有目標的考量
By Robert J. Tamasy
「我為什麼在這裡？」你有沒有問過自己這個問題？這是一個讓很多人在內心翻騰的問題。對某些人來說，這個問題其實是在問你的人生有甚麼意義？如果你的意圖不是哲學性的，對思考就有幫助。很多企業設定目標當成企業的指導原則，來解釋他們為什麼要做這些事？他們如何去做？或者如何完成任務？對你來說，那些方法能保證你所投入的時間和精力能發揮功效呢？
我一個很有效率的朋友叫做史帝夫，是一個很成功的企業家。他花了很多時間去回應「我為什麼要在這裡？」這個問題。在個人和專業領域上，這個問題的答案，是一個人的人生目標，也是史帝夫他的核心價值觀和人生主要的目的。他給自己的人生下了一個定義，他說：「我想知道認識神，也希望能傳揚祂。」他花了很多時間在工作、在家裡以及在CBMC的事工上，來追求這個目標。
幾年前，我參加了一個會議，這個會議邀請來的演講者，建議大家要寫個人的人生目標和任務。像是「我的人生要往哪裡去？」以及「我如何知道何時會到達？」對當時在場的人來說，這是一個革命性的概念。因為我要如何寫出自己的人生目標是甚麼？我的人生真的有一個特別的目標嗎？
我不像我的朋友史提夫那樣地有野心和仔細，但是我剛好讀到腓立比書3章10節上面說：「使我認識基督，曉得他復活的大能，並且曉得和他一同受苦，效法他的死，」使我1.認識基督、2.祂復活的大能、以及3.同祂受苦的交通，4模成祂的死，(聖經擴大版)。當我讀到這段經文的時候，我知道它正在告訴我，我要怎麼做才能像自己所寫下的人生目標那樣。
幾年之前，我還引用了另一段經文箴言3章5-6節，當成我人生的座右銘。「你要專心仰賴耶和華，不可倚靠自己的聰明，在你一切所行的事上都要認定他，他必指引你的路。」
亨利·大衛·梭羅，(註1)是一位作家兼哲學家，他寫過一段話：「大部分的人都活在安靜無聲的絕望中。」很多年之後，這句話仍然很受用。也許原因是因為大部分的人都沒有好好地利用時間，按下人生的暫停鍵一會兒，去思考自己人生除了賺錢、創辦公司和在各方面享受之外，是不是還有更大的目標？你是否也是其中之一？
我喜歡詩篇90篇12節裡面寫的：「求你指教我們怎樣數算自己的日子，好叫我們得著智慧的心。」當我們知道要如何數算自己的日子，我們就會知道要如何好好地使用有限的年歲，來完成人生的目標。
註1: 亨利·大衛·梭羅，美國作家、詩人、哲學家、廢奴主義者、超驗主義者，也曾任職土地勘測員。他最著名的作品有散文集《湖濱散記》和《公民不服從》。《湖濱散記》記載了他在瓦爾登湖的隱逸生活，而《公民不服從》則討論面對政府和強權的不義，為公民主動拒絕遵守若干法律提出辯護。(資料來源:維基百科)
© 2018. Robert J. TamasyIt 是企業巔峰: 給今日職場從箴言而來永恆的智慧 一書的作者。也與導師之心的作者David A. Stoddard 合著Tufting Legacies。編輯多本著作包括Mike Landry. Bob的書: 透過苦難成長。Mike Landry. Bob的網站為www.bobtamasy-readywriterink.com, 他的雙週部落格為: www.bobtamasy.blogspot.com.
