Your Approach

I played golf yesterday and was once again reminded of how I approached the hole usually determined how I scored on the hole.  (Keep reading—this essay is not about golf; yesterday’s golf round was just the ‘experience’ that carried the ‘lesson’ that serves as a metaphor to introduce this topic from which I hope you make a helpful ‘takeaway.’ See my posting of September 23, 2015.)

 

Noting that our region of the country is suffering a drought I was aware that my approach shots—to be successful—could not come in low or hard, but instead needed to come in high and soft in order to end up near the hole, which was, of course, my objective.  A low shot might be direct and hit near the hole, but would ricochet off leaving me far from my objective and consequently hurt my score. 

 

In human relations the same holds true.  An ancient biblical proverb observes that “A soft answer turneth away wrath.” A more recent scriptural injunction tells us that “No power or influence can or ought to be maintained [by any other means]   . . .  only by persuasion, by long-suffering, by gentleness and meekness, by kindness and pure knowledge, and by love unfeigned . . . .” 

 

The approach we take in interacting with others often makes a definite difference in the outcome.This is a simple lesson, but a profound truth and is my 'takeaway.'

What is your ‘takeaway’?