When I consider the cliché, “everyman should know his limitations”, I find it ironic that many, this author included, have come to accept it as truth. We have used the cliche to describe the condition of excess confidence without considering the line between extraordinary human achievement and haunting human doubts which prevent the same.
As I consider the way life reveals lessons beyond the superficial application of the statement, I keep finding myself wrestling with an old psalm; “mere humans don’t have what it takes; when they die, their projects die with them.” (Psalm 146.4)
Could there be areas in my life where the extraordinary is potentially within reach if I am willing to do it with others in hope, love, and faith in the impossible? As I see and reach for these, I have come to the realization that every effort of mine has led to failure. The recurring theme in the latter centers on attempts to do what only Divinity can do.
Life has a rhythmic way of reminding me of the following.
If I want to move beyond my limits, I need to find a collaborator fit for purpose. If aspiration is divine, only Divinity will do! Within the lanes of freedom and human effort, working with complementary skills and the ability to see what I cannot, is a fantastic starting point. One person can make the difference, however great pinnacles are achieved with others. The story of Shackleton, the ship Endurance, and 29 men took the collective belief and an extraordinary willingness to persevere despite the odds. Summiting Everest, kayaks running the 4 sacred rivers, and endless other stories are never that of one, but of many.
With great achievements come great peril. It is easy to believe that without one’s effort the result would not have been possible. While true, as I retold one story in front of thousands, I could see the faces of those who believed with me. I understood with a fresh heart that my success only came as I was willing to trust and believe in others.