反省與問題討論
你的公司或是組織會清楚地寫下目標或是成立的宗旨嗎？從你的觀點來看，對你自己而言，或是對公司領導人、員工和團隊成員而言，這樣的目標或是成立的宗旨有甚麼價值嗎？ 如果有人問你，你會如何定義自己人生的目的和回答「我為什麼在這裡？」這個問題的答案？ 你知道有誰花了很多時間去寫個人的人生目標嗎？如果有，這樣的人生目標對他們每天的生活和工作有甚麼意義嗎？你相信他們會積極地，有意識地掙扎著去實踐他們的人生目標嗎？ 你是否同意神給每個人不同的人生意義？分享你的看法。
備註：如果你手上有聖經希望閱讀更多跟這個主題相關的經文，請參考:
詩篇118篇24節
118:24這是耶和華所定的日子，我們在其中要高興歡喜！
詩篇 139篇1-6節、13-16節
139:1 耶和華啊，你已經鑒察我，認識我。
139:2 我坐下，我起來，你都曉得；你從遠處知道我的意念。
139:3 我行路，我躺臥，你都細察；你也深知我一切所行的。
139:4 耶和華啊，我舌頭上的話，你沒有一句不知道的。
139:5 你在我前後環繞我，按手在我身上。
139:6 這樣的知識奇妙，是我不能測的，至高，是我不能及的。
139:13 我的肺腑是你所造的；我在母腹中，你已覆庇我。
139:14 我要稱謝你，因我受造，奇妙可畏；你的作為奇妙，這是我心深知道的。
139:15 我在暗中受造，在地的深處被聯絡；那時，我的形體並不向你隱藏。
139:16 我未成形的體質，你的眼早已看見了；你所定的日子，我尚未度一日（或譯：我被造的肢體尚未有其一），你都寫在你的冊上了。
哥林多後書 5章19-21節
5:19 這就是 神在基督裏，叫世人與自己和好，不將他們的過犯歸到他們身上，並且將這和好的道理託付了我們。
5:20 所以，我們作基督的使者，就好像 神藉我們勸你們一般。我們替基督求你們與 神和好。
5:21 神使那無罪（無罪：原文是不知罪）的，替我們成為罪，好叫我們在他裏面成為 神的義。
以弗所書2章8-10節
2:8 你們得救是本乎恩，也因著信；這並不是出於自己，乃是 神所賜的；
2:9 也不是出於行為，免得有人自誇。
2:10 我們原是他的工作，在基督耶穌裏造成的，為要叫我們行善，就是 神所預備叫我們行的。
A PURPOSEFUL CONSIDERATION
By Robert J. Tamasy
Why are you here? Have you ever asked yourself that? This is a fundamental question many people wrestle with at one time or another. For some, it comprises the ultimate question of life. But even if your intent is not deeply philosophical, it can be helpful to consider. Many businesses use mission statements as guides, expressing not only what they do but also why and how they do it. In a similar way, taking time to articulate one”s purpose – or mission – can be useful for ensuring your time, energy and talents are being invested in the best possible ways.
An industrious friend, Steve, who has built a very successful career as an entrepreneur, has spent considerable time seeking to respond to the “why am I here” question for his life, both personally and professionally. In addition to an extensive statement of purpose, Steve has articulated his core values, vision for his life, and his “primary aim,. This he defines as, “I want to know God and make him known.” He has devoted much of his life – at work, in his home, and engaged in ministries like CBMC – to pursuing that goal.
Years ago I was in a meeting where a speaker suggested writing a personal purpose or mission statement. Kind of a “where am I going, how am I going to get there, and how will I know when I have arrived?” expression. For many of us in the room, this was a revolutionary concept. How can I put into writing what I perceive my life”s purpose to be? Does my life even have a specific purpose?
I was not as ambitious and detailed as my friend Steve, but happened to be reading a paraphrased wording of Philippians 3:10, which says, “[For my determined purpose is] that I may know Him (Jesus Christ) – that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding [the wonders of His Person] more strongly and more clearly” (Amplified translation). As soon as I read this, I knew it communicated what I believed my life should be about as effectively as anything I could write.
Several years before I had adopted another passage, Proverbs 3:5-6, as my life verse:“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.” And later I came across Psalm 45:1, which sounded like a good career verse: “My heart is overflowing with a good theme; I recite my composition concerning the King; my tongue is the pen of a ready writer.”Combined, these passages express for me the focus I have desired to give my life, along with my sense of mission for using the gifts, abilities and experience God has given to me.
Author and philosopher Henry David Thoreau wrote, “The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation.” Many years later, this observation still seems fitting. Perhaps one reason is because most people have not taken the time, hit the “pause button” on their lives for a little while, to consider their overall purpose, their mission, one that is greater than earning a living, building enterprises, or seeking to “have fun” through a variety of diversions. Are you among them?
I like the admonition from Psalm 90:12, “Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” When we learn to “number our days,” it helps us in putting them to good, intentional use.
© 2018. Robert J. Tamasy has written Business at Its Best: Timeless Wisdom from Proverbs for Today”s Workplace; Tufting Legacies; coauthored with David A. Stoddard, The Heart of Mentoring, and edited numerous other books, including Advancing Through Adversity by Mike Landry. Bob”s website is www.bobtamasy-readywriterink.com, and his biweekly blog is: www.bobtamasy.blogspot.com.
Reflection/Discussion Questions
Does your company or organization have a written, clearly expressed mission or purpose statement? What is the value – if any – of such an expression, in your view, for the company and its leaders, staff or team members? If someone were to ask you, how would you define your purpose, your answer to the question, “Why am I here?” Do you know of anyone else who has taken the time to write a personalized purpose statement? If so, what does that mean for them in their everyday life and work? Do you believe they are actively, consciously striving to hold true to that purpose? Would you agree to the idea that God has a purpose for everyone? Why or why not?
NOTE: If you have a Bible and would like to read more about principles it presents, consider the following passages: Psalm 118:24, 139:1-6,13-16; 2 Corinthians 5:19-21; Ephesians 2:8-10
