“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them 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, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.” Teddy Roosevelt, April 23, 1910
Think on this. It is not the critic that counts. The critic usually stands on the sidelines. This is the heckler. The troll who disrupts posts. The one who rails against the one fighting the battles on his or her behalf. This is not the one who counts. It is not the one who yells against those seeking to help. Yet, all of us, almost without fail, give too much credence to the voice of the heckler, the critic, the one sent to “steal, kill and destroy.”
How many of us respond to the one negative comment not the ten positive that happen in a day? How often do we wilt at a critique instead of blossoming before the words of praise? Too often.
Roosevelt, who was a president much like our current one, just as unbridled and outspoken, knew much about critics. Maybe he was speaking from experience in this 1910 speech. But these are worthwhile words to remember.
Stay in the arena. Continue to dare greatly.
We need those who will continue to fight for a culture where people remember that our battle is not against flesh and blood but against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly realms. Such forces are not fought with angry diatribes but best fought upon our knees. Best fought by actions characterized by love.
It made me wonder who are the ones today “striving valiantly” who are “in the arena?”
Are they Amy Fiederowicz and Bonnie Becker and those helping with food and housing insecurities?
Are they Debbie Gabel, Lisa Theriot, Kat Tollefson and others working in the health fields?
Are they those standing, praying, being present in the middle of the rioters as someone who is standing for another Way in the middle of mayhem?
Are they the police who do not support the brutality, but support and love people who want to see life made possible for others by their protection? Like the sheriff who came to check in with us after my car was stolen -- he was such a gift to us that morning.
Are they the ones working to make PPE supplies available for those needing them?
Are they others? The truck drivers transporting goods we would not see without them? The delivery drivers? The workers in grocery stores and other markets? You and me as we reach out to those around us fearful in this season? Are these those in the arena?
Are they the moms and dads who while juggling work have sought since March to homeschool their children with limited supplies and direction at first? Are these the heroes striving valiantly in the arena?
Are they the ones who cannot sleep because God continues to stir them from slumber to pray for the hurting, the lost, the lonely, the broken, the abused, the hurting, the desperate?
Are they the workers seeking to serve the migrant community, transporting workers to the fields, taking food, delivering masks, helping with dental clinics?
Yes.
Anyone who is seeking to serve God, who is seeking to offer his or her life to Jesus in this season, anyone who is seeking to love others like he or she has been loved, these are those IN THE ARENA.
Thank you for your courage and bravery and willingness to dare greatly in this season for the sake of many in need. Remember, it is not the critic that counts.