Three wisdom sayings are related. With the right information everything can be revealed. With information and time, people always reveal their true colors. Our souls cannot be hidden.
The mission had been accomplished. A few rules were stretched while the spirit of working together became habitual. I used every bit of my authority and then some. As we reflected I already knew that what seemed outstanding, amazing, and wonderful would become a piece of corporate legend. Who thought it possible? Did anyone imagine something like this? If we could do this what else could be a part of our dream? Nothing would be impossible!
Even then I knew that everyone who had watched the developments could not be counted as enthusiastic supporters. The very recognition that the team had received was a thorn in their side, a prick to their ego, and a anchor to their balloon. From that moment on the battle seemed to be engaged. Even as I look back I can see that the team was not interested in fighting; we naively thought that everyone wanted to be a part of what worked. The early telltales were there, yellow and red flags that we, the company, could have dealt with. But we did not. We let them go, noting that this wasn’t team play but not taking the steps to bring everything out into the open daylight.
Far too often we find ourselves dealing with our own heart which is on two sides of a subject. We know what we want to do but we end up doing something quite different. In the story of old “the man went back and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him well. That is why the Jews were out to get Jesus—because he did this kind of thing on the Sabbath.” (John 5.15, 16) Today I am taking a fresh look at myself in the mirror. I wonder if I really want to see what I see. If I do I have a chance. If not even God cannot help me.
