Letting Go of Past Success
Little children, guard yourselves from idols.
1 JOHN 5:21
What are the trophies of your past success? Absolute decision-making power? Guaranteed wealth for you and yours? Total independence? In these times of economic upheaval, some of our trophies may get stripped away. Then what?
If we let our trophies define us, we give them power and allow them to become what the Apostle John called idols. John knew that to fight our idols we would have to become humble like “little children.” We would have to let go of our egos.
The pandemic may well be a humbling time of idol busting but also a dynamic time of replacing old habits with something better. We might replace authoritarianism with team-building, fierce independence with collaboration, tradition with innovation. We might actually come out on the other side with a business model that is better poised for the future.
When we let go of our past glories, whether we choose to or are forced to, we get the chance to zero in on what is most essential. Letting go can be freeing, like cleaning out a closet. When we finally throw out that box of old trophies, we make room for more current and useful stuff.