Life Is A Journey, Drew Hunthausen, Blind Inspirational Speaker

Where do we continue to find joy during challenging times? We are currently in an unprecedented time of concern and anxiety with the coronavirus virus plaguing our day to day lives, and this is a tough, but important, question to ponder.

Yesterday I came across a post on Facebook that helped me to view my circumstances a little bit differently. It wasn’t really anything new or earth shattering, just a needed reminder that I am so thankful for and would like to share with you.

This is a story about a company and the way in which they chose to react to scary times. It demonstrates an important lesson I believe we can all take something from.

In previous years this company had experienced significant challenges with workplace accidents, injuries, and even loss of life. As they evaluated all this, their goal was to motivate the experienced, independent men and women they employed to take a fresh look at how they were working. They wanted them to “slow down, be intentional and realize the only way to get better collectively is to focus attention not only on their job, but on the work of everyone on their team.”

Flipping the script on one of the oldest stories in the Bible, they decided to actively care for one another. Their motto became: I am my brothers’ and sisters’ keeper.

“For them, it meant they were responsible not only for their life, but the lives of those around them. They committed to calling out poorly done work, including their own. They would hold others accountable. They wouldn’t accept a colleague putting themselves at risk and would love them as if they were family. That year the organization enjoyed historically low workplace accidents and zero deaths.”

My friends, as headlines share fear, as social media can be confusing, and as the number of reported new cases in the US elevates, perhaps we can learn a lesson from this workplace story. It is that we all need to work together to embrace the recommendations by the experts to practice social distancing, employ enhanced hygiene practices, self-quarantine if we are ill, and faithfully adhere to all the guidelines put forward by these experts. At the same time let us be aware of any of our neighbors who may be isolated and in need of help. It is here we will find joy by keeping at least some of the focus outside ourselves and realizing we still have much to be thankful for.

Life is a journey with many different seasons. Often the toughest periods are merely an introduction or preface for something much greater. These times we are in are extremely challenging for everyone but keep hope. Never give up and never quit, for the best is yet to come!

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