Opportunities Have Expiration Dates
How often have you said, “If I only knew then what I know now”? Then it is too late. Carpe Diem is a phrase we hear often. It is a shortened version of the original Latin phrase "Carpe diem quam minimum credula postero" meaning "seize the day, trusting as little as possible in the future."
Whenever you have an opportunity to help someone understand how to do something, or to show them a better way (and when they invite you to help), step up and help. You may never get that opportunity again. An absolute legend in woodturning was a fellow named Dale Nish, founder of Craft Supply, Provo, Utah. I met him twice and then he passed away. The first time he bargained for one of my early fancy Christmas Ornaments. The second time was when I delivered four of them to be photographed for inclusion in his book “Woodturning Christmas Ornaments with Dale L. Nish”. And then he was gone.
I search daily for wisdom in knowing which opportunities to accept and which to reject. I think one of life’s secrets is knowing when to say yes and when to walk away. Careful study and analysis is important, but not always practical in a given time frame. Automobile dealers have honed this to a fine edge. When you have “new car fever” they can smell it! Have you ever had a salesman tell you that they can’t guarantee this car will be available tomorrow? Or that you are only one of several people looking at a particular home?
Snap decisions are usually not the best decisions. I have mentally vaccinated myself against “missing out” if I don’t decide immediately. In fact my automatic response has become that I’ll be OK with that possibility. Being around this long has taught me that there will always be other cars, boats and houses that I will like just as much. However opportunities for lifelong friendships don’t come along that often. With those I’m much quicker to decide on the positive.
Consider “Free Green Wood” just cut. All you have to do is carry it home. First of all, just because there is no out of pocket cash expense doesn’t mean it is free. You have to break it down to useable sizes, seal it from cracking store it somewhere and turn it before it goes bad. My counsel with green wood is that it is just like lettuce. Don’t take more than you can turn within a reasonable amount of time after you get it, or you will just end up throwing it out when it spoils. Yes, I learned this the hard way just like you.
When it comes to bigger decisions I usually sleep on it and if I still feel it is a good decision in the morning, or next week or next month, I pull the trigger. It is amazing how a short cooling off period can improve decision making. What seemed like a good idea last week may not look as good this week. What you are trying to do is seize those opportunities which look even better next week than they did the week or month before and avoid the ones which begin to smell. Remember that wherever you go, there you are.
Here is my inspiration for this message:
Prov 4:7 MSG Above all and before all, do this: Get Wisdom! Write this at the top of your list: Get Understanding!
Deut 4:6 Observe them carefully, for this will show your wisdom and understanding to the nations, who will hear about all these decrees and say, “Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.”
Luke 2:40 And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was on him.
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