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 whats 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 whats 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%.
Thats 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 dont 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 dont 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 dont 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 its too late to go back.
As parents we rarely are everything we want
to be (if ever) and I know that in our childrens eyes we come short of
their needs or expectations quite often. How many young people just cant
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 dont 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 dont 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
If you have questions
or comments in general related to this article, please click: gregscorner@gunblast.com
If you have specific
questions as to how you can develop an inner peace that only comes from
a personal relationship with the one true God, please click: peace@gunblast.com
If you have specific
prayer requests and you'd like the Quinn boys to pray for you, please
click: prayerline@gunblast.com
