16 - PERSEVERANCE (Part 1)

A GREAT DANGER

A QUICK TAKE-OFF

AND AN OUTBURST

It is so easy to have a quick 'take-off' but to fizzle out very soon.

Perseverance is the virtue of the marathon runner who can

stand the test of time, who can hold on even when the going gets

tough...

BEWARE OF BEING

LIFE FIREWORKS!

WHAT ARE THE QUALITIES OF A PERSEVERING YOUNGSTER?

1. He is one who will hold on till the end, who will stand firm, who will clench his teeth and be there, he is one who will not give up and let go.

Now read the following parable:

THE THREE FROGS

Three curious and adventurous frogs one day dared to leave the pond in which they lived and explored the world outside. Near

the pond was a prosperous farm.
The three frogs began their adventure at the threshing floor. But two hens spied them and, thrilled with this variation in their

menu, they chased them, with their beaks drooling with saliva.
The three frogs however were quick and agile. Just at that moment they saw a can of milk at the front door of the nearby stable.

With two quick leaps the three frogs jumped into the milk can. They found that they had to swim in the milk. In the beginning

they were thrilled at their escape. They were euphoric. Gradually they began to get worried. They really had to get out of the

can pretty soon or they would drown. What was worse. The hens who were waiting outside were very angry...
 

They tried and tried again, but the mouth of the can was narrow and very slippery. The first frog was a fatalist. He tried to get

out but then he exclaimed: "We will never get out of this, this is the end!" So saying he slid down the side and drowned.

The second frog was an intellectual who seemed to know something about the properties of liquids and the laws of physics.

He quickly made some calculations estimating the distance from the mouth of the can to the surface of the milk, the acceleration

required and the density of the milk and the force he needed to make the life-saving jump. His formula was correct but he had

not calculated the handle of the can. With a tremendous effort he made his leap but he failed miserably and ended back in the can and drowned. The third frog was continuously swimming feverishly. He realized that the milk was turning into butter and as it thickened he was able to jump of the top and make his escape. (From Bruno Ferrero, L'importante è la rosa. Elledici)

The third frog does not give up, he holds on till the end. It is really true that the one who works hard and resists is the best and succeeds.

This is what you should try to be: not like the fatalistic frog who suffers a little and immediately gives up, nor like the calculating frog who trusts in the calculations of the mind, but like the persevering frog who will not give in to defeat but will find a way out of the problem.


It is necessary to know how and when to proceed and not to be disappointed when one doesn’t see results. It is also necessary to pass through that phase where there seems to be nothing happening and never to lose heart.
 

To be continued...