It’s Better to Fail

I failed again with my request that the State of Texas recognize foreign pollution impacts to our health, economy, and ability to achieve the NAAQS (see TCEQ ruling).

I don’t want the truth to fail, whatever that is, but it’s better for us personally to fail. How can I say this? Well, I think a’Kempis was on to something:

“Sorrow always accompanies the world’s glory. […] Those who seek temporal glory or do not despise it with their hearts, show that they have little love for the glory of heaven. The person who cares nothing about the approval or disapproval of people enjoys great peace of mind. If your conscience is pure you will easily be satisfied and restored to peace. You are not more holy when you are praised, or more worthless when you are disparaged. You are what you are, and you cannot be said to be greater than what you are in the sight of God. If you consider what you are within you, then you will not be concerned about what people say about you. “People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” They consider the deeds a person does, but God considers the motives.” To be always doing well and have little regard for yourself is the sign of a humble soul. It is a sign of great purity and inward confidence not to look for comfort from any person. Those who seek not witness outside themselves, show that they have fully committed themselves to God. “For it is not those who commend themselves that are approved, “ says Paul, “but those whom the Lord commends”. Spiritual people walk inward with God and are not sustained by any outward feelings**.”****–Thomas a’ Kempis**

Failure seems to be one of the only cures for the pride and selfishness that many of us struggle with–and the cattle prod to seeking the more likely source of the peace we so desperately desire. And so, though we might say this in a half-wincing, half-cowering voice … “bring it on”.

—- “The phoenix must burn to emerge.” – Janet Fitch

@misc{anderson_2026_its_better_to_fail,
  author = {Jed Anderson},
  title  = {It’s Better to Fail},
  year   = {2026},
  url    = {https://jedanderson.org/posts/its-better-to-fail},
  note   = {Accessed: 2026-05-13}
}

Anderson, J. (2026). It’s Better to Fail. Retrieved from https://jedanderson.org/posts/its-better-to-fail

Anderson, Jed. "It’s Better to Fail." Jed Anderson, May 12, 2026, https://jedanderson.org/posts/its-better-to-fail.