Seasons come and go. There was a time in my life that I liked the change in seasons. Now, I prefer the one-and-a-half seasons of weather in Florida. I don’t need even one day of winter.
As I cope with the reality of the winter of my life, I find myself writing and thinking about missed opportunities. Every now and then I think of shoulda’s and coulda’s.
I’d like a do-over of some of the seasons of life. I think about how great it would be to re-live the good days and fix some of what went wrong. I’d like to have had more time with my children and taken more photographs. I missed many opportunities to smell the roses along the way.
I’ve found myself in many lectures to students speaking about open windows that close. During a long winter semester, classes and lectures drone on with seemingly no end in sight. But pages of the calendar turn and windows close. The teacher’s voice is silenced by the final exam.
The good that is present and standing in front of us moves away.
Seasons change. Winter is certain.
I read recently of ancient merchants who wrote the words memento mori, “think of death”, in large bold letters on the first page of their accounting books. The father of Alexander the Great, paid a servant to stand near him every day and say, “Philip, you will die.”
I think the accountants and Philip wanted daily reminders to live life to the fullest because seasons change.
Jesus told us “I come that you may have life and that you may have it more abundantly.” The Lord cares about our daily living.
Paul said to the Galatians, “Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who are of the household of faith” (Gal. 6:10).
Leaders have a unique opportunity to impact the lives of their team. Highly effective leaders are mindful that windows of opportunity close. I’m certain that when I walk out of my office for the last time, my to-do list will have unchecked boxes.
Leaders move with purpose. Today is the day that matters most.
“Therefore, take no thought about tomorrow, for tomorrow will take thought about the things of itself. Sufficient to the day is the trouble thereof” (Matthew 6:34).
Leaders don’t like snow days. Keep the windows open!
Today’s Scripture
“Listen! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in and dine with him, and he with Me” (Revelation 3:20).
Platform Tip No. 151
Your audience responds to you because you give them something no else can or will.
As trust is built and reinforced, the need for content continues to increase.
{eoa}