LOST AND FOUND
How to succeed: Try hard. How to fail: Try too hard.
The
pastor was sitting at his desk one day when he heard a bold knock at his door.
It was a young man, quite impressive in dress and manner. "May I talk with You?" He asked. "Come in, and have a seat." the pastor answered.
"You don't know me, but I was at church on Sunday, and heard your sermon." I thought you might be someone who would understand." The pastor encouraged him to
continue.
The young man talked for a great while about life. He began by telling the pastor about his goals and aspirations. He was very specific about how he set them, and what he does to achieve them.
The pastor listened carefully and noted how efficiently the man set about to accomplish so much. It was obvious this was a person who knew the value of
strategic planning and hard work.
If only I could be so disciplined, and clearly focused, the pastor thought. Frankly, he was wondering what he could offer this man in terms of advice.
He probed a little deeper. "What is your motivation?"
Now the man was not quite so self-assured. He thought for
what seemed like a very long while in such an intimate conversation. Finally he said, "That's how the game is played. I work hard, I earn money, I provide for myself and my family."
The pastor went further. "How is it working out for you?"
"I am ahead of schedule. I have success far beyond my peers. I bought a big beautiful house in the nicest neighborhood in
town. My wife has a new car, a designer wardrobe and a purse filled with credit cards for her every need. My children go to the finest school, and they have a playroom filled with toys and games that is the envy of their friends."
"How does it feel to have so much?" asked the pastor.
The young man's shoulders slumped. His hands began to tremble. He cried. The
pastor handed him a tissue.
"I feel like I have nothing." he said.
"I've been working so hard for so long, with my eye clearly on the prize. Now that I've won, I don't know what to do. The things I have don't matter. My wife, my children are busy with their own activities, they barely notice me. I have no friends." READ MORE
