Successful, or as the Bible says “fruitful”, people have the ability to see the patterns in their lives that don’t work. They go through the door and leave those old patterns behind to “Never Go Back” and get caught up in them. So says Henry Cloud in his new book.
This morning as I was about to post to this blog, I had no connection to the Internet. I was cut off from the outside world, so to speak. I couldn’t post. I couldn’t check news. I couldn’t see what happened to all the soccer games where I’m responsible for the officials. I was disconnected. My post would be late–way late.
Let me tie these two thoughts together.
People get into a pattern of behavior. The pattern becomes hard wired in the brain. But…it is possible to change the pattern. You do have to go outside the pattern.
The Second Law of Thermodynamics says that in a closed system chaos will occur. So, we need to become an open system to go beyond ourselves. We need to get connected to God. Then we can intentionally begin to develop new patterns to replace the old ones.
And that is just what successful/fruitful people do. They go out of the door and Never Go Back to the old, unsuccessful pattern.
This all leads me to some deep meditation, though. Several times in my life I have gone into business with men who were openly Christian. You know, they always talk about it, they have tracts laying out, talk of going to church meetings, and so forth.
Every one of them owes me money. Every one of them backed out on his word. That’s a pattern.
Now, I’m about to make an investment into a company with avowedly Christian people.
Am I about to fall into the old pattern?
I think not. This time I have done much more due diligence. This time I have taken months to understand the situation. This time I think I got connected.
Tags: attention, attitude, decisions, Ethics, growth, Leadership, learning, Prayer
Faith Venture 
August 27, 2014 at 4:32 pm |
It’s a sad commentary Gary, a good reminder to do some self reflecting to ensure my walk/talk are aligned.
August 27, 2014 at 7:39 pm |
Yes. I’m not totally cynical about Christian businessmen. But it is amazing how often that story is repeated in other people’s lives. Maybe a psychologist or Shakespeare has insight into people who profess too strongly.