These days I've been thinking about circumstances – circumstances that come into our lives, surround us and sometimes force us to think differently about the things that we are doing. Often when circumstances, especially those working against what we are doing come along, we tend to second-guess ourselves and wonder whether it is a sign to either quit and do something different, or time to make some changes, or just give up. And we let the circumstances dictate the path of our lives, sometimes giving in too easily when we really ought to be saying: "I'm not going to let them alter the course of my life; I'm going to overcome them." Does that get your attention? Is that what's going on in your life? Then stay with me and let's process those thoughts together.
I was reading an article by Chuck Givens. He talked about a time when he was on his way to conduct a workshop that was almost 200 miles away from his home. He said, "I left in plenty of time, looking forward to the drive, taking the tight mountain curves in my sports car. But unfortunately, on that particular day, my fan belt broke and the car began to overheat." He still decided to press on in the hope that he'd find a gas station where he could get a fan belt. But, within a few minutes, his engine seized and he was faced with another choice: should he call ahead and cancel the workshop or should he try someway to get to his destination.
He decided to push ahead and hitchhike, and in ten minutes, he was in a car whose driver was traveling to the exact same destination. In talking to the driver, he found that the guy had really nothing to do and was intrigued about the workshop that he was going to be leading, and asked if he could attend; Givens readily agreed. At the end of the workshop, Givens said, "I felt so calm and successful, rather than angry and frustrated. Plus, the whole seminar went well. I did not allow the circumstances to control what I had planned for that day." Further, when he asked the group, "Anybody going my way?" ten hands went up, and he got his ride back home. Everything turned out well. So, instead of making a call earlier on and saying that the circumstances were all arraigned against him, and seeing it as a sign that he should quit, he took it as a sign to overcome and carry through, and it turned out to be the right decision.
What about you and me as we face decisions in our lives? Sometimes there are circumstances around us that are intimidating, ones that make us wonder if this is the time for us to move on and quit, or change tactics and allow the seeming inevitable to take over, when in reality they may be providing us with an opportunity to be decisive, to think out-of-the-box and to climb that mountain.
Consider this: many years ago, in the late 60s Scott Paper was the leading company in paper-based consumer products. Proctor & Gamble, a giant company at that time, decided that they were going to diversify and get into the paper-based consumer business. Analysts wrote off Scott Paper at that time, and they believed it and caved without a whimper. Even though they were the leaders, they decided that they were going to give up and make the best of the situation. They folded and allowed Proctor & Gamble to come in and take their turf. Kimberley-Clark, on the other hand, whose CEO at that time was Darwin Smith decided not to give in to Proctor & Gamble. At one board meeting, he got up and said, "I want everybody to rise for a moment of silence." Everyone was stunned, but rose to their feet wondering what was going on. At the end of one minute, Darwin Smith said, "That moment of silence was for Proctor & Gamble." And the place went bananas. Blair White, a director who witnessed the incident said, "Everybody was wound up. All up and down the company, right down to the plant floor, there was a new energy and vitality—they were going to take on Goliath." Two different people; two different companies – but the way they reacted to a new circumstance, made one to fold and capitulate while the other fought and overcame.
I wonder how it is with you; whether there are circumstances that are threatening, and you are beginning to wonder whether you should quit, pull the plug on what you're doing or just do something else.
A turtle was walking down the country road and fell into a pothole. He tried to get out but couldn't. A rabbit came hopping along and offered assistance, ideas and support but couldn't help the turtle. Finally, the turtle said, "It's no use! I guess I'm just going to stay here. Nothing is going to happen. I'm never going to get out." So he just hunkered down and accepted his fate. Suddenly, however, he heard a rumble. He peeped out of the hole and saw a tractor heading right for him. Without thinking twice, he just jumped out of the hole and ran. When the rabbit saw him later, he asked him, "What happened? I thought you couldn't get out of the hole." The turtle replied, "I couldn't, but then I had to."
I wonder whether you need to do a "turtle" too. Maybe you've been looking at your circumstances and thinking it's over—that it's been a good run but it's time to accept the inevitable, and give up. Well, maybe today isn't that day! Maybe today is the day to scramble up and out and lock horns with the goliaths and giants that are crowding you and push past them. Maybe it's time for that second wind, that power and energy that you thought wasn't there, but the rumble of a tractors wheels can elicit from deep within you—hidden strength and resources that are there if you look deep enough. Maybe it is time to take control and respond positively to challenging circumstances. As Benjamin Disraeli said, "Circumstances are beyond human control, but our conduct is in our power."
Rory Vaden, writing in Huffington Post, said there was a time when he landed in Jamaica for a vacation and it was pouring cats and dogs. He got into a taxi and told his Jamaican driver, "What's with the rain? I came here for the sunshine and it's raining." The Jamaican turned to him and said, "Maaan! In Jamaica, we don't have rain. We just have liquid sunshine."
I wonder whether today, you need to look at your circumstance and say, "This is not rain. It's just liquid sunshine. And I'm going to press through. I'm not giving up or giving in—not today. Maybe today's the day where you say that you're not going to give in to the situation; that you're going to make this day about liquid sunshine, about a desperate turtle or a take-on-the-goliath Darwin Smith!
Overcome. Press on. Don't give up!
May I offer this prayer on your behalf?
Almighty God, I pray that You would bless everyone reading this post. Give them eyes to see beyond what is visible to them. Help them not to look at circumstances as things that are threatening, but to look at them as things that need to be overcome. Given them the strength and energy to do so. I pray this as a blessing on each one who reads this. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Endnotes:
• Accounts on P&B, Scott Paper and Kimberly-Clark taken from Jim Collins' book, "Good to Great."
• Story of Chuck Givens taken from "God's Little Devotional Book for Teachers."
• Mary Luttrell, "Luttrell on Leadership: Perseverance" http://www.maryluttrell.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/NBBJ-Luttrell-on-Leadership-May-2008-Perseverance.pdf
• Rory Vaden, "What I learned about Attitude from a Jamaican cab driver." http://roryvaden.com/blog/what-i-learned-about-attitude-from-a-jamaican-cab-driver/
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