Mindy's Blog


 

Waste Not. Want Not. 

By Mindy Caliguire - Sunday, January 24, 2010

Waste Not. Want Not . . . ageless wisdom on economic thrift from our friend Ben Franklin. Business leader Jim Collins advises something similar in his newest book, How the Mighty Fall, in which he exposes the five stages of decline organizations go through—from “success” to oblivion or obscurity. It’s not a pretty picture, but I find his warnings and guidance to be profound. Challenging.

Collins writes of leaders who used decline as a catalyst. I love the quote he uses from Dick Clark, “the quiet, longtime head of Merck manufacturing who become CEO after Gilmartin, put it, ‘A crisis is a terrible thing to waste’” (Page 116).

A crisis is a terrible thing to waste.

When life is really hard, it’s tempting just to use a journal as a place to “dump” all our woes and worries. And at times, that’s certainly helpful! But in heeding wisdom, be sure not to waste the opportunity that presents itself in a crisis. For many years, I believe I did just that, rather than seeing my journal as a place to record, yes, but then evaluate and even imagine where God was in the midst of that.

I distinctly remember a time . . . not that long ago . . . when I finished a proper pity-party for myself and sensed the Spirit nudging me. “The greatest potential loss in all this is not what you just wrote about . . . it would be if you don’t learn from this.” I began using my journal not only to record the hardship and frustrations, but also to consider different paths, new resolves; even earnest prayers for next things.

Of all the things we might waste (time, money, energy, talent, opportunity) please be sure not to waste failure and disappointment. They are invaluable to our growth and learning. Also, to our humility.

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. (James 1:2-4)

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