The whole thing about investing in personal improvement is exciting, but also scary.
I mean I like to learn new things. In the past, being honest, it’s the applying new things that has sometimes complicated the results I hoped to achieve. And, there’s another thing that’s on the edge of my thinking: I don’t want to be taken advantage of. I don’t want to be a sucker anymore … or again.
So, what I’ve been promised is that I’m going to learn a way to improve my investments. I like this idea. I understand, it begins with me. It begins by me asking and answering questions honestly. To do this of course means I need to stop kidding myself and get serious about applying what works, while at the same time set aside what doesn’t work. I guess the big question for me is can I do it? Naturally, I think I can, so more specifically, will I apply what needs to be done?
But of course, it’s for my own good isn’t it? When I think about it, it’s about making good choices, instead of bad choices.
Do I want to improve my personal investments? I’ve already said that I do. And, I do.
“Alright,” he said, “are you ready to add what’s next? Are you ready to start building a better investment?”
“I’m pretty sure I am. What’s next?”
“Okay, let’s do a quick review … you were here, now you’re here.” He held his right hand, palm up, down low, and he held his left hand, palm down, about eighteen inches higher. “Progress has been made. Before you go farther remember you recorded two or three things you want to accomplish. I asked you why these haven’t been accomplished? You have some reasons and excuses. Maybe these are valid and maybe they aren’t. Still, you committed that you’re willing to take responsibility for you and stop doing what doesn’t work and start doing what will work.”
“Uh-huh.” I’m a bit embarrassed.
“So, we’re here.” He raised his left hand again. The objective is to improve your investments. Is this accurate so far?”
“Yes, that sounds right, it’s what we’ve discussed.”
“All right in order to build worth and value, the next thing to do is choose a foundation.”
“A foundation? Like … “
“A quality foundation—rock, not sand.”
“Meaning?”
“If your choice is sand it means you’re choosing something that may not hold up to stress.”
“Stress?”
“Stress can be the situations and circumstances of life. For instance the car won’t start in the morning and the company is depending on you to lead an important breakfast meeting with a top client. Or, your son tells you he needs a pair of $150 shoes so he can be competitive. Or, you wonder if you should see a doctor about the pain in your lower back. Or something else … make sense?”
“I get it. Sand isn’t the preferred foundation material.”
“Correct … rock is better.”
“Because it handles stress better?”
“Precisely.”
“So what defines sand? What defines rock?”
“Fair question … sand is a choice made or rock is a choice made. Sand is something that may work at times, but in the end fails. So the question is then, why use it for your foundation?”
“Sure …”
“Rock is a material that holds up in all circumstances and has proven to be most reliable. It succeeds where sand fails.”
“Really?”
“Really. Your life is the proof test. Your life tests and proves the value, the worth of building your foundation with rock. So, your choice is sand or rock.”
“Rock seems like a sound investment.”
“But not a cheap investment.”
“How so?”
“Rock requires more effort in building than the use of sand. Sand is easier to lay down than rock. But you’ve already established that you want to use what works best and not use what doesn’t work.”
“That’s right.”
“The rock foundation and the sand foundation our relationships.”
“This is a con, right?”
“Hardly … I’m giving you a foundation material that establishes a sure foundation for improving your future investments. Still interested?”
“I think so.”
“But you’re not sure because you think you might be cheated?”
“Um, yes, I think that’s a possibility.”
“I assure you, you’ll always have the choice to choose whether to go with this investment or choose something else. It’s up to you. No one is going to force you, or con you, or manipulate you into doing anything you don’t want to do, you can always walk away,” he said.
“Fair enough.”
“So, without a doubt, you have a building material. Are you happy with it? Is it working for you? The test is are you moving in the direction of achieving what you hope to achieve? The foundation that is going to work best for you is a relationship with Jesus. Are you still interested in improving your investments? Do you want to know why this is your best choice for improving your investments?”
(To be continued … your choice)
Bonus Song: “One Foundation“
Boy, there’s always that nagging question in the back of our minds, isn’t there? “Is this really going to work this time? Will it be different? Am I really building on a solid foundation?” The younger we are, the more likely we are to think we can go it alone, or strike out and delude ourselves into thinking that we can build our own foundation, out of new, better material. And we won’t need anyone to do it! The older we get the more jaded and cynical we are. We don’t trust others because we’ve been around the block too many times. We don’t trust ourselves because we’ve lived with ourselves too long to do that and have a bag full of negative consequences to which we can point. Or we point fingers at others and deny responsibility for our own smelly baggage.
You’re right, Lee. Jesus is the ONLY foundation you need; the only foundation upon which you should spend your time building. As Ann Voskamp says, “Can God be counted on? Count blessings and find out how many of His bridges have already held.”
When I look back over my life, I see that none of His bridges have collapsed. They have all held firm and taken me to the best places and provided me with the best outcomes. All others have eroded or collapsed.They were flimsy to begin with, so I shouldn’t be surprised at the outcome.
What a lot of years I wasted trying to build my own foundations. (Okay, I’ll be honest, foundations I’m still sometimes trying to build!)
Thanks for the insight, Lee, given in such a great, interactive and entertaining way!
Blessings,
Andrea