On Seeing Things Through

One of the essential elements of a sincerely successful life is the ability and the willingness to see things through—to carry things beyond conversation to conclusion. And one of the disappointing qualities of character is the failure to see things through.

There is usually no scarcity of suggestions: there is seldom a scarcity of conversation: but there is often a scarcity of coming to a conclusion.

One of the colorful characters of history may be cited as an example of one who seemingly finished very little in life. Leonardo da Vinci ventured into innumerable scientific and artistic areas. He theorized, experimented, speculated and advocated ideas far beyond his day. But the tragedy of his life, it is said by some, is what he could have done but left undone—the things he failed to follow through.

The good Lord had given us life—and time and energy and materials and intelligence—and an incentive for carrying good things to conclusion: not merely talking, but doing the work of life; not merely theorizing, but producing something solid. The half- done tasks, the work begun and set aside, the incomplete projects, the frequent dropping of tools to loaf and let time waste away, the frustration of things started and left partly completed, are evidence of the premium that is and should be paid for seeing things through.

One day we shall all give an account of our accomplishments; and concerning some things we might have to say: “this we almost did.” “This we might have done.” “This we didn’t do.”

But how satisfying to be able to say, “this we have done.” “These are our works.” “These are the buildings we have built.” “These are our children.” “These are the men we have helped.” “These are the lives we have lifted.”

It is easy to see why there are rewards for enduring to the end, for finishing, for completing the project, for following through.