"Perplexed, but not driven to despair..."

Humble Pie: You don't have to eat the whole thing. You just have to taste it.

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I really liked this poem when I was 11 or 12. I still think it's pretty inspiring of who I want to be -- a tough, strong, loving servant of everyone I meet.

From prayer that asks that I may be
Sheltered from winds that beat on Thee,
From fearing when I should aspire,
From faltering when I should climb higher
From silken self, O Captain, free
Thy soldier who would follow Thee.

From subtle love of softening things,
From easy choices, weakenings,
(Not thus are spirits fortified,
Not this way went the Crucified)
From all that dims Thy Calvary
O Lamb of God, deliver me.

Give me the love that leads the way,
The faith that nothing can dismay
The hope no disappointments tire,
The passion that will burn like fire;
Let me not sink to be a clod;
Make me Thy fuel, Flame of God.

-Amy Wilson Carmichael

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'But we hold this treasure in earthen vessels, that the surpassing power of God may be of God and not from us. We are afflicted in every way, but not constrained; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our body.' 2 Corinthians 4:7-10