There are days when I find myself overwhelmed and drowning in self pity. During these moments the stories of how I acted in two individual’s lives replays as if it was in a continuous loop. I find myself realizing that life isn’t about the destination but of the process of getting there.
In the first case I followed traditional business logic. Hire low. Utilize every advantage to keep the upper hand. Push as hard as you believe the person can handle. Encourage much; positively and negatively. In time, reward demonstrated performance. I knew that I was exploiting a situation where I held all the power. I wish made a mistake in my judgment, that the candidate was stronger than I anticipated. He wasn’t. I knew exactly what I was doing. In the end he paid the ultimate price, his life.
In the second case I broke every piece of logic in managing people. I rewarded early and much. I recognized talent and aligned the assignments anticipating results. I pushed through promotions and rewards even before the track record was independently verifiable. I found for the right action at the right time. The challenge in getting the organization to do the right thing came on a regular basis for years! When I look at how this foundation gave the individual an opportunity to grow, blossom, and realize his real potential I am amazed, stunned, and very proud to have been a small part in it all.
Can you imagine what God thinks of you and me? We have so much potential that is unrealized. So “it's urgent that you listen carefully to this: Anyone here who believes what I [Jesus] am saying right now and aligns himself with the Father [God], who has in fact put me in charge, has at this very moment the real, lasting life and is no longer condemned to be an outsider. This person has taken a giant step from the world of the dead to the world of the living.” (John 5.24)
Our to-do is just one step at a time.
