Footprints

by Budd Glassberg

Reprinted with permission from the Zionsville Times Sentinel on January 2, 2008

Using Our Gifts

“Strength is made perfect in weakness.” - 2 Corinthians xii. 9

Man’s ability to overcome adversity and succeed is well documented. Our newspapers and books are littered with stories of personal triumph. The inspirational adventures of others give hope to all of us. We read and hear about ordinary people who accomplish extraordinary things. This column has often highlighted such individuals who have used determination and a strong will to conquer a personal demon and perform a great physical feat.

Each of us has been blessed with certain gifts. Either we put these gifts to good use, or the gifts are wasted. Along with the gifts, we are given certain challenges. These challenges come in the form of personal weaknesses. For one person, it may be a weakness for alcohol, for another it might be a tendency for laziness. Not surprisingly, the challenges often seem to be in diametric opposition to the gifts we are given. That is to say; giving in to our weaknesses will directly hinder our ability to make use of our gifts.

The New Year gives us reason to take stock of our gifts. We might look at what these gifts could allow us to accomplish in the coming year. Next we should at what actions on our part might thwart our ability to succeed in our goal. Then an honest appraisal of our weakness inventory is in order, since the seeds of our failure to accomplish our goal lie in our surrendering to these weaknesses. Obsession is a good place to begin looking. Any obsessive behavior that we recognize is likely to reveal a weakness. Finally, we might put a plan in place to give us the best opportunity to succeed in overcoming our personal adversity.

This slightly different bend on a New Year’s resolution is something I have been thinking about for some time now. For the past several years, I would print out a list of resolutions and then check back on New Years Day to see which ones I accomplished. Many of the resolutions were goal oriented such as, “this year I will run four ultra races” and others were periodic events like, “this year I will walk to work 3 days a week.” The problem with those resolutions and ones others make like, “I will quit smoking” are that they do not address the root cause of what keeps us from effectively using our gifts. They may give us temporary comfort, but they fail to address that which is preventing us from doing what we wish to do.

I am certain that the ordinary people doing extraordinary things have spent the time it takes to look honestly at them. This personal examination helped them find the ways to overcome their personal weaknesses and achieve what they were put on earth to do. After some sincere soul searching, I believe I have found my most glaring weakness. It is what I will be working on in 2008. Before beginning to work on the other many smaller weaknesses I have found, the biggest fault is my current project and one to which I will devote my greatest effort. Having one resolution makes it easy for me to focus, and working on the most difficult one will first will make it easier for me next year. By not disclosing to others the weakness on which I am working, I will not be subjected to anyone’s judgment but my own.

Armed with determination and understanding the fruits of success, I am confident that 2008 will be a very good year. That is something I can work toward. There is no situation or other person whom I can complain about if I do not triumph. The ball is in my court.

I wish all my readers a very happy and healthy 2008. May your gifts be used wisely. May your weaknesses be few. May you look back fondly on this year feeling that it was well spent.

Budd Glassberg is a 23 year resident of Zionsville who works and volunteers in the community. Visit www.runz.com for reprints of all his columns. You can reach him by email at budd@runz.com.