Ed. Note: Every so
often we'll get a message to us Gunblast brothers from one of our partners that
is a solid representation of Godly principles that relate well to our
readership. So it is with this message from Jim Taylor. Jim's a
good guy, a good gun writer, and someone who loves the Lord. Perhaps you
Greg's Corner readers will appreciate his message. If you do, let us know.
Thanks, and may God richly bless you this day.
Greg Quinn
The 80/20 Rule
by Jim Taylor
September 26, 2006
“…I did not find paradise.
It was only a reflection of my lonely mind wanting what’s been missing
in my life...” (from
Goodbye Alice in Wonderland by Jewel)
Many people are looking for a personal
“paradise” ... the perfect job, the perfect mate, the car, a hobby, an
advancement or recognition ... the thing that will fulfill them. Quite often
they run from relationship to relationship, seeking that “paradise”. Or they
get caught up in trying to “climb the ladder” or make their place in the
world, seeking what’s missing and never quite finding it.
Oh, there are good things, yes!
And quite often that person in your life or that job has brought a lot of
satisfaction, but it is not quite everything that you envisioned.
There still seems to be something lacking.
Let me share with you a little secret:
There is NOTHING in life that will ever give you
100% of what you are expecting from it. Get
used to this idea. Nothing
will ever be 100%. No car, no job,
no career, no sport, no piece of furniture, no house, no spouse. NOTHING and NO
ONE will ever live up to 100%.
That’s a fact of life.
Many things and many people however will reach
about 80% of our expectations. And
there is nothing wrong with that. However
… and this is important …… we can become indifferent to the 80%. We
can grow used to the 80%. So used to it in fact, that we sometimes start
worrying about the 20% we don’t have. And
IF we are not careful, we will be tempted by the 20%.
I have seen it in marriages.
One partner says, “You are not giving me everything I need.
Oh sure, you are 80%, but I need that other 20%!”
If they continue to fixate on what they don’t have, sooner or later 20%
is going to come walking by. And many times they will leave the 80% for the
20%!!!!
Why? Because
by fixating on what they don’t have --- the 20% --- they forget the 80% they
do have and suddenly the 20% looks like more than the 80%.
And so they give up the 80% and run off with the 20%.
Then one day they wake up and realize they
settled for 20% when they once had 80%, but now it’s too late to go back.
As parents we rarely are everything we want to be
(if ever) and I know that in our children’s eyes we come short of their needs
or expectations quite often. How many young people just can’t wait to get out
on their own, only to find when they do that they have left 80% and now are
living with 20%!
If you focus on the 20% it often looks like the
answer to your problems. When the 20% appears to us as if it is more than the
80%, it will appear to us as the way to everything we desire.
When we pursue the 20% it can be exciting, thrilling, and promising. But
when we leave the 80% and settle for the 20% life becomes empty and depression,
discouragement or despair can settle in.
How many people neglected family and friends in
pursuit of a career only to discover one day that while they reached the top of
their career, there was nothing there? They
have gotten the 20% but at the expense of 80%.
Some people never understand the 80/20 Rule and
spend all their life running, leaving, seeking, and never finding what they are
searching for. They think if they
can just get that special (fill in
the blank) they will find contentment, fulfillment, and satisfaction.
But because they don’t understand the 80/20 Rule they actually are
working against themselves! The
very thing that would bring what they want is the thing they constantly run away
from!
The key is to learn to appreciate the 80% that
you have! Do not listen to the call
of the 20%. Do not allow yourself
think about or dwell upon the 20%. Begin
to explore all the possibilities that are in the 80%.
Start being thankful for the 80% you have.
It will take some time and requires a “training” of your mind, but in
time you will begin to see how foolish it is to dwell on the 20%.
When that happens the 80% actually will become more valuable to you than
you believe possible. It may even
become more than 80%!! Yes.
That is possible. It may not look like it is now, but trust me, try it
and you will find out whether I am telling the truth or not.
As I said, it will require you to train your
mind, discipline it, and bring it under your control.
If you have something or someone that is 80%, do not allow yourself to
dwell on the 20% you don’t have! Think
about the good things. Make yourself become thankful for the good parts.
As you endeavor to do that, if you will ask Him, you will find the Lord
will enable you to follow through, thinking about the good things.
And His peace will invade your life.
Not only will His peace come into your life, it will actually guard your
mind so that the 20% never looks as large as the 80%.
Give it a try!
What have you got to lose but dissatisfaction, discontent and
unhappiness? You can live without
those things!
Phil 4:4-9
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your
gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about
anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present
your requests to God. And the peace
of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your
minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble,
whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is
admirable-if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-think about such things.
Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me-put
it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
NIV
Contentment:
Heb. 13:5 Let your conversation be without
covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I
will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
I Tim. 6:8 And having food and raiment let us
be therewith content.
Phil. 4:11 Not that I speak in respect of
want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.
Luke 3:14 And the soldiers likewise demanded
of him, saying, And what shall we do? And he said unto them, Do violence to no
man, neither accuse any falsely; and be content with your wages.
Satisfaction:
Ps. 90:14 O satisfy us early with thy mercy;
that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.
Ps. 91:14- 16
Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I
will set him on high, because he hath known my name. He shall call upon me, and
I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour
him. With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.
Ps. 132:15 I will abundantly bless her
provision: I will satisfy her poor with bread.
Prov. 5: 18- 19
… rejoice with the wife of thy youth …. let her breasts satisfy thee
at all times; and be thou ravished always with her love
Isa. 58:11 And the LORD shall guide thee
continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou
shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail
not.
Jim Taylor
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