I've been thinking alot about critics this week... Not because I'm self loathing and love depression, but because I've been studying Nehemiah 4 and 6.
Talk about critics? Nehemiah had them. Here's the thing: EVERY LEADER has them! That's right EVERY LEADER. Even JESUS had them.
Unfortunately, there have been times when I've given the wrong critics way too much sway, power or influence over my life.
In a great blog, that providentially came at just the right time (just as I'm gearing up to teach on Nehemiah 4 and 6), Seth Godin makes the following statement:
"In our desire to please everyone, it's very easy to end up being invisible or mediocre."
Some critics count. But the truth is: MOST DON'T! Period. You'll waste a lot of time, energy, talent, creativity, love, joy and life trying to please everyone. Forget it! To use the words of Nehemiah, "[Your] doing a great work and can't come down..."
Check out Seth' post about critics that matter by clicking here. Check out a2's service this Sunday, August 16 at 9:45 and see how Nehemiah responded to some pretty fierce criticism. It's going to be fun! You can get directions by clicking here.
In the mean time, here's one of my favorite quotes when it comes to critics. Thanks, Teddy.
"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbled, or whether the doer of deeds could have done 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 and comes short again and again; Who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, and spends himself in a worthy cause; Who at best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement; And who at worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly.
It is far better to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure, than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy nor suffer much because they live in the gray twilight of life, knowing neither victory nor defeat." ~ Theodore Roosevelt
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