This poem and video appeared before me today across the marvels of modern technology via the heart and creative mind of Jonathan Fields who describes himself on his website as: “…a dad, husband, New Yorker, author and speaker, serial wellness-industry entrepreneur, recovering S.E.C./mega-firm hedge-fund lawyer, slightly-warped, unusually-stretchy, spiritually-inclined, obsessed with creation, marketing and innovation consultant, venture partner and book-marketing educator.”  In other words, a  Renaissance Man and someone with whom I feel a kindred connection. That’s why I enjoy reading his a-musings.

Although we have not met face to face, I fnd that I could easily have written the sentiments expressed below:

To all those who want desperately for me to succeed.

To all those who want me never to experience the pain of failure.

To all those who watch and wonder if I really know what I’m doing.

To all those who stand in judgment, waiting for the other shoe to drop.

To all those who look to me for proof of what’s possible.

To all those who only want the very best for me.

To all those who love me, unconditionally.

I share these words…

Have a little faith.

Have a little faith that I’ll make mistakes, but be able to recover.

Have a little faith that, more often than not, I DO know what’s best for me.

Have a little faith that I have within me the will to rise against adversity.

Have a little faith that I’ll know when to soldier on and when to walk away.

Have a little faith that I will not put myself at unjustifiable risk.

Have a little faith that my heart is in the right place.

Have a little faith that the mainstream path isn’t always the right path.

Have a little faith that I will succeed beyond my wildest imagination, even where those before me have failed.

Have a little faith…and a lot of love.

Now…PASS IT ON!

 

Who among us had not considered some of those thoughts, wishing beyond fear that we had someone behind  us, beside us and before us who was on our team?  I have been incredibly blessed to have had parents who told me with regularity that they believed in me and thought I could do anything I set my heart and mind to.  They set high standards and expected that my sister and I would stumble at times, but then in the words of the song  Start All Over Again, we would ‘ pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off..start all over again.’  As long as we did OUR best, they were satisfied; regardless of outcome. Both of us were on swim teams throughout our childhood and our parents cheered from the sidelines, but were not ‘stage parents’ who lived vicariously through our successes. They knew how dedicated we were.  I remember my mother telling me that as long as we were having fun, we could be on the team. If it stopped being enjoyable, she knew we would lose interest.  That’s what had me in the water at 7 a.m. on Summer mornings and in late afternoons during the school year, from the time I was 11 until I was 18 and then for three years after that, I was a lifeguard, swim instructor and  swim team coach. It was worth the hours of chlorinated soaks, weary muscles and coaches whose methods didn’t always feel good, but shaped me into a champ. For years, I kept boxes of ribbons in my closet to remind me of the end result of all of that intense effort. Now, at 52, I am called to believe in myself as much as my parents believed in me…I think it came more naturally to them.

My challenges outside the pool look more like working with clients whose own faith is shaken daily, who need those reminders that they are indeed worthy of  love, respect and success. Faith is that unseen support that raises us up to be all that we can be. It is first cousin to unwavering knowing that all is well and everything works out for the highest good, regardless of appearances.  Wishing that for you. Whose faith can you bolster by believing in them?

 

www.jonathanfields.com/blog/have-a-little-faith-video/ 

 

and a bonus John Hiatt  Have A Little Faith In Me  http://youtu.be/8UkKTlzyLhQ