“Divine comedy” is how AP Newsdescribes a typographical error in a Wendy’s sign. The fast-food restaurant in Palm Beach County, Florida, recently installed a sign reading, “All of Wendy’s sins off one word—FRESH.” The word was supposed to be “spins.”
While the restaurant could use a better proofreader, its sentiment is interesting. What word does your life “spin off”?
Adam Grant is an organizational psychologist and professor at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School. He has been hired by companies such as Google, Wells Fargo, and Warner Brothers to talk about managing people. In an interview published yesterday, he made a statement that is both simple and significant: “What we spend the majority of our waking lives doing should be something we find really valuable and rewarding.”
You would think it wouldn’t take a best-selling psychologist to point out this fact. But are you following his advice? What mission defines your life?
Here’s a better question: Whose mission defines your life?
Jordan Spieth won yesterday’s British Open in record fashion. I watched the tournament on television and was astounded by his performance over the last five holes. His temperament in facing adversity was absolutely remarkable. Spieth is not yet twenty-four years old, but his maturity is already legendary.
Now consider the player who almost defeated him. Matt Kuchar is a thirty-nine-year-old golf pro who has never won a major championship. He was leading the tournament before Spieth rallied with three birdies and an eagle to win the title. As difficult as the loss was, Kuchar never lost the smile and gracious spirit that have made him so popular with players and fans.
Besides golf, what do they have in common?
Spieth’s faith in Christ is widely known. But Kuchar is also among a group of golf professionals who follow Jesus. They attend Bible studies and prayer meetings and are committed to using their influence for God’s Kingdom.
Not surprisingly, after Spieth won the title, he told reporters, “I believe Matt Kuchar will win a major championship. And I believe that he’ll do it sometime soon. He’s a great champion and he’s such a great person. And he’s a great individual to look up to. He’s one of these guys, when I talk about having great role models on the PGA Tour, and I’m fortunate in that, he’s at the top of the class.”
What “class” do you aspire to be at the top of?
There is only one way to live a life of transcendent, transformational purpose: we must give ourselves to the transcendent, transformational King of the universe. David testified: “I cry out to God Most High, to God who fulfills his purpose for me” (Psalm 57:2). Before God can do the latter, David must do the former.
So must we.
Rick Warren: “You were made by God and for God, and until you understand that, life will never make sense.” Does your life make sense?
Jim Denison, Ph.D., speaks and writes on cultural and contemporary issues. He produces a daily column which is distributed to more than 113,000 subscribers in 203 countries. He also writes for The Dallas Morning News, The Christian Post, Common Call, and other publications.
