September 5, 2026
For though [the righteous] fall seven times, they will rise again, but the wicked are overthrown by calamity.
Proverbs 24:16
You’re an Eagle Scout? It’s the one question I’ve been asked in every interview I’ve had since I graduated high school, from the YMCA and Student Union to libraries, schools, camps, and churches. What’s baked into the interest is a plethora of expectation and assumption, including, have you had the opportunity to set a goal and succeed… and to set a goal and be allowed to fail. One of the most important things we learn as humans in families, classrooms, and faith communities is not how to try hard or new things and succeed, but to risk, to fail, and to learn to do better.
We take our youth to serve meals to the hungry, drinks to the thirsty, and to build or repair homes for people who need shelter, but when we are intentional about it, we take those opportunities to let our kids try things they may not do perfectly, or completely blow it. I often take kids for their first mission trip as a freshman, teach them a building skill or how to operate a tool, and I watch them do it badly, or completely incorrectly, but they try again. By their sophomore or junior year, they’ve mastered it and tried new skills. And by their senior year, they are teaching the youngest youth what they’ve learned, patiently.
It would be easy for us as parents, teachers, and mentors to protect our youth and children from failure. Often, that’s exactly what we do. But we rob them of the chance to learn and grow and the courage and resiliency it builds so they learn and try other things. And just as importantly, it keeps us from learning and growing as adults, risking failure. How often do we adults say no to being a coach for a team, teacher for a Sunday school class, mentor for a child, or facilitator for a small group because there is risk for discomfort, embarrassment, or letting someone down because we aren’t an expert? Scripture reminds us that the righteous are not those who never fail, but those who do things that risk falling and continue to rise. We are people called to give our children and ourselves opportunities to serve, to attempt, and invaluably - sometimes fall, so that we can rise again once more.
Prayer
Lord, here I am. Send me. Help me to do my best, try my hardest, learn from my mistakes, and learn from them, to go and fail better next time. Amen.
Rev. Brian Daoust
Associate Pastor for Mission & Youth
Login To Leave Comment