Above all else

A colleague once related to me that at a particular trial, a police officer gave evidence that he observed the accused at the scene of the crime.  When the accused cross-examined the police officer, the accused's argument was "I never see you, how come you can see me?!"  Needless to say, the court was not impressed by this logic... The fact is that, people are observing us all the time, even when we are not observing them.  2 Corinthians 3:2 says "You yourselves are our letter... known and read by everyone.  You show that you are a letter from Christ... written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts" Two friends gave me a really encouraging reminder of this truth recently.  One was an ex-colleague from many years ago, and she told me that she was just talking with someone about how I make it a practice to be extra welcoming to the new graduates/management associates when they join the co

I recently read Clayton Christensen's "How Will You Measure Your Life"?  Christensen is a business professor, most well known for his theory of disruptive innovation, set out in his book "The Innovator's Dilemma".  I once had the privilege of hearing him in person, and he was a very very compelling speaker.  Not because he was particularly charismatic - in fact, he spoke softly and slowly, and shuffled around uncertainly - but because his message and demeanour conveyed a strong sense of caring for his audience. In the epilogue to "How Will You Measure Your Life?", Christensen suggests that the reader do three things.  First, figure out who you are - a life purpose, if you will - and picture what that likeness is.  Second, commit fully to working towards that likeness.  Finally, measure how you are progressing towards that likeness.  He calls this "likeness", "commitment" and "measurement".  I think of it as &qu