Another Serving of Spiritual Alphabet Soup

Another Serving of Spiritual Alphabet Soup

I offer another serving of spiritual alphabet soup.  I experience particularly fruitful periods of prayer and meditation during the holidays.  The Holy Spirit reveals new insights on success and excellence in accordance with God’s will for my life. 

In addition to confidence, C stands for courage.  “Courage is fear saying its prayers.”  To achieve anything, you believe wholeheartedly in God and in yourself.  Recently, I heard a presentation from a woman who assists people in starting and succeeding in business.  She tells her audience courage decides winners and losers.  People who willing take risks; sever their ties to old jobs; and devote themselves to new endeavors ultimately succeed.  Courage stays the course when things appear bleak and unrewarding despite your hard work. 

H stands for humility.  “Pride goeth before a fall.”  An egomaniacal attitude usually does not yield success.  In fact, such an approach creates entrenched blind spots.  As you are so convinced of your strategies and competencies, you fail to consult others for advice and wisdom; fallaciously believing you can accomplish your goals on your own.  Instead, submit your ambitions and dreams to the light of God’s countenance.  God burns away the dross of self-centered fear and selfish ambition.  Rather than deflating your ego, humility encourages and empowers us with strength and support critical to our success.

Without passion, it is difficult to accomplish anything.  Passion is an inner oasis in the desert of life. Passion maintains commitment to goals and objectives.  Graduate school faculties encourage prospective doctoral students to pursue their degrees in disciplines for which they are passionate.  Given eighty-five percent (85%) of persons who begin doctoral programs never complete them, a simple interest will not sustain a student during the years required to obtain the degree.  However, passion ignites continually a desire to become an authority.  Even as a student is sick of reading books and studying, passion reaffirms purpose and propels success.

Arguably, passion determines whether we excel or not.  Once, I counseled a woman who had a choice of two different jobs.  The first job paid very well.  It held her interest but she did not anticipate staying for the balance of her career.  The second job paid less but clearly arrested her passion.  I suggested she compare where she would be ten years at both jobs.  I suspect she would obtain two or three promotions at the first job.  But would she still enjoy the job?  In the second instance, I posited she would be far happier.  Further, she would strengthen her skills; deepen her contributions to the field; and perhaps obtain a level of excellence such as publication.  When we work within our passion, chances are we will excel.  “If you enjoy what you do, you will never work a day in your life.” 

Purpose undergirds passion.  Undoubtedly, we possess a fiery zeal for jobs and personal interests.  As Rick Warren urges, we are purpose driven.  We clarify reasons we spend inordinate time and energy on a job.  Hopefully, we seek more than personal satisfaction and physical and material well-being.  What is our raison de tre (reason for being)?  Passions seek divine purpose.

Without a mission statement, life’s situations toss us to and fro like a ship without a sail.  Inexplicably, people with incredible talents waste these riches.  We marvel at that potential to build the kingdom of God were they to devote themselves to that purpose.  Clarity and focus prevent squandering time and resources.