Come... join me for a moment here...
and I will tell you what this matter of "“Accountability"” means to me.
I am accountable to Life for the answer to THE big question... namely "“How good a job did you do and/or are you doing at BEing John-Michael?" Not "“What titles did you hold?"” nor "“What roles did you play?"” nor "“What offices did you hold?" Not "How much?" of anything will determine the success of my short while on this earth, but "“How did you respond to and use that unique treasure and gift of your very own individual design by which you were created?"” That is the scale upon which I will be weighed day by day and through eternity. So I am compelled to respond, without reservation, to each opportunity served to me each day in the knowledge that all things are under the control of the Creator of it all and my opportunities each have a purpose. And I do not want to disappoint myself... deprive that person... or lessen the value of that experience by withholding any part of ME from each moment.
For example, there was the occasion when I pulled over to the curb and exchanged salutations with the lady who was walking her dog in the early-morning, before-preparation-for-work, pre-dawn stillness. (This is the time that folks are accustomed to seeing the newspaper delivery guy [me] who has been there every day for the past fifteen years.) We shared comments about now-forgotten things, and then (in response to the urging of my "Still, Small, Inner Voice") I said something like "Please forgive my intrusion, but I detect in your tone, an obvious lack of enthusiasm for the job that you are engaged in."
This is the moment when LIFE rewards my courage with an affirmation that I have ventured onto "“prepared soil". The lady began to unreservedly reveal her unhappiness with both of her jobs that she felt trapped into. Like so many today, her economic requirements necessitated her working more than one job and, like many, if not most, she found no satisfaction in either of hers. I then revealed to her the possibilities available through career counseling and gave her some examples of successes that I have known personally. I explained the functions of some of the testing tools and illustrated the ways in which the test results can be translated into a satisfying and even enjoyable career.
Some months later, in response to my passing wave, she stopped me and told me that she had decided to follow through on researching options for herself. Still many months later, I saw a "‘U-Haul"’ trailer in the street with several people engaged in the never-enviable task of moving-day labor. To my surprise, the lady flagged me down (I didn'’t even know that she lived there) and announced "“I took your advice. As a result of the testing and counseling that I pursued, I am (as you can plainly see) moving to a new location to begin a new career that is the fulfillment of my dreams. Thank you for your advice. You gave me hope and a plan"
I went my way and she hers without even knowing each other's names. All that matters is that I gave Life an opportunity to let that young lady know that there was a waiting and ready potential for something special for her life. And all that was required of me was the willingness to allow Life to use the experience and knowledge acquired over my personal walk and offer it to this person who was ready for it and receptive to it. Her life was transformed... and I am forever blessed.
So, you see, My Dear Friend, willingness, availability, and receptiveness are the only requirements for us to be of immediate and tangible service to that world that is all around each of us... moment by moment, through each day that is given to us. And in the participation in these opportunities, we can make our world a bit better... person by person, experience by experience... you and I , living in love can change life for the better.
I invite you to be bold, open, and alive in the moments of your life. And, as we look into each of our personal, intimate, and private "“mirrors" of reflection, we can know that we have responded appropriately to those gifts presented to us by Life... those fleeting opportunities that were given to us... that we responded to Life'’s summons to BE that unique individual that was needed in that fleeting moment. And that we embraced our personal calling for or own Accountability... to ourselves... to that other soul... and to Life.
Please trust me... it'’s great fun!
IMAGE: Through the gracious courtesy of Ian Britton, FreeFoto.com
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