好得要命的人生

想一想，有沒有什麼東西曾經讓你說：「…得要命」？也許是好吃的食物、旅遊景點或是觀賞影片戲劇的經驗？

「過著一個好得要命的生活」聽起來如何？對某些人來說，這樣的生活意味著能一直沉浸在自己喜歡的興趣裡面，例如釣魚、打高爾夫、音樂或是旅行。對其他的人而言，可能是沉浸在追求財富或是專業上的成功和成就上。做這些事，都會帶來一定程度的滿足感，但是光追求這些，有一天我們就會問自己：「人生就只是這樣而已嗎？」

在我看來，一個好得要命的人生是活出有意義的人生，有堅定不移的使命。一個人如果知道自己是誰、為什麼在這裡、並且有動力想要完成他的使命，就是一個好得要命的人生。這樣的人生最終會正面影響很多人、改變別人的生命。就算這個人之後離開人世了，他的影響裡仍然存留。

因為這樣的人很少，在我一生當中，只認識幾個像這樣的人。最近我的朋友大衛(David Stoddard)剛過世，他是一個非營利機構的創辦人，我在那個機構裡工作了十二年。大衛就是這些少數人其中之一，一個超越生命的人。

他有幾個傑出的特徵：永遠微笑、真正的謙卑、良善大方、對人有愛、對家人盡心盡力以及對耶穌的信心。「因我活著就是基督，我死了就有益處。」(腓立比書1章21節)正好是大衛生命的寫照，雖然他在六十歲的時候意外先回天家了。

三十年前，我遇到大衛時，他是一個很有前途的藥廠業務，即將成為頂尖的業務員。這是一個前途無量的工作，但是他覺得自己受到呼召，不該只是賣聽診器和手術儀器而已。於是他辭掉工作，進入CBMC成為同工。他預先看到一個訓練課程：「生命的見證Living Proof註1」會很有果效。之後，他順服自己的異象，將福音帶入大小公司和企業，於是開始了「領袖遺產」Leaders Leagcy註2的課程。十四年間，他領導這個組織，使許多人的生命透過他獨特的教導、領袖訓練和團隊建造被觸摸。

我們一起出版了「導師之心The Heart of Mentoring註3」這本書。這本書的副標題道出他追求的使命：「發展人們極致的潛能」。這不僅僅是專業和個人的訓練，更是屬靈的真理和生命各個層面的連結。在大衛的紀念儀式上，數十個人見證他們自己生命被改變。如果大衛還在世，他一定會說：「不是我，而是神改變了他們」。

大衛服事職場和人的關鍵是完全的信任和依靠神。「他知道離了神，我們不能做什麼。」(約翰福音15章5節)「並且靠著那加給我們力量的，我們凡事都能做。」(腓立比書4章13節)。在文章的最後，我也要問你，你過著好得要命的人生嗎？

#註1-3台灣cbmc未出版相關課程或書籍。

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 。

Thinking along those lines, have you ever experienced anything you could say was “to die for”? Maybe it was food, a travel destination, or a spectator experience that surpassed your greatest expectations?

What about living a life to die for? For some that might mean immersing in favorite pastimes, such as fishing or golfing, music or traveling. Others might think of a life dedicated to the pursuit of wealth, or professional success and achievement. Each of those can offer a level of satisfaction, but in pursuing those alone, we might one day find ourselves singing the old song refrain, “Is that all there is?”

Living a life to die for, in my view, is one lived intentionally and purposefully, defined by an unwavering sense of mission. A life in which the person clearly understands who he or she is, why they are here, and feels propelled to fulfill that purpose. Ultimately, a life that influences many people in positive, life-changing ways. When that individual”s life on earth is ended, an enduring legacy remains.

During my lifetime I have had the privilege of knowing a few people like that, but only a few. Recently my longtime friend, David Stoddard, founder of the non-profit I have worked for the past 12 years, went home to be with the Lord. Dave was one of those rare, larger-than-life people.

He had several distinctive traits – an ever-present smile, genuine humility, great kindness and generosity, a love for people, devotion to his family, and deep faith in Jesus Christ. The verse, “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21) aptly described Dave”s life and his unexpected departure from this life at the age of 60.

When I met Dave about 30 years ago, he was an up-and-coming sales executive with a medical supplies company, on a fast track to becoming its top executive. It was worthwhile work, but he felt a calling to do more than sell stethoscopes and surgical equipment. So he resigned, accepting a staff role with CBMC. He oversaw the production of a training series called “Living Proof.” Later, following his vision for having an impact for Christ in companies and corporations of all sizes, Dave started Leaders Legacy. In the 14 years he led the organization, thousands of lives were touched through his unique approach to mentoring, executive coaching, leadership development and team building.

He and I collaborated on his book, The Heart of Mentoring. Its subtitle described the mission he pursued: Developing people to their fullest potential. This encompassed not only professional and personal training, but also helping them discover how to relate spiritual truths to every aspect of their lives. At Dave”s memorial service, dozens of people spoke about the life-changing impact he had on their lives. He would have been quick to point out it was God, not him, that did the changing.

The key for Dave, in business and investing in others” lives, was total trust and dependence on God. He understood apart from Christ we can do nothing (John 15:5) and we can do all things through Christ who gives us strength (Philippians 4:13). Here”s a question for you: Are you living a life to die for?

Robert J. Tamasy is vice president of communications for Leaders Legacy, Inc., a non-profit based in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.A. He has written Tufting Legacies; Business At Its Best; and coauthored with David A. Stoddard, The Heart of Mentoring.