最困難的方式其實是最簡單的

在娛樂和藝術的領域裡，我們經常聽到「一夕爆紅」這種事: 某人前一天還默默無聞，隔天突然每個人都在談論他。他可能是某一個電影明星、某個登上音樂排行榜的歌手或是某個寫了暢銷書的作家。

但是我們都知道，這些一夕爆紅的人，其實在成名之前，他們已經付出許多努力、準備和掙扎，是這些讓他們的一夕爆紅成為可能。

我的朋友蓋瑞‧亥非(Gary Highfield)，就是一個很好的例子，在他的書「當想要變成必須要Want To” Becomes “Have To!”註1」中，他陳述了自已艱難的童年生活，其中包含了一些令人心碎的經歷。當時他年紀輕輕帶著一個太太和三個小孩，做著一份沒有前景的時薪工作，幾乎不能糊口。他想要給家人更好的生活，當這個「想要」變成「必須要」的時候，他開始有了提升自我的計畫。

蓋瑞的書不僅述說他個人的故事而已，他也告訴我們他多年來辛苦工作的智慧和原則－勤奮、決心、不放棄、以及神所賜的恩典和時機。他的人生很辛苦，但是他拒絕失敗，不把自己看成大環境底下的受害者。

就這樣，蓋瑞一路從一個充滿挫折沒有希望的工人變成一個成功的商人。今天許多弱勢的人接受津貼和補助。但是他知道他最大的補助來自: 使用神所賜給他的天份和能力，可以完成神放在他心中的目標和夢想。今天他也能幫助和他一樣景況的人。聖經裡提到很多類似的狀況，在職場或是屬靈的狀況都是。以下是一些例子：

第一、受苦是為了要增加我們的力量。困難可以建造我們的忍耐力。就像是運動員所受的多年訓練讓他們可以超越他們的同儕得到冠軍。「不但如此，就是在患難中也是歡歡喜喜的；因為知道患難生忍耐，忍耐生老練，老練生盼望；」(羅馬書5章3-4節)

第二、沒有捷徑。很多人都想要立即成功得到獎賞，卻不想要經歷其中的掙扎。但是訂定一個計畫，花時間和克服挑戰去實行它，本身就是一個獎賞。「殷勤籌劃的，足致豐裕；行事急躁的，都必缺乏。」(箴言21章5節)

第三、掙扎塑造和磨練我們。毛毛蟲變成蝴蝶要脫繭而出的時候，需要經過一番掙扎，但是當牠成功地脫繭而出翱翔天際時，一切的掙扎就有代價了。相同的，困難的工作讓磨練未來的我們。「因為知道你們的信心經過試驗，就生忍耐。但忍耐也當成功，使你們成全、完備，毫無缺欠。」(雅各書1章3-4節)

註1: 蓋瑞‧亥非(Gary Highfield)的書「當想要變成必須要Want To” Becomes “Have To!”，此書台灣並沒有出版，因此作者、和書名皆由CBMC總會自行翻譯。

勞勃．泰默西是領袖資產協會的傳播部副部長，這是一個總部在美國喬治亞州亞特蘭大的非營利組織。他也是一個有40年經驗的退休新聞工作者。他寫過一本書「最佳狀態的商業：箴言給今日職場的歷久彌新智慧」（Business At Its Best: Timeless Wisdom from Proverbs for Today”s Workplace）。他也與David A. Stoddard合著一本書「導師之心」（The Heart of Mentoring）。要了解更多資訊, 可上網www.leaderslegacy.com 或上他的部落格www.bobtamasy.blogspot.com以及www.bobtamasy.wordpress.com 。

In the realms of entertainment and art, we often hear about the “overnight success,” the person that was a virtual unknown one day whose name was on the lips of everyone the next: the breakout star of a major motion picture; a singer soaring to the top of the music charts; an author whose book gains widespread public acclaim, turning her into an instant celebrity.

But we all know that even though a person may go from being unnoticed to stardom in the blink of an eye, much effort, struggle and preparation were invested to make that “overnight success” possible.

My friend, Gary Highfield, is a great example. In his book, When “Want To” Becomes “Have To!”, Gary details a very difficult childhood, including some heart-wrenching experiences. As a young adult with a wife and three children, he had a dead-end, hourly wage job, barely scraping by. He wanted a better life for his family, and then his “want to” became “have to,” starting an ambitious self-improvement program.

Gary”s book not only tells his personal story, but also presents many of the principles and wisdom he gained over the years through hard work, determination, a refusal to quit – and the grace and timely provision of God. His path was difficult, but he refused to accept failure and the seemingly easier alternative of resigning himself to being a “victim” of his circumstances.

In the process, Gary”s career transformed from frustrating, unfulfilling manual labor to great success in sales and entrepreneurship. Today many disadvantaged people are being promised “entitlements,” but he understood his true entitlement was to utilize the talents and abilities God had built into him to realize his personal and professional goals and dreams. Today he seeks to help others in similar circumstances. The Bible speaks a lot about this, both in workplace and spiritual terms. Here are some examples:

Sufferings serve to strengthen us. Hardships can build endurance, just as years of training equip top athletes to perform at championship levels, far beyond their peers. “…but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us …” (Romans 5:3-4).

No such thing as a “quick fix.” Many people want instant success, rewards without the struggle. But often formulating a plan, even if it takes time and overcoming challenges to carry out, can serve as a reward in itself. “Steady plodding brings prosperity; hasty speculation brings poverty” (Proverbs 21:5).

Struggles shape and refine us. A caterpillar faces great difficulty escaping the cocoon after turning into a butterfly, but its struggle is rewarded as it flies majestically through the air. Similarly, hard work refines us into who and what we are to become. “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything” (James 1:3-4).

Robert J. Tamasy is vice president of communications for Leaders Legacy, Inc., a non-profit organization based in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.A. A veteran journalist, he has written Tufting Legacies (iUniverse); Business At Its Best: Timeless Wisdom from Proverbs for Today”s Workplace (River City Press); and has coauthored with David A. Stoddard, The Heart of Mentoring (NavPress). For more information, see www.leaderslegacy.com or his blogs, www.bobtamasy.blogspot.com and www.bobtamasy.wordpress.com.