By Emilie Gruben
Success is counted sweetest
By those who ne’er succeed.
To comprehend a nectar
Requires a sorest need.
Not one of all the purple Host
Who took the Flag today
Can tell the definition
So clear of Victory
As he defeated - dying -
One whose forbidden ear
The distant strains of triumph
Burst agonized and clear!
– – –
Our focus this month has been “consistency.” Remaining consistent in order to succeed, how to be disciplined, and what the Bible says about it. But sometimes our consistency or hope doesn’t reward us in the ways that we desire and expect. In the poem “Success is Counted Sweetest” by Emily Dickinson, we see that those who feel the beauty of success are those we rarely know the sensation of. Those who strive to do their best and are not granted the reward or opportunity to truly feel accomplished after their hard work and effort.
In this poem we see that there is a soldier, or person of great responsibility, dying. He has been defeated by the opponent. From where he lies, he can hear the triumphant shouts echoing. The sweetest sounds of success are not of his but others’. There are three ways that I view this short collection of words, and I’d like to share them with you.
The first is recognizing the beauty of others’ blessings. While we are not fighting wars and losing, we can often find ourselves bitter and crestfallen when we see other people succeed while we are still trying. In this poem, we don’t get a vivid description of how the man feels. Is he angry that he has lost? Has he given up hope? Is he relieved that the war is over and that the people rejoice for victory, at his own expense? In Romans 12:15 we read “Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.” We are commanded to encourage others despite the season. To rejoice in the blessings and mourn the losses, despite what we ourselves feel.
The second is to recognize that there is always hope. Just because we didn’t respond with gracious kindness doesn’t mean that we cannot ask forgiveness and try again. Just because we broke our consistent effort doesn’t mean we cannot start again. If we were the soldiers, our side losing, we must not give up hope. Our success will be hard-earned, the relief of finishing a task will be all the greater after we give everything we can. Isaiah 41:10 reinforces us in our belief. “Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
The final thought is that we may not succeed, even after living faithfully. We may die, waiting for our consistent belief and effort to be rewarded with success, only to be denied it. But we will never not be successful. Yes, my Christians, we will always have success if we do what is right and good for the glory of God and not for man. We don’t do our best for mans’ praise and our own success, but for Christ our Lord.
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