Discipline determines degree of success in life

I remember the story of the Hare and the Turtle as a child and feel that it was one of the most critical lessons ever shown about succeeding in life. It is the great equalizer of our species and if practised-- will shorten the path to whatever goal one strives for.

Our genes and early childhood care are what prepares us to enter the world around us. As a child we have zero control over these first two factors. Genes control our size, agility, intelligence, and longevity. Childhood rearing provides confidence and self worth. But--if we learn the skill of applied discipline--the results of our lifes efforts rapidly overcome the first two ingredients to success.

Discipline allows one with inferrior talent to apply the talent in a focused direction. It does not show up in sprint type races in life, but purculates over the long hall leaving those undisciplined far in the rear.

When entering seminary, i was presented with a list of courses and practices that must be mastered if I was to complete the training. I had the desire and so did my fellow seminarians. The difference in the eventual outcome was measured not by natural ability--but by con sistantly integrating the coursework and training . Once fused together-the the ingredients were in place to have a satisfactory outcome.

Some guys were naturals at lanquage and oration. Some were great listeners and had empathetic traits needed for pastoral couseling. Some had a flair for memorizing scripture and could recite long passages in Latin or Greek. Some were natural born leaders who could organize a group and lead it through natural charisma. We all had varying degrees of intelligence and had some educational success in our background.

Those that completed the coursework and training with the least bit of problems were those who practised discipline not talked about it. The training was rigorous and designed to weed out those who could not pass the muster. It was not those who came into the training with the most "GOD" given assets who succeeded--it was those who could apply themselves rigorously to the task at hand. those who could put together a game plan and work the plan diligently from start to finish. And that took discipline.

The ability to discipline ones life will determine the amount of success one achieves. The Turtle was able to set a goal, gather together his resources and apply discipline in the race. The Hare had all the natural skills and lost out because of a lack of discipline. if you remember the story, the Hare dashed out to a commanding lead, but lost focus along the way. the Turtle bagan slow because of his natural lack of skills, but kept his nose to the grinding stone and eventually won out to the shock and dismay of the cocky Hare.

Many would question why a Turtle in life would ever enter a race with a hare to begin with. Why wouldn't he quit once he fell behind. Well--the discipline gave the Turtle confidence and self assurance. he knew that his skills would be magnified by his discipline and that all he needed to do was apply those skills in a focused direction towards the goal at hand--and he would succeed.

"GOD" gave us all an equal amount of discipline when he created us. It was the ingredient that leveled the playing field and when applied determined the winners and losers in life.

Yodi, you may not be the biggest dog on the block, but through discipline you can be the greatest. Now go get that ball Yodi.