Uncle Akin: Choose Life (Part Thirty Seven)

Friday, 23 June 2017

Choose Life (Part Thirty Seven)

Now a certain man was there who had an infirmity thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he already had been in that condition a long time, He said to him, “Do you want to be made well?” (John 5:5-6, NKJV)

We continue this week with the story of the sick man healed at the Pool of Bethesda. [John 5:1-15].

That is where the second of Stephen Covey’s "7 Habits of Highly Effective People" kicks in. We cannot be proactive unless we have the vision to constrain. [Proverbs 29:18; Hebrews 12:2; 2 Corinthians 4:17] We cannot focus our resources when we are unclear about our mission. There are general visions, and there are specific visions. You cannot do all things. There are general missions, and there are specific missions.

There is a part for each of us in the big picture. [1 Corinthians 12; Romans 12:3-8] It behooves us to know where we fit. For some, it comes by revelation. For most of us, it comes from experimentation and discovery. Whichever it be, we have to proactively access it. (Remember, Habit 1: Be Proactive)

"What we call the beginning is often the end. And to make an end is to make a beginning. The end is where we start from." (T. S. Eliot)

We cannot pay the price of the high road unless we know what it is buying, and we count it worthy of the cost. We need to begin with the end in mind. We need to be cognizant of the price. That is the end. And, measure the cost against it. There has to be a reason for our grind. There has to be a reason for our labor. There has to be a reason for our sacrifice. And, the reason has to be worth the price.

"People lose their way when they lose their why." (Michael Hyatt)

"He who has a why to live for can bear almost anyhow. (Friedrich Nietzsche)

Jesus admonishes us to first count the cost before proceeding on the venture. [Luke 14:25-34]

"To begin with the end in mind means to start with a clear understanding of your destination. It means to know where you’re going so that you better understand where you are now and so that the steps you take are always in the right direction." (Stephen Covey)

There are three personal statements we each need, to help along our journey. These are Vision, Mission, and Value Statement. These are often confused with one another. I love the way Carl L. Harshman defines these. His definition is attuned to the organization, but are equally true for every individual. Each person is actually an organization, made of the various parts that make us who we are. Below is Carl's definition of the three statements.

"A mission is a statement of the reason or reasons for the existence of the organization, the ultimate purpose the organization serves in society, and the boundaries within which it operates. The vision describes what you want to become or how you want to be. It is the “dream” toward which you are moving. Values include beliefs and attitudes that guide behavior and relationships with others."

Take time to be clear on your Vision, Mission, and Values. Let your life's strategy be aligned with these and the goals you have set.