Living Differently

I had arrived early at the mall and thought to use my time efficiently by purchasing a book. I was some 20 minutes early for my rendezvous with a friend. I couldn’t just sit at the café, staring into the open space and wait for my friend to come in through the doors, could I? Better find something useful to do as you wait.

So I went upstairs to the Nu Metro bookstore. Up and down the aisles, looking for an inspirational title. I picked this one up: The Life@Work Book – Sixteen Respected Leaders Talk About Blending Biblical Wisdom and Business Excellence. Very well.

It wasn’t even a few minutes after I had sat down at the table in the café that my friend arrived. I never did get a chance to look purposefully engaged as I sat and read a book waiting for my friend.

Easy like Sunday Morning
I got the chance to start reading the book this morning. Maybe it’s part being rebellious, part being an avid reader who dislikes book introductions, I exercised my prerogative of starting the book from any chapter of my choice. Chapter 9 stared me in the face as I flicked the book open.

Chapter 9
Vision: Seeing Beyond the Majority from Living Above the Level of Mediocrity by Charles R Swindell.

Coincidence? God-Incidence? Well, I never. I begin to read.

The introduction to chapter nine reads like this:
“Charles Swindoll was taking stock of the attitudes of Americans, and he could not help but notice a disturbing reality: People settle. When they could be great, they accept being good – or perhaps just being OK. When they could shine like the brightest star, they opt to put forth only enough enragy for the required soft glow. They settle.”

“Worse,” the introduction goes on, “this acceptance of mediocrity is just as common among followers of Christ – perhaps more common – as it is among unbelievers. Swindoll began to wonder: As believers in the God of the universe – the God that defines perfection – shouldn’t we soar like eagles instead of crawling like worms?”

As I began to read the core of chapter 9 itself, it becomes clearer how Charles Swindoll ascertains that one should live beyond mediocrity: with vision, determination, priorities and being accountable.

Returning to Ascension
I begin to think of the likes of Obama, Kola Karim and the likes of Hilary Clinton. What am I saying, I even begin to think about dear friends and family members to whom all manner of misfortune have collided with but yet they remained determined to ascend, remained committed to their goal and vision (“that’s all I know to do. I can’t imagine myself doing anything else,” I have often heard), and charted out their priorities, even if it meant separating yourself from the crowd and being classified as ‘deep and boring.’

Never mind them, I say. When you get to the other side you will fly your collar and they will say, “I knew her. I knew him. We worked with the same organisation some years back in Kalakuta.”

Attributes of vision
Swindoll went on to describe the attributes of vision – attitude, belief, capacity, determination and enthusiasm.

Attitude: when you have a vision, it affects your attitude. Your attitude is optimistic rather than being negative… “not foolishly positive, as though in fantasy, for you are reading God into your circumstances.” The ever present G-factor that must drive our hopes and our dreams.

Belief: refuse to give into temptation and doubt. Maintain a strong belief in the power of God, confidence in yourself by the grace of God and confidence in those around you who are in similar battles

Capacity: a willingness to be stretched. Allowing your capacity to be invaded by His power. I hear that loud and clear. There has been many an occasion when I found myself saying: “Father, I have done all that I know to do.” His response? “Remember My Word that says, “Having done all, stand,”.”

Determination: that speaks for itself, right?

Enthusiasm – need I say more?

June 08
I had determined to centre my prayers and quiet thoughts during this month of June on the issue of purpose, the manifestation of purpose, and for the closing of the gap between the here and now and of destiny.

I think it no surprise therefore that I ‘coincidentally’ picked up The Life@Work Book.