Don't Quit!

In 2001 I went to confession where the priest was a young Ugandan man, Fr. Joseph, who was visiting the U.S. for the first time. (I keep hoping it won't be the last time!) He encouraged me to persevere and never give up. 

I recently reminded him of his words—we began corresponding when he returned to Africa and have  been friends all these years.

Periodically the poem 'Don't Quit' comes to my attention. It's printed on a bookplate I have copies of. I pasted one onto a postcard, with a self-portrait on the other side, and posted it to Africa.  Joseph replied by email (along with this photograph), "Thanks so much for this card. I really loved the message and the reminder of the words I said to you almost 2 decades ago." 

Still good advice. Especially at the beginning of a new year.


As the I Ching says, Perseverance alone prevents slow progress from dwindling to nothing.