SENTINEL WATCH May 29, 2006 Issue

SUCCESS, NOT FAILURE, IS THE NORM

BEA ROEGGE

SOMETIMES WE HEAR of negotiations that joyously succeed—but more often, it seems, of others doomed to disappointing failure. People have been made keenly aware of failures this past year in dealing with the challenges of Hurricane Katrina; of HIV programs falling short of goals to treat millions; of unchecked insurgencies in Iraq; of the continued failures to stop rape and killing in Darfur, as well as in so-called civilized cities around the globe; and of what seem to be daily reports of children being kidnapped.

These and innumerable other unsolved personal and worldwide problems demand a response beyond mere acceptance of failure.

Someone told me recently about how a friend dealt with reports of failure. He was relying on prayer for a particular healing in his own life, but at times of pain he was tempted to think that prayer had failed. He decided, however, that when a twinge of pain came, he would greet it by saying, "Thank you for reminding me to pray." And with that continued prayer, it wasn't long before the pain ceased and healing was complete.