Principle Number 5
Discover the ingredients of success Part 4
Pastor Maselo Mosomane
“And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability.” Matthew 25: 15. Why didn’t he give them equal amounts? What decisive measure did he use to see who qualify for what? Jesus tells us in this parable that he gave to every man according to his several abilities. ABILITIES.
I remember the story of a certain man who was hired as a lumberjack. He was hired to chop down fifty large trees in one week. The first day went by and he could not drop even one tree. The second day went by and still not even one tree was down. On the third day a shepherd came by and talked to him. He spoke as he was chopping. The shepherd grabbed him and took his axe to check it. The axe was so blunt that there was no way he was going to drop even one tree. The shepherd shouted as he threw the axe at him; “why don’t you stop for few minute and sharpen this axe?” “You are wasting my time!” He picked up the axe “I’m too busy!” He yelled as he swung the axe. He was too busy to stop even for one minute. He was not aware that being busy with a blunt axe was as good as not doing anything at all. “If the axe is dull and its edge unsharpened, more strength is needed but skill will bring success” (Ecclesiastes 10:10) NIV. A familiar story isn’t it?
This is what many of us are doing today. We are too busy to stop and enroll for an afternoon or weekend class to sharpen our wits. If you are not willing to sharpen your axe, go ahead and use your muscles. If you don’t have any marketable skill, you would better have muscles. Even then, how long will those muscles carry you through? Who cares about your muscles for people no longer work hard but smart? I don’t know if you realize that people are not promoted for their muscles but their skills. Since you rely so much on your muscles, why don’t you be wise and peacefully leave that post and join a wrestling team? It will save you some retrenchment embarrassment.
I remember when I started with computers; I was blank, and, had no slightest idea what computers are. The perception I had about computers was that a computer can do anything. I had no slightest idea what that “anything” could be. I did not even know that for a computer to function, you need a disk operating system and some applications. All I knew was that with a computer you can do anything. Those were tough days.
I would spend sleepless nights wrestling with it. I would sleep at 2h00 almost every day. One day I slept at 4h30 and had to wake up at 5h30 to prepare for the day. Tough times! What kept me going was that computers are expensive. I had spent R4 500 on that system. It was a 386 system. I said to myself, if I don’t learn faster, this thing would be just an expensive toy in my house. I couldn’t afford that.
Whenever I come across a problem I could not solve, I would ask those with knowledge. At times, I would go to computer shops, pick up a book and read. I would go as far as writing some notes in my palm. When I got home, I would be so excited to realize how the trick works. I was determined and I mastered the thing. I must be honest, unaware, I found myself spending more time on the computer than with my family. I thank my wife for the support she gave me during those learning days.
When I thought I was perfect on applications, a new problem emerged. I could only use two fingers to operate the keyboard and was very slow. I then said to myself, this thing; like a typewriter, needs all the fingers to operate. I tried. Man, it was impossible. My fingers were as hard as steel.
I went out and bought a Standard 6 typing book. This helped me with the typing basics. My fingers would be painful when I tried to apply the basic methods. But, I kept on trying. When I thought I was beginning to pick up, I got sick and went to a private clinic for some medical tests. The doctor who attended me was Afrikaans speaking. After the whole exercise, she wrote my report in Afrikaans. I was curious to know what was written in the report but since my Afrikaans is not good, I requested that the report be translated into English. It was sheer client service for the doctor to agree to my request for the report was not meant for me but for the doctor who referred me to the clinic.
The doctor gave that report to the receptionist who was also a typist. Wow! All I can remember was when she placed her fingers on the keyboard. The rest was music. The speed at which she processed that note was incredible. I stood there stunned. None of the people who were there knew what was going on in my mind. I got so discouraged and I said to myself, there is no way I could type that fast. I went home and never looked at that Standard 6 book again. I went back to my two fingers. Punch one alphabet and look for another. Oh! I would look for an “r” and end up thinking that my keyboard hasn’t got an “r”. Yes, you know what I am talking about.
Months went by. One day, I wanted to teach my wife how to type. I wanted to be smart. I took that Standard six book and started taking her through step by step. My interest was revived. Of course it had to, because I wanted to appear knowledgeable to her. I wanted to look smart and sure I did.
One day, as I was going through the shelves in a computer shop, I saw a programme entitled, Typing Tutor. It interested me and I bought it. When I reached the office, I did not waste time. I loaded the programme and started working on it. It was so nice and it helped me a lot. I’m doing my own processing. I am not perfect yet, but as I am writing I am able to type 35 words per minute.
I then went for formal training at a computer college to certificate my newly acquired skill. It’s so beautiful. I am developing everyday as I work on my computer. They say, “You cannot teach an old dog new trick” They are right. But I am not a dog. I can learn. I don’t operate by instinct. I’ve got a brain. I can think. A dog has a brain too, but it cannot think. How can you compare me with a dog? Anyway, go ahead; compare me with a dog or whatever but I can promise you one thing, I won’t bark. I can learn and increase my knowledge and skill. So can you.
Many times we are held back by statements we don’t even know who uttered them. We hold them so sacred and in the meantime we lose wonderful learning opportunities. “You can’t teach an old dog new trick;” says who? What authority does he have over your? Are you his student? Quit that college; quit that school of thought and start learning whatever skill or disciple you want. It’s possible! “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.”
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