiting, unemployed, over four months for the e-commerce company to supply needed documents, I knew it was time to try something different—to transfer to a different train. My friends introduced me to a Xiamen kindergarten, which offered me a job. Again, there were many papers to fill out, and I had to go to Hong Kong to apply. There were times when my wife and I didn’t know from week to week if we were still going to be here. But we held on. We waited and we prayed. We persevered. After going to all that trouble, the kindergarten’s landlord said the company had to leave; my boss couldn’t find an affordable place to move to, and closed the center. Still no job, no income. But we are still here. (continued in next column)	(continued from left column) Our plans failed time and time again, but we persevered because we love being here to help you improve your English, as well as helping you develop the skills, values and relationships you need to be successful in life. We have the strength to do that because, over the years, I’ve learned several keys to perseverance. If you have a pen, you might want to write these down. Keys to perseverance: 坚持的关键 1. Perseverance means to stay on track, but be willing to transfer to a different train (and remember that tracks imply both limitations and freedom). 坚持意味着保持在轨道上，但是愿意换乘到一列不同的火车上（并记住轨道既意味着限制、也意味着自由）。 2. Remember that life is seasonal (but that means that both good and bad times will pass). 记住生命是有不同季节的（但这意味着美好的季节会过去、糟糕的季节也会过去）。 Dr Seuss had seasons of success, and seasons of failure. During the 13 years it took me to get my MA, I had seasons of work, and seasons of study. During my 15 years in China, I’ve spent seasons in several cities. Most of my students have been wonderful, but in one short season they were terrible. But I know that both good and bad times will pass. And my Dad’s advice has helped me persevere many times: “Son, you can endure anything if you know there is an ending date.” [Dr. Alan Krigline] Or as my grandfather said: “When trouble comes, I remember that the Bible says ‘it came to pass,’ it didn’t come to stay.” [Rube Holmstrom] 3. Everyone fails; determine to be one of the few willing to get up and try again. 每个人都会失败；下定决心要作那少数愿意爬起来再次尝试的人之一。 On line, you’ll find that many great people have said something like this: Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in getting up every time we do. –Confucius 人非圣贤，孰能无过；过而能改，善莫大焉。——孔子 You will fall. You will fail. And only you can decide if you “will get up and try again.” You also need to know how to learn from your falls. Failure isn’t the end, but maybe it is a time to evaluate and modify your goal. 4. You need a worthwhile goal—“a map” (but celebrate the major steps that lead to that goal). 我需要一个有价值的目标——“一张地图”但要庆祝达到那目标的主要步骤）。 If your goal isn’t worthwhile, it won’t have the power to help you persevere. To me, a “worthwhile” goal is a goal that is bigger than “me and my own success.” We would need another Lifetalk to talk about this, but for now, I’m just advising you not to simply consider your own comfort, success or income level. There are much better things to live for. And related to this, you’ll find the strength to persevere if you take time to celebrate your progress along the way; don’t just wait until the goal is achieved. In 2008, I had a textbook published in China, but I celebrated when I got permission to include certain materials, and celebrated when the contract was signed, and celebrated (bought my son a puppy, actually!) when the manuscript was sent to Beijing, and threw a big party when the books were finally delivered. Learn to celebrate along the way. 5. To persevere, you need a good “map and compass” (but a GPS is even better). 要坚持的话，你需要一个好的“地图和指南针”（但是全球定位系统更好）。 If you ever go hiking, or even visiting an unfamiliar city, you need a good map and a compass to tell you which way is north. The journey of life is no different. I believe your goals are your “map,” and your moral values are your “compass.” A year ago, Luke started this “authentic” series by mentioning several news items that make it clear that many people have lost their moral compass. Throughout the year, our Lifetalks have presented timeless truths to help you get back in touch with what is right and wrong. We’ve talked about authentic beauty, fun, listening, knowledge, success, wealth, community, direction, wisdom and many more. There are many universal virtues. Confucius pointed to three—speak the truth, don’t yield to anger, and be generous.[1] All of those are also in the Bible, plus many more. Moses, the great Law Giver, said don’t steal or kill, don’t forget to rest, honor your parents, keep your word, put God first in your life. The list in Hebrews 13 says to love like brothers, show hospitality, remember those mistreated, sleep with only your wife/husband, don’t love money, be content with what you have. People in most cultures would agree that these virtues are good—even if many people do not practice them. Did you ever notice that people in every* culture know that some things are right and some are wrong? As we just saw, there is even wide agreement about these virtues from culture to culture. AND more importantly, we all know that we sometimes fall short of our own standards of right and wrong. Why? Evolution can’t explain this internal moral compass, because it shouldn’t be there. I believe this universal moral sense points to a God-given universal law; a moral compass that is embedded in our DNA. Clearly, we need wisdom to know what is morally right and wrong, and without it, we can easily get lost. If our goals are our map, and our moral values are our compass, I think wisdom is our GPS. A GPS is even better than a map and compass because it is a satellite view; the GPS of life is a higher view, an authoritative voice from One who understands the bigger picture. Earlier, I told you that I could persevere to remain in Xiamen, even without income, because something was telling me that I belong here in this season of my life. That “something” was my GPS, telling me to “press on” because it fit into the bigger picture. Where do we find wisdom? 我们到哪里寻找智慧？ That is a crucial question, and a very old question. The following was written 3000-4000 years ago. “But where shall wisdom be found? 