Seymour the Mohel Knows When a Loss Becomes a Win

Seymour 2I’ve learned a lot from my friend Seymour the Mohel. [Gentiles: Think Jewish, think rabbi, think circumcision.] With one eye and two fingers missing on his right hand, he’s had a number of challenges in the profession to which the Lord has called him.

Becoming a follower of Yeshua did not do much to enhance his career either. But that’s a story for another day.

Seymour is one of the most optimistic souls I have ever met. After every rejection, disappointment, or loss, his reaction is always the same: “Praise God! Could it be that You have an even greater plan for me?”

He believes God’s plan is the best and only option for his life. He considers roadblocks, detours, stops signs, and dead ends blessings along the Way. And he is thankful for every one of them.

Seymour stands on the Word of God:

The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with [us] . . . (2 Peter 3:9 NIV)

More often I equate the wonderful plan God has for my life with only good things like acceptance, winning, and publishing contracts. My definition of “wonderful” and His are often at odds.

I want to be more like Seymour. To respond the way he does to every disappointment. To run not after the world, but after God who has my best interests at heart.

For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. (Matthew 6:32 NIV)

When contemplating my current semi-finalist status in a novel writing contest, I first prayed that winning would be part of His big picture for me. Then I moved onto hoping that my plan and God’s would cross somewhere in the middle. Finally, I prayed,

Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. (Psalm 139:23 NIV)

Yesterday, while pondering a possible loss with the end of the contest only days away, I found myself parroting Seymour: “Praise God! Could it be that You have an even greater plan for me?”

I have Seymour to thank for this attitude adjustment. It seems the more I develop Seymour’s character– who, by the way, is a lead character in my latest novel– the more God develops mine. While a win could very well be part of the Lord’s big picture for me, so could a loss. And it is well with my soul, as the old hymn goes. Wait. It’s more than well, it’s exciting!

The advice I found from author Winn Collier recently in InTouch Magazine said it well.

Hold onto the things in your life — wins and losses — loosely. For with God, whatever we have—whether little or plenty—is always enough. (InTouch Magazine, December 2014-12-22)

Note: The picture above is not really Seymour. But I imagine he might look something like this.

PS: Here are the semifinalists in the Operation First Novel Contest in alphabetical order by book title. We’ll know the results this weekend. Three of them will receive publishing packages. The remaining eight will receive God’s greater plan for their lives.

  1. A Town Called Pickings by Daisy Sohne
  2. Double Header by Clarice G. James
  3. Greater Still by Linda Brooks Davis
  4. Heirlooms by Jeannine Brummet
  5. Intelectric: J058 by Katie Lohr
  6. Meaghan’s Choice by Donna L.H. Smith
  7. Rosetta Assassin by Richard New
  8. Simply Amazing by Deborah J. Neuenschwander
  9. Snow Out of Season by Christy Brunke
  10. The Tale of the Quilt Told by Mary Kay Moody
  11. Unexpected Riches by C.S. Boyll

Get in on the conversation

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    The Conversation

  1. Eleanor Gustafson says:

    Yeah, I like that. Thanks, Clarice!

  2. Beth Ziarnik says:

    Clarice, this is precious! What a great reminder that even when we experience rejection or loss, God has a great plan for our lives. What a great reminder to hold our expectations loosely and keep our eyes fixed with thanksgiving on Jesus. Thank you for sharing.

  3. noreenbawn says:

    Honest to God Clarice, I was just going to say I’d like to meet him in
    person. But he’s good as a figment of your imagination also.

  4. This is inspiring. Thanks, Clarice!

  5. Mary Kay says:

    Kindness of you to share, Clarice! And wisdom. THANK YOU for the timely reminder. The first time I lost [read “placed in top 5 but not first], I cried and stayed awake most of the night crying, assuming the worst, and asking God if He was telling me to just quit. A very sad time, but my morning He spoken to my heart (which I’m sure He did hours earlier but I didn’t HEAR Him until morning. Praise Him for His faithfulness! ] And I look forward to reading your novel with Seymour! Best to you, sister. Have fun at the conf.

    Blessings ~ Mary Kay

  6. Joyce Hart says:

    I love this blog and I sincerely hope you win contest. You are a great writer.

  7. Eleanor Gustafson says:

    Good blog, Clarice! I like your approach. I’m so proud of you!

    : )

    Ellie