Think About It
Posted on July 27, 2007 - Filed Under general |
Thinking about and dwelling on your job or business? The next deal, the lost deal, the big deal…the layoff, the raise, the title, the money? How much is too much? Trouble sleeping at night…thinking about it? Thrilling at times, no doubt, but is your job and your income really providing the deep satisfaction in life that you thought it would when you began to pursue your career path? A dear friend of mine who has been retired for several years from a thriving career recently talked candidly with me about how his business practices were so successful that his efforts have helped many other men to become very successful millionaires as well. However, his single most significant regret was that he did not focus more on his children while they were growing up. Tears came to his eyes when he explained that the relationships with his grown children are not nearly as healthy as he hoped they would be at this time in his life. His incredible business success isn’t doing much to restore those broken relationships now. Even though my friend is in the later years of his life, he is determined to spend the rest of his days trying to repair the damage. His significant philanthropic efforts in his community are providing hope to countless lives because of his changing priorities. He has decided to dedicate whatever time he has left to the people and things that matter most. In a way, he “came to his senses”, much like the prodigal son who took his inheritance and ran away from his family for all the wrong reasons, yet later realized that it was better late than never to change his mind. My friend is finding that it’s never too late to change his way of thinking! Never too late!
Are you ready for prime time? Anxious to see your favorite team play again? Can’t stop thinking about this Saturday’s round of golf? I can smell football in the air! I’m serious! I know we’re in basketball country, but there is nothing…I mean nothing…like a crisp fall sunny afternoon with a crowd of 75 thousand plus who are going absolutely nuts with each and every snap of the ball! Win or lose, I could tell you about tons of incredible memories I’ve shared with family and friends because of a football game! We’ll be in the thick of it in less than two months! I can hardly wait!! How much do you really want to know about my last round of golf or my teams recent double overtime loss in the Fiesta Bowl? About 5 minutes worth…if I’m lucky! We can get so psyched up for a discussion about the intricate details and statistics and experiences of our many sports interests or hobbies! For men, these tend to be some of the areas of our lives that we look to for much of our satisfaction and fulfillment. From playing to coaching to watching…over the years I’ve discovered that there are not too many things that excite me more than getting crazy for or with my team! Question…do you get crazier over your favorite sport/hobby or about what’s going on in your kid’s life? If you’re not sure, ask your kids, your wife, and your friends what they think you’re most crazy about and see what they say…if you dare.
Interesting, isn’t it…this relationship between who we have become and what we have spent so much of our time thinking about. Some things great, some…not so much. Are you taking a personal inventory on a regular basis? Or are you just letting the critical stuff of life pass you by? Maybe you’ve been avoiding it, but let me challenge you to rethink who you are becoming! Take a look in the mirror. Sounds silly, but it may help you focus on the point…if you are willing to hear it…the point, that is. Ask yourself, “Am I who I want to be?” and “Do I like who I am becoming?” What’s your answer? One more question. Don’t ask yourself this time. Ask God, “Are you pleased with who I am and who I am becoming?” What’s His…answer?
Maybe it’s time for a new direction…a new leaf…a new way of thinking and acting and reacting and (you fill in the blank). Life’s too short. You’ve only got a finite amount of time to make it count. Is it time to rethink? Think about it! (Proverbs 23:7)
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