You are a Champion!
William Shakespeare - All the world’s a stage:
All the world’s a stage,
And all the men and women merely players:
They have their exits and their entrances;
And one man in his time plays many parts,
His acts being seven ages. At first the infant,
Mewling and puking in the nurse’s arms.
And then the whining school-boy, with his satchel
And shining morning face, creeping like snail
Unwillingly to school. And then the lover,
Sighing like furnace, with a woeful ballad
Made to his mistress’ eyebrow. Then a soldier,
Full of strange oaths and bearded like the pard,
Jealous in honour, sudden and quick in quarrel,
Seeking the bubble reputation
Even in the cannon’s mouth. And then the justice,
In fair round belly with good capon lined,
With eyes severe and beard of formal cut,
Full of wise saws and modern instances;
And so he plays his part. The sixth age shifts
Into the lean and slipper’d pantaloon,
With spectacles on nose and pouch on side,
His youthful hose, well saved, a world too wide
For his shrunk shank; and his big manly voice,
Turning again toward childish treble, pipes
And whistles in his sound. Last scene of all,
That ends this strange eventful history,
Is second childishness and mere oblivion,
Sans teeth, sans eyes, sans taste, sans everything.
Are you just waiting for the final curtain?
Some people, even at an early age, are simply waiting for the final curtain with no particular reason or purpose for their life. They can’t understand why they are here or what to do while alive. We all can certainly understand and live without reason or direction.
Have you ever been in a stage of your life where a particular (physical) person was extremely important? In the formative years, how about your mom and dad? Will we avoid playing in that particular physical stage of life (for some that could be age 4o)? In our final stage of life will we avoid death and eternity? If you are atheist then you don’t believe in eternity so this particular article might be extended beyond your stage. However, I believe there are physical stages, entrances, exits, and many parts to play before entering a spiritual realm and I believe they all have a reason or purpose.
I was fascinated by a leadership meeting presentation by Jenny Donnelly (Diamond Distributor) as she talked about:
- Where You are Now
- A Hall Way and Door
- Where You Want to Be
Obviously, Jenny is a very deep thinker (and I could just repeat my notes) but I will add my own thoughts to just a few of her comments in order to make this my own. She talked about the struggle in the hall way. There’s something we have to learn before we can open the next door (hopefully we don’t spend the rest of our life struggling in the hall way). Sometimes we don’t learn from our adversity and can’t get through the next door (a Groundhog Day movie moment where we have the same experiences over and over). How do we explain the hall way before entering the next stage?
Bible scriptures and observations:
James 1, 2-4: “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.”
Why should we be joyful when we are in the hall way? Because we are struggling and we are learning perfection (completeness) and are ready for a breakthrough. In fact, in this same passage it says the trying of your faith = patience.
It’s easy to have faith when we are on the mountain top. It’s easy to think it’s all our doing and we know it all when we are on the mountain top. It’s in the valley where we really learn faith. If you look at all the great leaders in the bible you will see that “everyone” of them experienced great trials before God would ever allow them to lead his people (see Hebrews 11). Without trials comes ego and with ego comes a great fall. In other words, you are not ready to deal with leadership. Moses never took center stage before becoming a sheep herder in the wilderness (substitute Distributor if you like) and dealing with the Egyptians as a young man (things didn’t go well). If God will cast one of the most powerful of his creations (Satan) down because of pride what will he do with you and your pride?
Elijah was ready to die because of his great enemies and God found him sleeping under a juniper tree in the wilderness. We are told in 1st Kings 19 that the Lord was not in an earthquake and fire (he was in a still small voice) and that voice asked “What doest thou here, Elijah?” God wasn’t through with him yet. God isn’t through with you either.
Malachi 3:3, “And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness.”
Fire (trials, struggle, pressure) refines everything in life:
- Pearls are created because sand irritates Oysters.
- Diamonds are created by coal under great pressure and heat.
- Caterpillars turn to Butterflies by struggling out of a cocoon.
- Trees grow strong deep roots because of Winter.
- Babies come into this life through the greatest of struggles through the birth canal.
- People often leave this life through pain and struggle and diseases (like cancer).
People learn patience and how not to become offended by others through the trying of their faith. Be joyful about trials (experiences) if you want to become a strong leader. If you can get to the point where you are not easily offended by what others say and do (responding with kindness), what other people think about you doesn’t determine your happiness or effectiveness, your not driving a Lexus or living in a large house doesn’t embarrass you, and you get joy from what others can achieve without envy–you’ve come a long way. Network Marketing leaders learn by serving and pleasing others and not themselves.
Learn from your experiences and open the door at the end of the hall way. Be thankful for the struggles so you will be ready for center stage (whatever that stage is) when your door opens.
Story from an unknown author:
“Refining Silver…
Some time ago, a few ladies met in a certain city to read the scriptures, and make them the subject of conversation. While reading the third chapter of Malachi, ‘And He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver.’ One lady’s opinion was that it was intended to convey the view of the sanctifying influence of the grace of Christ. Then she proposed to visit a silversmith and report to them what he said on the subject. She went accordingly and without telling the object of her errand, begged to know the process of refining silver, which he fully described to her. ‘But Sir’ she said, ‘do you sit while the work of refining is going on?’ ‘Oh, yes, madam,’ replied the silversmith; ‘I must sit with my eye steadily fixed on the furnace, for if the time necessary for refining be exceeded in the slightest degree, the silver will be injured.’ The lady at once saw the beauty, and comfort too, of the expression, ‘He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver.’ Christ sees it needful to put His children into a furnace; His eye is steadily intent on the work of purifying, and His wisdom and love are both engaged in the best manner for them. Their trials do not come at random; ‘the very hairs of your head are all numbered.’ As the lady was leaving the shop, the silversmith called her back, and said he had forgotten to mention that the only way that he knows when the process of purifying is complete when he sees his own image reflected in the silver….”
