MULTITRACKS
THE ROSES OF SUCCESS | Jesse Schaefer
Every bursted bubble has a glory ! Each abysmal failure makes a point ! Every glowing path that goes astray Shows you how to find a better way .
So every time you stumble , never grumble . Next time you ’ ll bumble even less ! For up from the ashes , Up from the ashes , Grow the roses of success .
Wearing out my childhood VHS copy of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang had its benefits . To be fair , it also had its detriments . ( Talking about you , Child Catcher . Why were we all subject to that frightening performance ?)
But outside of that , I learned quite a bit from Caractacus Potts . I learned how to spin a plate in one hand , how to dance Me Ol ’ Bamboo , and how to be a father who plays with and cares for his kids . And let us not forget Grandpa Potts . Sure , he may have never really known what was going on , but he was a vital part of the family and showed us how to have fun no matter what is going on around us .
I could go on for days about the songs like “ You Two ”, “ Posh !”, and “ Truly Scrumptious ”. They all stick with me , but as I look back there is one that taught me a massively valuable lesson , “ The Roses of Success ”.
For every big mistake you make , be grateful ! That mistake you ’ ll never make again ! Every shiny dream that fades and dies Generates the steam for two more tries .
There ’ s magic in the wake of a fiasco ! It gives you the chance to second guess ! Then up from the ashes , Up from the ashes , Grow the roses of success .
Ministry is different than other career paths . Many of us wouldn ’ t even really think of it as a career , but rather a calling placed on our lives . When we as worship leaders pour time , thought , and effort into something , it ’ s not simply a project to finish or a box to be checked off of our to-do list . Our intention is to make an impact in the lives of those we are presenting the gospel to every week . We are the medium through which the message is spoken , and that responsibility is not something to be taken lightly . So , when things go wrong , or just flat out don ’ t work , the weight of failure can be heavy .
I know I have personally gone to great lengths to put a special service together and really do something noteworthy , only to be met with blank stares or a mediocre to poor review the following workweek . Not to mention the Facebook comment section equivalent to service reviews , anonymous comment cards . Let ’ s be honest , it does not feel good !
And it ’ s easy to react to moments like this by retreating or choosing to go back to “ safe ” and “ easy ” plans . Plans that are just fine , or at the very least won ’ t elicit negative reactions . It ’ s easy to feel like neutral is better than bad , and