23 years ago things were going well in my life. I had begun
my business several years prior and things were moving along nicely. I
was preparing to take another overseas business trip, this time to Pakistan, my
bank account was growing and I felt I was beginning to make a difference as an
international business consultant. I had life pretty well under control and I
was free.
Then, I had a heart attack.
Suddenly, without warning, my life was at a standstill. My
life seemed out of my control. I had never experienced a health issue of this
magnitude and had no comprehension of what my future was going to look like
should I survive. Sitting in the ER I was bewildered by my circumstances as I
watched health professionals working fervently on my behalf to keep me alive.
Lying helplessly on the gurney which they wheeled me into the room on, I was
poked with needles, tubes inserted and wires strategically attached to my body.
I do, however, have a vivid recall of two thoughts racing through my mind
during this terrifying event which had invaded my body and was altering my life
without my permission.
1. There
is nothing I can do to remedy this situation. No amount of positive thinking,
money, influence, title or sheer personal will is going to keep me alive if
this is my day to die.
2.
When I close my eyes as they transfer
me to the operating room, the next time I open them I may be face to face with
the creator of the universe. I ask myself "am I ready for that?" What
would be my answer?
Fast forward April 2020. Today along with you, my life has
been altered again by circumstances that are completely out of my control. Like
you, I'm at a standstill. Our freedom to move around has been restricted,
government officials instruct us on how close we can stand from each other,
when (or if) they permit us to leave our homes, how many people we can meet
with at any given time. Our economies are being shattered, people are without
jobs, bank accounts and 401K's are decimated and we have no comprehension of
what the future holds. At this point, we don't have a picture of when this will
end and what life, finances or our business will look like should we survive.
We grieve for those who have lost loved ones to this deadly virus and scared of
death it's self as we consider our mortality. We do know one thing, life will
never be the same again.
Generally, I'm a positive guy and do believe there are
freedoms we still have, which you hear repeated day after day i.e. protect
yourself, be kind to others and watch out for others, get some exercise, don't
eat or drink too much, wash your hands cover your mouth blah, blah, blah blah.
I do appreciate the encouraging words that tell us we'll come out of this
stronger than ever. These are good and proper warnings, but I’ve learned not to hypnotize myself with Pollyannish platitudes. As I've mentioned in my
recent blog articles, we are living during times that require serious
reflections.
In our western culture, we have always been inspired by and
have celebrated self-reliance and a "can do" attitude. This spirit of
individualism is wonderful and there is nothing wrong with that mindset unless
you let a good thing become the ultimate thing. During my
sessions on personal behavior and leadership styles, I refer to the fact that
"a strength overused becomes a weakness". Too often our
self-programming can travel from self-improvement to self-centeredness and can
morph into if you will, creating a self god. I offer the following
examples of the programming we are exposed to. Hear the pronouns that make my
point.
> William Ernest Henley said in his poem Invictus
(meaning unconquerable), “It matters not how strait the gate, how charged with
punishments the scroll. I am the master of my fate: I am
the captain of my soul.” Being the captain of your soul is the ultimate
goal in life.
> Thousands of little girls sing with passion along with
Elsa in the movie Frozen, the refrain "Let it Go" which includes the
line "No right, no wrong, no rules for me I'm free!"
> Or, like Frank Sinatra who thumbed his nose and said:
"I did it my way".
>Consider also the pious so-called religious leaders who
make millions of dollars in book sales by telling us that the key to being
successful, becoming wealthy and happy is all a product of your
thinking. It's about you! Discover how wonderful YOU are!
To my shame and embarrassment, too often in my life, I have
succumbed to those voices of the world and to their programming messages. Most
people don't really think they are selfish or self-absorbed, but we are. In our
private thoughts, we know we are, but unwilling to acknowledge it to our selves
and certainly not to others.
Just two years prior
to my heart attack, I experienced a different life circumstances which left
me totally and completely out of control. I discovered that just about
everything I thought important such as family, friends, wealth, health,
position, titles, pleasures, hobbies, religion were just "stuff"which
could never fulfill me. I had made good things, ultimate things. I also discovered
those objects vying for my attention (which at the time appeared so necessary)
would at some point in my life leave me or disappoint me.
However, by the Grace of God my life was truly interrupted.
I had been a marginal churchgoer and believed in this person called Jesus, but
the fact is, I was an "unconverted believer". Now some skeptics
reading this will say "Oh, he got religion". But I'm not talking
religion. Organized religion was (is) often rituals, rules, and
regulations. What I got, was a person and with that person a different
mind-set when He invaded my body. No longer was "me" the center of my
desires, but Him.
"The Lord says: Let not the wise
man bask in his wisdom, nor the mighty man in his might, nor the rich man in
his riches. Let them boast in this alone: That they truly know me, and
understand that I am the Lord of justice and righteousness whose Love is
steadfast: and that I love to be this way."Jeremiah
9:23-24 Living Bible (TLB)
I understand this is a business blog. But as a leader and a business
professional can I separate the core of who and what I am from my business
life? C.S. Lewis said, “I
believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I
see it, but because by it I see everything else.” I've personally found this to
be the case as now I see business, finances, family and yes COVID-19 through a
different lens. As a famous guy said, "I once was blind but now I
see".
I know
some really good professionals, who are really nice people, but they are
missing the mark. They sense that something isn't right.
So, as is my custom in these blog articles, let me offer a
few suggestions for your consideration while you are isolated from your routine
and you have some time to fill.
A) Think..........This is what they call Holy week. What does that mean to you?
What actually took place on Good Friday and why? What is the purpose of Easter
Sunday? Little bunnies and eggs or something different? What relevance does
Good Friday have on your life?
B) What
do you have in your life that if taken away, would almost destroy you? What is
the most important thing to you in life?
C) This
is a great opportunity to read the book of John (yes the whole book) in the New
Testament. As you read, consider the implication of those words to you
personally. As you read, look for you in the chapters and then look at
how God delivers good news in the midst of life circumstances.
So, let's end this little article where we began.
Do you have freedom?.....Yes! it's called Free
Choice...Choose wisely
"What good will it be for someone to gain the whole
world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their
soul?" Matthew 16:26 NIV
We will emerge from this pandemic someday..Soon I hope...
and when we do I pray we all
Finish Well
