Patience and Time Change Everything
I thought about how my grandmother was such a great person. She was a celebrated teacher. She honed her skills over 40 years in the classroom and was well admired by all- students, alums, parents, and administrators. When I gave a guest lecture at her old school last year, everyone thought I would rock the presentation. I had the best possible teacher to prepare me- my grandmother. I relied on her namesake and that I could entertain those in attendance with funny stories from my childhood. Well, it was an epic failure. I was not as prepared as I should have. Those fourth graders can really be tough. I was that zero the Lord had talked about rather than being the impressive number I could have been. I promised myself never to appear so unprepared again in the future.
Now after conducting this interview over the past several hours. I was in a better position than when I first came in this morning. While once I was thinking about learning the winning lottery numbers or getting a major promotion at work because of this interview, I was now thinking about teaching the next generation and my responsibility to others. My future was changing in front of my own eyes because I was thinking holy thoughts rather than base greed or egotistical thoughts.
“Sam, I can see that when you give your next presentation to them next year, that you will do a great job and will be that number in front, making your heritage really count.”
“God, I have not even been asked….” I trailed off. He could see into the future. I knew that by this point in the interview, but it is still a humbling thought. The Lord knew what was going to happen. I had so many questions that rushed to my mind. Not even one focused on the lottery numbers though. Will my kids fall in love, have families, and have careers? Will I be healthy? Will my wife keep her parents for a long time? Will I live a long healthy life? These were the types of questions that impact not just me, but others and could make their life better. That was what the Lord had been talking about with be concerned for others. I wondered if the future had changed since the start of the interview- because I had changed?
“Sam, those are great thoughts and even better questions. I will not answer them. But what is interesting is at the start of the interview you asked about lottery numbers. Your focus was financial. Now that you are faced with reality and your real future, you are focused on the truly important issues. When life smacks you in the face, we then often realize what is important for us. To answer your questions, well I will not. The real joy in life is the surprise you get from learning the answers yourself, in real time, whether good or bad.”
I don’t know if I was disappointed, but I think I was more relieved. What would I do with that information anyway?
“You raised an interesting point though Sam. Time is one of the important points we often overlook. I have lots of time. Sam, so do you. You have lots of time to improve and to learn. Think of Joshua and his road to becoming the Israelite’s leader. He was already a strong and powerful person before the Exodus from Egypt. In Exodus 17:9 Moses charged Joshua with organizing the troops to battle Amalek after exiting Egypt. Joshua, with his access to Moses and his leadership skills did not push for himself to become the new leader. He was the trusted advisor who would be a contrarian when the spies returned with their report about the Promised Land. He was the one who earned the right to lead the people. There was no drama, other than the revolt of Korach and that was not an attack on Joshua, but on Moses’ leadership.”
Up on the screen popped up an image of a man on a campaign poster. It had blue and white stripes and blue stars around the border. Under the photo was written “Joshua for Our Leader.” I assumed that was the campaign poster he would have had if they had paper, ink, printing…so many ifs. The Lord leaned over and put something into my hand. It was a campaign pin that read “Vote for Joshua- He Will Lead us to the Promised Land.”
The Lord leaned back and continued. “Joshua did everything right. Even the transfer of power went so smoothly. Moses gave Joshua some of his spirit. He blessed him in public. Moses wanted everyone to know that there was a change coming and he endorsed the new leader. This represents a great example of the time it takes to become a true leader capable of executing the ultimate mission and how leadership can be properly transferred.”
What could I say? I agreed with the Lord. So many young executives think they have wisdom and smarts. They need to serve before they can lead. I had seen so many young editors with great degrees come and go. They never really became my true bosses. They were the suits…not mentors…not anyone I would go into battle with. That might be why they always petered out and my publisher was never able to truly groom a successor. I wondered if all my training and work might have been the boost necessary to advance. I realized that the only thing holding me back was …me. I needed to make myself the vessel to become the leader my publisher and fellow writers needed.
