Inspirational Sunday

Bill Witcher, co-founder of Computer School for Seniors will be sharing words of encouragement, inspiration and hope with you each Sunday.

Your Commitment

Will Be Tested

A little over three years ago, Mimi and I decided to create a new website for the benefit of her senior students. Mimi teaches some computer classes at a local community college and the average age of her students is 60-75.

When one of Mimi's students told her he could not attend class any more due to health issues, Mimi decided to take her classes to her shut-in students via the Internet. That resulted in our current Computer School for Seniors at http://www.cs4seniors.com/

Over the years, that commitment has been tested over and over again. We have experienced many disappointments, failures and discouragement.

But we didn't quit, we stuck with it.

John Maxwell, in his book TODAY MATTERS, says that any time you make a commitment to something, it will be tested.

He says, "I think many people see commitment as an event, something that is done in a moment. They say "I do" in a wedding ceremony. They shake hands to close a business deal. They buy a treadmill in order the exercise. But the commitment doesn't end with the decision, it's just getting started. And you better believe that anytime you make a commitment to something, it will be tested. That happens in any number of ways:

• Experiencing Failure: Perhaps the greatest challenge to commitment is failure. Olympic gold medalist Mary Lou Retton says, 'Achieving that goal is a good feeling, but to get there you have to also get through the failures. You've got to be able to pick yourself up and continue.'
  
• Having to Stand Alone: When you want to accomplish something, peo0ple will try to distract you. They will challenge you. They may even try to get you to comprom8ise your values. It may be unintentional It may be because they're worried that if you grow, they will feel lefty behind. In those moments, you need to ask yourself, 'Who am I trying to please?' If you desire to please yourself by following through on your commitments to yourself, there will be times you need to stand alone.
  
• Facing Deep Disappointment: Let's be honest, a lot of things can go wrong in life. How are you going to react in the face of those disappointments? Sportscaster Harry Kalas once introduced Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Garry Maddox by saying, 'Garry has turned his life around He used to be depressed and miserable. Now he's miserable and depressed.' That's not how you want to end up.

When things go wrong, when life get6s rough, when the pain becomes great, will you be able to keep going? If you determine to make and keep proper commitments daily, you greatly improve Your chances of being able to carry on. As Abraham Lincoln said, 'Always bear in mind that your own resolution to success is more important than any other thing.'"