Daily Meditation: Saturday, October 8, 2011

Great things - to achieve them, begin modestly and persevere

10/08/2011

Those who embark on a project within their capabilities have every chance of succeeding, and their success will increase their confidence. But if they launch into an enterprise that is beyond them, they are likely to fail, and this will diminish their faith in life. Do you want to strengthen your faith? Instead of trying to move a mountain, move one stone at a time. By renewing your efforts each day, stone after stone, you will succeed in moving the whole mountain. Obviously this is an image you need to interpret. Humans always want to throw themselves far too quickly into great schemes, but this is a mistake. If, for example, you want to become a singer, don’t try to perform straight away with the Metropolitan Opera. First go and sing in front of a henhouse; if the hens stop their pecking and listen to you, it means you have talent and can hope to give recitals one day. But if you intend to begin at the Metropolitan Opera, you will be met with tomatoes, and you’ll end up singing for a few onlookers in some godforsaken place. If you want to achieve great things, you have to begin with small ones and persevere.