Get ‘Er Done!

By Stanley Parker

I love the story of the CEO who invited his top-level management team to his Ozark mountain estate for what they thought would be a leadership training weekend.

They were expecting to see graphs, statistics, and get a pep talk about production and sales. Instead, they were asked to put their notebooks down and grab shovels. “I want you to dig a ditch 2 feet wide and 10 inches deep around the perimeter of my home,” he told them. After speaking those words, he disappeared inside the home.

Shocked, not one person spoke for what seemed an eternity. Soon, their silence turned to questions. Then they started arguing about 8 or 9 inches being close enough to 10, and complaining about having risen to the top of the organization only to be forced to do manual labor. “He has enough money to pay for this to be done!” “I’d just as soon go back down the food-chain as to have to do this!” “I cannot believe I gave up my weekend for this!” The grumbling continued.

Finally, one of their colleagues, a newcomer to the corporation, spoke up and said, “Fellows, who cares why he told us to do this, let’s work together and just do it!”

With those words, the front door to the mountain estate opened and the CEO reappeared. “Gentlemen,” he said, as he grabbed the new team members hand, “I’d like you to meet your new Executive Vice-President.”

There are at least 3 things we can learn from this story:

1) When the Lord doesn’t explain something to us, it’s because we don’t need to know the details.

2) When the Lord doesn’t speak to us as we think He should, it’s because He’s working things out in His own way and timing.

3) When He tests us on one level, it’s because He’s getting ready to take us to the next. So be careful how and when you question Him.

Remember: “God moves in a mysterious way His wonders to perform… Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take; the clouds you so much dread are big with mercy, and shall break in blessings on your head. Judge not the Lord by feeble sense, but trust Him for His grace; behind a frowning providence He hides a smiling face. Blind unbelief is sure to err, and scan His work in vain; God is His own interpreter, and He will make it plain.” (William Cowper, Scottish Psalter, 1615).