FOL

Resourcefulness is a good thing, right? The Bible uses the ostrich as a model for resourcefulness. Although they cannot fly, these creatures have other traits that more than make up for this apparent deficiency. But other actions and attitudes associated with ostriches show the dark side of resourcefulness, and serve as a warning for us.

What if you were to choose—before even arriving at work—what sort of attitude, perspective and demeanor with which you were going to approach your day? Instead of waiting to react to whatever might be going on at the office, you would be taking the initiative to be one of the actors that everyone else reacts to. You would be taking the initiative on your own behalf and also on the behalf of the entire office culture.

Taking personal initiative at work can have its rewards—but it can also be risky. When we make decisions and take risks and initiate change, we face new, unknown territory. It can be terrifying. Some of us retreat; others move forward. Some of us proceed with caution, others with heart-stopping faith. But none of us can see the end result until long after we make a decision.

So, what do we do now that Christmas is over? How do we get back from the tornado of food and wrapping paper? Short days of early winter. Slow work schedules and hours of football. What do we do next?