Sooner or later, we’re all going to learn that life is not fair.

But what if that was one of the best lessons to learn?

The one thing about being Down is it will show you how to appreciate the Up’s.

Walt Disney wanting to escape a bad home life decided to join the army but he wasn’t old enough. He forged his birth certificate to get in.  After the military, he was laid off from an ad agency.  His first animation studio when bankrupt.  He created Oswald the Lucky Rabbit, but lost all rights to that animated character because of a poorly constructed contract with Universal.  He finally went on to be the co-founder of The Walt Disney Company.

Stephen Spielberg applied twice to the University of Southern California and got rejected both times. After becoming famous, the college sent him an honorary degree.  Imagine that.

How about the Beetles?!  Many record labels rejected them saying a guitar group won’t make it and they have no future in music.  The Beetles have sold more singles in the UK than any other group.

There’s a pattern here that we are not taking note of, but we need to.  We can’t want all the Up’s without letting the Down’s join in.  This wouldn’t be a realistic pathway to success. 

We wish for stability when things are going well but we complain when fortune turns against us.  Think of it this way, by wishing for stability, you’ve indirectly wished for limited potential.  Stability leaves you in your comfort zone.  It’s like putting your money in a savings account and not investing in stocks.  You’ll keep what you have, but you’ll never gain more.  It’s impossible to want to be loved, but continually fear getting your heart broken.

I end with this…In the grand scheme of things, there is no way to eliminate all the risk without eliminating all the rewards.  When you welcome them both you will have learned the most valuable lesson about life.  Stop trying to have it both ways.  Life is not a straight line and that’s probably one of the best things about it.

Ask for beautiful flowers and expect God to give you rain.

Stay Blessed.