“He went through the thorns for me.” These were the words that made me stop and turn. It was a second grader speaking of one of his camp (and afterschool) counselors. “Yeah, I fell down and hurt myself during the activity and he went through the rose bushes to get to me – they were full of thorns too!”
This incident made such an impact on this little guy that over a year later he still remembered it and was discussing it with one of his friends. This is an example of impact – something that we strive for in everything we do. In the world that I live in, these words are gold. This means that something you did got through to someone; something you did actually mattered and made a difference. Whether you realize it or not, you have opportunities for this kind of difference-making all the time. Are you equipped to look for them? Do you know what to do when you see them? You have the potential to change lives each and every day. A supervisor has significant influence over the kind of day, week, month, and year his or her employees have. Think about this for a minute – the way you treat your employees, coworkers, and friends impacts the way they treat their own families (of course with varying degrees of influence). There’s a great teacher out there by the name of Charles Stanley who has greatly influenced the way that I view opportunities, and I’d love to share some of that here. I encourage you to open your eyes: opportunities are all around you. And the way that you respond to these opportunities will tell you a lot about yourself.
1. Can you discern between opportunities and obstacles?
a. What is tempting to see as an inconvenience may actually be an opportunity to show love to someone or create something that improves others.
2. Are you ready to give of yourself (and to use the gifts you possess) for the betterment of those around you in a healthy and appropriate way?
a. The decision is up to you on how you use them…but they may just make the difference for someone in your sphere of influence.
3. Do you have the courage to respond to people in uncomfortable situations?
a. Life is tough, and sometimes what helps others deal with the tough stuff of life is knowing that someone cared enough about them as a person to take a risk and ask about how they’re doing.
4. What determines how you live – fear or faith?
a. Oftentimes opportunities are a double-edged sword – many may involve an element of fear or discomfort, but in these cases, the reward is often greater, and the impact that much more significant.
5. How many opportunities are you willing to miss?
a. The time that is given to us is in this regard is not eternal. You have less time left today than you did yesterday in the places you live, work, and congregate. How much are you willing to forego, and why? You won’t be surprised to see that when you stop and truly ask yourself this question, most answers seem to range somewhere on the scale between unfulfilling and pathetic.
It’s up to you. What are you going to do with the opportunities that are given to you this day? As a fan of all things Tolkien, I feel compelled to share Gandalf’s wise words to Frodo from the Lord of the Rings – “All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us.” So whatever it is that you do, remember that moments of kindness and concern make all the difference. By taking those opportunities you may very well be going through the thorns for someone, and that, may just change them forever.