What is winning?
How do you define it in your life? This used to be on the bumper of my neighbor’s truck in St Louis.
Not so popular to admit out loud now, but true all the same in our culture. And actually, not just our modern western culture. Remember these words?
“I tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God. When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, “Who then can be saved?”
They were astonished because back two thousand years ago, rabbis taught that rich people were blessed by God, and much more likely to enter heaven. Poor people had little chance. Of course, that belief was challenged with:
Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth.
So what is winning?
We each get to define it for ourselves. If you are winning at accumulating toys and wealth, maybe deep down you know that in life there are other types of “winning”. But how likely are you to walk away? If you are at a casino, and winning, how easy is it to get up and walk away?
If you are winning in your career, even though it might not be what you really yearn to do, how easy is it to walk away?
Even if your winning has accumulated to where you have the means to walk away, there will always be those voices. Those who will urge you to keep going, for another year, then another year. Voices from within your head, filling you with fear and self-doubt. Can you really do this?