然而，智慧有何处可寻？ And where is the place of understanding? 聪明之处在哪里呢？ Man does not know its worth… 智慧的价值无人能知…… It cannot be bought for gold, silver…or jewels…智慧非用黄金可得，也不能平白银为它的价值……贵重的红玛瑙，并蓝宝石，不足与较量； It is hidden from the eyes of all living… 是向一切有生命的眼目隐藏…… Even Death says, 灭没和死亡说：‘我们风闻其名。’ ‘We have heard [only a] a rumor of it with our ears.’ [But] “God understands the way to wisdom… 神明白智慧的道路，…… And he said to man, 他对人说： ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, ‘敬畏主就是智慧； and to turn away from evil is understanding.’” 远离恶便是聪明！’” [abbreviated from Job 28, in the Bible] I don’t have time to explain this today, but because I fear (that is, revere) the Lord, God gives me access to His wisdom—my GPS. So my GPS is God’s Holy Spirit, and God uses both prayer and scripture like that bus app, pointing me in the right way to go. God has a satellite view, so He certainly understands the “bigger picture”! If you ignore these universal virtues—if you ignore the universal moral compass and GPS—you might get rich/powerful/popular, you might still be able to persevere, but sooner or later I think you’ll look back and realize you are lost. Well, we are running out of time, and I’d like to sing one of my songs for you. Here are Michael’s five keys to perseverance once again. 1. Perseverance means to stay on track, but be willing to transfer to a different train (and remember that tracks imply both limitations and freedom). 2. Remember that life is seasonal (but that means that both good and bad times will pass). 3. Everyone fails; determine to be one of the few willing to get up and try again. 4. You need a worthwhile goal—“a map” (but celebrate the major steps that lead to that goal). 5. To persevere, you need a good “moral compass” (but a GPS—heaven’s wisdom—is even better) This song was inspired by a classic novel called “Pilgrim’s Progress.” The story is an allegory of life. Pilgrim is a man trying to escape from the burden of his sin; his journey requires great perseverance. Many things tried to get him off track. He faces the difficult road upward over the mountains of temptation, past the swamp of selfish pleasure, through caverns of despair and storms of test and trial; he must resist Vanity Fair—an “amusement park” of distraction and fun that just wastes time and money. His destination is Heaven, and his compass (GPS) is his Bible. I’ve put the lyrics to a fun, “country” tune. And I know it has difficult English words. Feel free to take pictures of the screen so you can study them later, or to write to me and ask for the words! You’ll also see that I want YOU to help sing the chorus. Let’s try it! (I sang the song "I'll Press On") ========================== Still want to read more? Here is some more insight from God’s PerSpective (GPS) The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps. Prov 16:9 “It is for man to plan, but for Heaven to decide.” Chinese proverb “Faith” is sort of like that app that uses a GPS to help us find the right bus, or to know when it is coming. Someone said that “faith” is just a long obedience in the same direction. “Faith is to believe what we do not see, and the reward of this faith is to see what we believe.” Augustine “Faith is a living, daring confidence in God’s grace.” Martin Luther “Faith is taking the first step even when you don’t see the whole staircase.” Martin Luther King, Jr “Faith never knows where it is being led, but it loves and knows the One who is leading.” Oswald Chambers “If everything in our lives can be explained on a natural basis then we are not laying hold of the plan and purpose of the Lord Jesus for our lives.” G Allen Fleece (Former Pres. of Columbia Biblical Seminary) More from the Bible: The author of Hebrews: Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted… Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed. Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no “root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled; that no one is sexually immoral or unholy like Esau, who sold his birthright for a single meal. (Hebrews 12:1-16) James: Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness (perseverance). And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting (James 1:2-6) Paul: Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. (Romans 5:1-5) Joseph: slave prisoner Prime Minister “to save many” David: His life showed tremendous perseverance. His “compass” was set to honor God and His anointed, even when being hounded by “His anointed” who was trying to kill David! The reward? God promised David that one of his descendants (the Messiah) would sit on the throne forever!
References • *1 “Speak the truth; do not yield to anger; give, if you are asked for little; by these three steps you will go near the gods.” --Confucius Major sources of information: • www.catinthehat.org/history.htm • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dr._Seuss • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/And_to_Think_That_I_Saw_It_on_Mulberry_Street • http://writelikerowling.com/2012/03/27/dr-seuss-and-rejection/ Other sources: • Wiki image of Ted w Cat in the Hat, for website: Al Ravenna, New York World-Telegram and the Sun staff photographer - Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division. New York World-Telegram and the Sun Newspaper Photograph Collection. http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/cph.3c16956. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dr._Seuss#mediaviewer/File:Ted_Geisel_NYWTS_2_crop.jpg • Edison: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Incandescent_light_bulb#mediaviewer/File:Thomas_edison_gl%C3%BChbirne.jpg (Public Domain) [http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Thomas_edison_gl%C3%BChbirne.jpg] • Other photos are my own (including scans) To hear Michael's concert of original music at The Bridge, July 5, 2014, visit (you apparently need a Quicktime plug in): http://matb.org/Bridge/jiang_zuo_LIFE_TALKS/tiao_mu/2014/7/5_LIFE_TALK__2014-07-05-_yin_le_hui.html © 2015 Michael Krigline. As far as I am concerned, people are allowed to print or copy this article, or link to it, for personal or classroom use. (see Website Standards and Use Policy)