If you have ever been discouraged because of failure, please read on.

 

For often, achieving what you set out to do is not the important thing. Let me explain.

 

Two brothers decided¹ to dig a deep hole behind their house. As they were working, a couple of older boys stopped by to watch. 

 

"What are you doing?" asked one of the visitors.

 

"We plan to dig a hole all the way through the earth!" one of the brothers volunteered excitedly.

 

The older boys began to laugh, telling the younger ones that digging a hole all the way through the earth was impossible.

 

After a long silence, one of the diggers picked up a jar full of spiders, worms and a wide assortment²（分类， 混合物） of insects. He removed the lid and showed the wonderful contents to the scoffing³（嘲笑） visitors.

 

Then he said quietly and confidently, "Even if we don't dig all the way through the earth, look what we found along the way!"

 

Their goal was far too ambitious⁴, but it did cause them to dig. And that is what a goal is for-to cause us to move in the direction we have chosen; in other words, to set us to digging!

 

But not every goal will be fully⁵ achieved. Not every job will end successfully. Not every relationship will endure⁶. Not every hope will come to pass. Not every love will last. Not every endeavor⁷ will be completed. Not every dream will be realized.

 

But when you fall short of your aim, perhaps you can say, "Yes, but look at what I found along the way! Look at the wonderful things which have come into my life because I tried to do something!"

 

It is in the digging that life is lived. And I believe it is joy in the journey, in the end, that truly matters.

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