生命是困難和美好的

如果我們知道生命是困難重重的，面對各樣的試練和挑戰是不可避免的，我們就會把生命看成一連串需要去解決的問題。因為知道每天都需要去面對和解決問題、經歷棘手的議題、處理困難的狀況。每一次當我們解決了一個問題，我們就會有成就感。越多成就感，我們的人生就會越快樂。快樂總是跟成就感連結在一起的。

相反的，如果我們以為生命是一段享樂的郵輪之旅，旅途中完全沒有冰山，那我們就會把每一個遇到的困難視為不受歡迎的、阻礙我們「快樂」人生的絆腳石。當這些我們必須面對的阻礙來的時候，我們就會感到苦毒和不滿。

為什麼我一直待在企業界是因為我喜歡解決問題。當你有自己的公司時，生活就變成一連串需要解決的問題了。我們可以痛恨問題，或是專注在解決問題的而產生的經驗和享受問題解決時的滿足感。

在我經營的攝影產業裡面，每一天都代表著一連串的困難和挑戰。尤其是在我修復舊的或是毀損的照片時，這樣的感覺特別強烈。我不將它們視為令人厭煩的或是挫折，我選擇去擁抱每一個必須跨過的柵欄。

很多在職場工作的人覺得自己的每一天充滿枯燥了乏味和重複。每天都在做一樣的事情。感謝主，這從來沒有發生在我的職場裡。每一天我都有不一樣的問題必須要解決。因著這個原因，我可以不假思索地說：「人生真美好！」在聖經裡面也談到我們每天在職場和生活裡都必須面對的困難：

在掙扎當中找到喜樂和希望。困難教導我們毅力的重要性－下定決心要解決困難，而不只是忍耐那樣的狀況直到風暴平息。「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)

在過程當中成長。 就像是蝴蝶因著要破繭而出得到力量，我們的掙扎也會幫助我們有力量去面對現在和未來。「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)

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）。最近他還編輯Gary Highfield所寫的書「當『想要』變成『必須』！」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 。

If we know and understand that life is difficult, that it is inevitable that we will face all kinds of trials and challenging situations, we begin to view life as a series of problems to be solved. We can face each day knowing we will have the opportunity to solve problems, work through thorny issues, and deal with difficult circumstances. Each time we solve one of these problems, we can feel victorious. The more victories we chalk up, the happier we are. Happiness is almost always related to victory.

If, on the other hand, we presume life is supposed to be a leisurely cruise, with no icebergs along the way, each problem we encounter becomes an unwelcome interruption to our "happy" life. As these interruptions build up, we become bitter and discontent with situations we must face in our lives.

The wonderful writer and humorist, the late Erma Bombeck, had two book titles that described these different attitudes: The Grass is Always Greener Over The Septic Tank, and If Life is A Bowl of Cherries, Why Am I Always in the Pits? In her entertaining way, she was saying we should never feel surprised by life”s difficulties – we should embrace them and seek to turn them into some form of positive benefit. Some time ago I saw a sign with a simple message that speaks to this: “Life is not about waiting for the storm to pass – it is about learning to dance in the rain.”

One of the reasons I have always been an entrepreneur is because I enjoy solving problems. When you have your own business, life becomes a series of problems to be solved. We can resent this, or address difficulties head-on and experience the joy and satisfaction of being able to resolve them.

In my photography business, each new day presents a new set of difficulties and challenges. This is the case especially as I engage in the process of restoring old or damaged photographs. Rather than feeling annoyed or frustrated, I choose to embrace the hurdles that must be overcome.

Many workers find their days filled with the tedium of repetitive tasks, doing the same things day after day. Thankfully, that is never my experience. Each day brings something different, a new set of issues for me to work through. For this reason, I can state without hesitation: Life is good! Here are examples of what the Bible says about the difficulties we confront every day where we work and where we live:

Finding joy and hope in the struggle. Difficulties teach us the value of perseverance – determining to work through the challenges, not just enduring the circumstances until they subside. “…we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope” (Romans 5:3-4).

Growing through the process. Like a butterfly that gains strength by breaking out of its cocoon, our struggles can serve to strengthen us for the present and the future. “…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).

Jim Mathis is the owner of a photography studio in Overland Park, Kansas, specializing in executive, commercial and theatrical portraits, and operates a school of photography. Jim is the author of High Performance Cameras for Ordinary People, a book on digital photography. He formerly was a coffee shop manager and executive director of CBMC in Kansas City, Kansas and Kansas City, Missouri.