7.7.2011 Harman Rachael Schauberger Jordan Paterno

Sent to group on 7/7/2011
Sometimes things don’t go as you’ve planned, dreamt about, or hoped for, but stay positive because unknowingly those things do follow a plan. I do not want to downplay anyone’s religion or beliefs, and I will state mine in the following paragraph. This group is called “The Rest is Up to You,” and that is exactly what should be done; I may ramble a bit at times, but I never want to step on toes for religious reasons. I speak my mind and/or may try to motivate you, and your take on the subject matter is up to you.

I am a proud Catholic, and if you want to stop reading this right now, get yourself removed from this group, or stop being my facebook friend (even though I hope you will not chastise me for saying what I believe) then so be it. I am a believer that God is in ultimate control of everything in our lives, and even though we may not know now, possibly/maybe not ever, and He has a reason for everything. Scientific proof of God and miracles may be absent, but faith isn’t very often concrete in that regard. I have experienced miracles and am a real example of what prayer unwavering faith can do for an individual. There was a lot of hard work done, too, but it took a true miracle to beat the odds as has happened in my case.

I won’t delve into specifics, because this group message is about helping you anyways. God has been the focal point throughout my life and is responsible for tenacity that accompanies me along the journey called my life. It goes without saying (even though I’ll say it) that everything happens for a reason, and even what is perceived as an unfortunate occurrence is part of Somebody’s big plan. I found a quote that sort of talks about God albeit it’s done indirectly:

"Sometimes things fall apart just so other things can fall together...what's meant to be will always find its way.”
~Sarah Harman

If my life would not have been altered as high school was nearing completion I never would have met the people I know today. Maybe on the surface the life altering mishap seems a travesty, but deep down (believe me its deep, for I’ve clawed through a lot of rubbish) my wreck was a good thing. Believe me I’d rather that car crash (and other major negative events in my life) would have never happened, but I’ve accepted it. I know whatever happens in your life and mine is meant to happen, but I believe Ms. Harman’s quote lacks a major aspect; therefore it’s incomplete.

What’s meant to be will be, but God’s plan already includes you trying and giving your best effort to help shape your life. You help shape your own self, but the Big One’s master plan already has best effort built right in. That’s what I believe anyway. What’s meant to happen will occur, but not if you give up telling yourself that everything is predestined and tour actions are meaningless. It’s been said in this paragraph already, but I find it vastly important: but God’s plan already includes you trying and giving your best effort to help shape your life. I don’t know for sure where I’d be at had catastrophe not struck my senior year of high school but don’t care either. I’m living/loving my life in the now, and I never would have shared in many of the fun activities, nor met my friends, had He not been actively involved in my life.

One person who has the same outlook towards life as me, one would guess is Rachael Schauberger. My new friend’s page, www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1015325553,
And that’s where I saw this week’s second quote, I feel it to be totally accurate and necessary to share, but I’ll let you be the judge:

"Only those who dare to fail greatly can ever achieve greatly."

I don’t know much about this beautiful Rachael girl except for the fact that she is also Catholic. I want everyone to appreciate these messages, please share them with anyone who you think would appreciate receiving and/or benefit from reading it. That quote, on a smaller scale, is true as well. Maybe it’s better suited for the group in a smaller scale version because of the word greatly, and it is listed twice. Is our average day failure or success of great means? I think not, and a simpler version follows this sentence. Those who never try anything challenging can never truly experience the feeling of success. Let me tell you something that I find more often than not; the more times you try something and fail the sweeter it will feel when you succeed.

Many people do not see Larry Bird as the greatest basketball player of all time like I do, but rather they see Mr. Jordan as the holder of that title. That is fine with me, and I just wanted to show you this video, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=45mMioJ5szc, simply because it let’s you hear Michael Jordan say the same thing that I’m trying to get across to you. Maybe he can get through to you about success if I cannot.

I saw an interview with Mike Krzyzewski and Joe Paterno this weekend (on one of the ESPN networks,) and they are legends in the coaching departments at Duke and Penn State, respectively. Joe is quite the animated character, and I learned his son, Jay, is one of his long-time quarterbacks coach. I looked him up on the internet. Jay Paterno is a father, husband and political volunteer. He’s a frequent guest lecturer on campus and at Penn State events. His column appears every other Thursday on the State College website. That’s where I’ve found this week’s third:

'A Man Is Not Finished When He's Defeated. He Is Finished When He Quits.'
~Jay Paterno

Maybe the Joe Paterno name is better and much more widely known throughout the nation, but the Paterno name has earn the respect of me. I'll argue it to my grave that both literally and figuratively you did not fail and are NOT a failure (given that you never stopped trying to get better.) Please add your friends to this group, share this message, and may God Bless you.

“Failure only increases your chances for success at your next attempt."
~Matt~
www.mattschroeder.org