A few weeks ago I was meeting with a C-level executive of a well-known organization. I was asking about his career and he opened up.
When he was in his 30’s he had the opportunity to buy a company that was struggling. He took the chance and was able to turn it around in dramatic fashion. Within 5 years he was able to sell it and made his millions. “I had it all; the house, the plane, the life. And within a couple years it was all gone. My wife left and took the kids. The business tanked. It was a really tough lesson.”
In the moment of him sharing this with me, I did two things. The first was to sense the gratitude I always feel when people share their stories – stories that remind me with clarity what’s important and why. The second was to ask the question I love asking….
“Has your faith been important to you?”
I thought it might catch him a bit off guard, as this was a professional meeting. But, there it was….
Without one second, he replied, “Of course.” He told me about how, sometimes, you need to have things taken from you before you realize what’s important. He had experienced that in profound fashion.
I then asked the question I also love asking. “What’s your favorite way to practice your faith?”
He mentioned that he’s an early riser, and on his 30 minute drive to the office, he finds solace in praying and talking to God. He mentioned The Prayer of St. Francis being very important to his overcoming the tough years and being one of the main reasons for his recovery. “It seems crazy to people, to think you should love them in order to be loved. But I’ve just learned it’s true.”
This conversation was the inspiration for our rendition of The Prayer of St. Francis. (Check out Songs AND Films to hear it or watch it).
Lord make me an instrument of your peace
Where there is hatred let me sow love
Where there is injury, pardon
Where there is doubt, faith
Where there is despair, hope
Where there is darkness, light
And where there is sadness, joy
O divine master grant that I may
not so much seek to be consoled as to console
to be understood as to understand
To be loved as to love
For it is in giving that we receive
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned
And it's in dying that we are born to eternal life
Amen
When he was in his 30’s he had the opportunity to buy a company that was struggling. He took the chance and was able to turn it around in dramatic fashion. Within 5 years he was able to sell it and made his millions. “I had it all; the house, the plane, the life. And within a couple years it was all gone. My wife left and took the kids. The business tanked. It was a really tough lesson.”
In the moment of him sharing this with me, I did two things. The first was to sense the gratitude I always feel when people share their stories – stories that remind me with clarity what’s important and why. The second was to ask the question I love asking….
“Has your faith been important to you?”
I thought it might catch him a bit off guard, as this was a professional meeting. But, there it was….
Without one second, he replied, “Of course.” He told me about how, sometimes, you need to have things taken from you before you realize what’s important. He had experienced that in profound fashion.
I then asked the question I also love asking. “What’s your favorite way to practice your faith?”
He mentioned that he’s an early riser, and on his 30 minute drive to the office, he finds solace in praying and talking to God. He mentioned The Prayer of St. Francis being very important to his overcoming the tough years and being one of the main reasons for his recovery. “It seems crazy to people, to think you should love them in order to be loved. But I’ve just learned it’s true.”
This conversation was the inspiration for our rendition of The Prayer of St. Francis. (Check out Songs AND Films to hear it or watch it).
Lord make me an instrument of your peace
Where there is hatred let me sow love
Where there is injury, pardon
Where there is doubt, faith
Where there is despair, hope
Where there is darkness, light
And where there is sadness, joy
O divine master grant that I may
not so much seek to be consoled as to console
to be understood as to understand
To be loved as to love
For it is in giving that we receive
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned
And it's in dying that we are born to eternal life
Amen