I remember an occasion when I was trying to
help my four year old son get dressed for church on Sunday
morning. My wife had given me the task while she was doing her
‘makeup’ thing. But he was at that stage where he would always say,
“No, I can do it myself.” Left alone he would end up with his shirt
on backwards, his pants unzipped and his shoes on opposite feet. But
still, he resisted my help. Finally I would have to put my foot down
and remind him that I was the grownup (not sure my wife would agree)
and he would have to accept my help or suffer the consequences.
As I think back over my life I have to be
honest and admit there were times when I was clueless about
something but I would try to ‘fake it,’ resisting help and trying to
figure it out on my own. Now, as I remember those times, I try to
figure out WHY I was so stubborn. Maybe it was a little arrogance.
Maybe I was a little embarrassed that I didn’t know whatever it was
that I needed to know to do whatever it was I was supposed to
do. Maybe I didn’t want to admit that there was somebody smarter
than me in a given situation. Often, the consequences of trying to
do it on my own were… longer than necessary completion times and
less than excellence in the quality of the final result. In a
relationship, those who choose to ‘go it on their own’ end up
damaging or destroying their relationship.
In reality, LIFE is about partnerships; people
helping people. Just as the turtle did not get on top of the fence
post by himself, it is rare to find a successful person who did not
partner with someone else along the way. Solomon, the wise man who
wrote the Old Testament book of Ecclesiastes, knew that well. Read
his words from chapter 4, verses 9 & 10. “Two are better
than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either
of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who
falls and has no one to help them up.” I agree. Partners
can help you, encourage you, correct you and often double the output
of your effort. Sometimes, they even pay for lunch! In my
experience, the lone wolf approach just results in a hungry wolf.
So, if you want to accomplish something great in life…professionally
or spiritually, find someone great to partner with.
May your partnerships be blessed,
Max Holt, Class 02-67, Association Chaplain
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