“Great works are performed not by strength but by perseverance.”
-Samuel Johnson
Dr. Wangari Muta Maathai was a force of nature. In her seventy-one remarkable years she was a champion of women’s rights (especially in her native Kenya), was a notable environmentalist, and even served as a member of parliament and assistant minister for environment and natural resources. Along the way, her husband divorced her because she was “too strong-minded for a woman" and he was thus "unable to control her". My hunch is that she said thank you!
In 2004 Maathai became the first African woman to receive the Nobel Peace Prize.
Wangari Muta Maathai had to fight for virtually everything she had, and suffered many losses. But she was never defeated! Not long before her death, she told a simple story that seemed to capture the spirit of her life, and the essence of perseverance. It goes something like this…
A large forest fire raged out of control, and all the animals were overwhelmed by its power. As it consumed more and more of their home all they could do was watch, frozen by fear and feelings of powerlessness. Only the hummingbird could respond. He was intent on doing something, anything to make a difference. So, with his little wings he quickly flew to the nearest watering hole and filled his tiny beak with water, flew back to the edge of the fire and dropped the water he’d been able to carry. Again and again he flew back and forth. After a little while, the larger animals said to him, “What do you think you can do with your little wings and little beak?” Not stopping to defend himself or his actions he answered as he passed them, “I can do the best I can.”
Could the hummingbird put out the fire by himself? Of course not. But he could do the best he could with what he had, and keep doing it, regardless of what the conventional wisdom had to say, regardless of the overwhelming odds, regardless of the fact that he worked alone. And could any of us hope to do more that that?
The virtue of perseverance is about having meaningful goals, and continuing to strive to achieve those goals in spite of difficulties. What is meaningful? Anything that helps you or others develop good habits...habits that lead to life, habits that lead to happiness, habits that lead to heaven.
Because all virtues are grounded in reality, if the goal I am striving for is not ultimately sustainable or worthy of pursuit, perseverence will reveal this. In other words, at some point the hummingbird probably concluded that the fire could not be stopped and it was time to redirect his energies, but he was the better for having tried. And maybe his fellow forest dwellers learned a thing or two about life from watching him work. Nothing was wasted.
The virtue of perseverance is not based on external success or perfection, but rather on consistency and right motivation.
“I will be the best person I can be by doing what I can consistently.” “I will be the best father I can be by doing what I can consistently.” “I will be the best plumber I can be by doing what I can consistently.” “I will be the best student I can be by doing what I can consistently.”
“Great works are performed not by strength but by perseverance.” What is great? Don’t give up when things get hard, and you’ll know soon enough!
Question for reflection: Where have you practiced perseverance, and where do you need to?
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About Me
- Ross Porter
- Dr. Ross Porter received his B.A. from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and his Master of Divinity (Theology) and Ph.D. (Clinical Psychology) degrees from Fuller Theological Seminary, where he first became interested in the integration of psychology and spirituality. He is a teacher, author, counselor, and consultant, specializing in integrative psychology, virtue ethics and family systems. He has taught at the high school, college, and graduate school levels. Ross is also the Founder and Executive Director of Stillpoint Family Resources, a non-profit organization that offers counseling services to individuals, couples, and families in crisis, with nine different office locations throughout Ventura, Los Angeles and Orange Counties (specific office locations can be found at www.stillpointfamilyresources.org). In 2009, Dr. Porter was named an “Outstanding Angeleno” by the Los Angeles Daily News. Ross and his wife Jennifer have been married for 21 years, and have four beautiful children. John Michael, their son who has Down Syndrome is their first born.
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