An Important Photo
Nov 9th, 2007 by gibsondirect
There are times when I don’t like what the business world does to people. I see it often. There are people I’ve known for years, changed over time due to an abundance of issues faced in the workplace. Betrayal, fear, greed, and many more issues—they all take their toll. However, in so many cases, it’s not so much what they do to themselves as it is how they begin to treat others around them.
I don’t like what it can do to me either.
That’s why I keep a photo of myself close at hand. It’s a photo of me when I was probably 5 years old, although the actual date is unknown. In the photo, I’m dressed in a cool cowboy outfit, complete with cowboy hat.
I look at it and I see innocence. I lost it along the way. We all do. That’s both good and bad. I want to keep the good, but remove the bad. Now, when I feel the stress of making a living push its way into my life, I stop and look at that photo. It helps inspire me to keep out the bad.
[...] There are times when I don’t like what the business world does to people. I see it often. There are people I’ve known for years, changed over time due to an abundance of issues faced in the workplace. Betrayal, fear, greed, and many more issues—they all take their toll. However, in so many cases, it’s not so much what they do to themselves as it is how they begin to treat others around them.….Click here to read the rest. [...]
What a great idea. I featured this essay at the main High Calling Blog site today. http://HighCallingBlogs.com
Great post. With me, I don’t pull out a photo, but I often tell myself, “I’m just a Dean”. That is, I’m nobody of particular importance nor do I deserve to be treated more special than anybody else. I’m just a Dean living out my life as best I can while hopefully helping others to live their lives a little better too. Thanks for your post.
Steve,
I love your heart and couldn’t agree more with you regarding the temptations that exist in business (or work in general) to lose perspective on what matters most. I love the line someone once said, “I try to take myself less seriously and God more seriously.” Then, I find it helps to remember often the notion of the God’s image residing in every human being–helps me treat others in ways that I hope would make God smile. Thanks for you good words.
There is a picture of me in my cowboy outfit too from when I was four. Perhaps we need to compare our pictures.
For me, innocence is something I have tried to leave with my kids for as long as possible. I have a friend who says, “You only get your innocence once,” and I really believe that. Whether it is exposure to greed, injustice, or more carnal issues, the first time you get that first elightenment it can never come back. I have had some sexual struggles in my life, so I have gone out of my way to shield my kids, and especially my son, from seeing any sensuality that is not appropriate or too much. I saw too much too soon and it impacted me. I know I cannot shield him forever, but we have done our best to shield him from the evil side of sex and talk to him about what God intended.
So thanks for this blog. Innocence lost is a sad thing and I know it breaks God’s heart.