沒有「問題」，就「問題」大了!

By:Robert J. Tamasy

你想不想要有一週是完全沒有問題，或沒有重大挑戰的？或是只要有一天是這樣就好了？但常常我們一下床就要面對問題：可能一下床，我們就感冒了；或是我們上班途中下雨了，但傘卻忘在家裡；或者，正當我們下定決心，今天要把一個重要的提案做完、趕上截止日甚至超前時，才發現另一個同事沒有完成他的部分！

有些日子好像是設計來應驗「莫非定律」－任何可能會做錯的事，都一定會做錯，但為什麼偏偏要選在那天發生呢？為什麼我們不能經歷一個完全沒有問題的一天呢？

有一個很明顯的答案－「我們都只是人」。有一些要我們做的工作內容根本本身就是錯的。在一個不完美、瞬息萬變的世界，問題是避免不了的。但有一個更能解釋問題存在的原因，那就是「為了我們的益處」。

讓我們看看自然界，毛毛蟲天生就會「做繭自縛」，但是牠能蛻變成功全是因為牠能從繭裡掙扎出來。木材是堅硬、有用的材料，木工師傅會告訴我們，當氣候和環境很惡劣時，樹木那時雖長得慢但是質地卻是最堅硬的。

在職場，很多人也發現在失敗時，我們學得比成功時更多。不管如何，找出失敗的理由比成功更容易。「我不夠努力工作」、「我忽略了一個重要的小細節」、「我低估/高估了競爭者」等。然而，當我們成功的時候，我們也許不知道成功只是因為我們好運？在對的時機站在對的職場或只是因為其他不可知的因素？

問題也是塑造品格的一種方式，即便我們要謙卑、甚至在過程中被羞辱。在聖經新約的羅馬書12章3節勸告我們：『不要看自己過於所當看的。」當我們在問題中掙扎時，這些問題告訴我們人的有限。問題也會打消我們想要自給自足的念頭。無論我們現在是遇到健康方面的問題、財務方面的問題、在一些兩難的抉擇中掙扎，或是試著要解決超過自己能力的問題，我們最終還是會發現自己非常需要幫助！我們沒辦法自行解決問題。所以當你遇到複雜的問題時，思想一下下面看待問題的原則:

正面看待問題
遇到問題時，我們不是抱怨，而是接受並在解決問題的過程中找到正面的意義。『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3章4節

問題推動團隊合作
一隊的馬匹比一匹馬能拉更多的重量。相同的，問題讓我們明白團隊能完成比個人更多更重的任務。『有人攻勝孤身一人，若有二人便能敵擋他；三股合成的繩子不容易折斷。』傳道書4章12節。

問題將我們帶向神
如果沒有問題，我們就會相信自己可以處理任何的事情。但是當我們面對各樣的難題時，我們的不足就顯現出來了！在遇到困難的時候，就是提醒我們該讓神介入的時候了! 「我的恩典夠你用的，因為我的能力是在人的軟弱上顯得完全。」 哥林多後書12章9節

Robert J. Tamasy是亞特蘭大「領袖遺產」 (一個非營利性機構) 通訊部的副總裁。他是一個有39年經驗的資深記者，也是多本著作的作者，包括Tufting Legacies; Business At Its Best: Timeless Wisdom from Proverbs for Today”s Workplace (River City Press);也與David A. Stoddard合著The Heart of Mentoring (NavPress)。欲知更多詳情可上www.leaderslegacy.com網站或是他的部落格 www.bobtamasy.blogspot.com。

思想 / 討論題目
當一個突發的問題發生時，你的第一個反應通常是甚麼？ 在記憶中你有多久沒有遇到任何重大的問題了？形容那是甚麼樣的感覺？ 你是否贊同我們可以積極正面看問題？問題也能為我們帶來益處？試分享理由。 你是否發現問題讓你更靠近神？分享你的答案。註:如果你手上有聖經並且想要查考與這個主題相關的經節，請考慮以下的經節:
箴言13章24節、16章18節、18章12節；哥林多後書12章7-10節；希伯來書12章4-13節；雅各書1章2-4節

THE PROBLEM WITH BEING PROBLEM-FREE

By Robert J. Tamasy

How would you like to have one week without problems or significant challenges? Or even a single day? Often it seems we cannot even get out of bed in the morning without having to address some kind of problem. We might wake up congested with a cold. Driving to work it has begun to rain, but we remember the umbrella is at home. We start the workday determined to finish work on a major deadline ahead of schedule, only to learn a colleague has failed to complete an important assignment that must be included in the proposal.

Some days seem designed to affirm the so-called “Murphy”s Law”: “Anything that can go wrong, will go wrong.” But why does it have to be that way? Why can”t we experience the luxury of a problem-free existence?

One answer is obvious: We are only human; part of the “job description” for human beings is making mistakes. And living in a flawed, unpredictable world, problems are unavoidable. But perhaps there is a greater, more overriding reason for problems – maybe even a “benefit.”

We see examples of this in nature: A caterpillar instinctively forms a cocoon, but its successful transformation into a butterfly is possible only by confronting a “problem” – struggling to work its way back out of the cocoon. Wood is hardest and most useful, craftsmen can attest, when it develops as a byproduct of a difficult environment, when harsh weather conditions – problems – caused the tree to grow slowly, but strong at the same time.

In the workplace, many of us have discovered the truism that we learn more through failure than we do from success. For whatever reason, it is easier to pinpoint reasons for failing than to ascertain why we succeed: “I did not work hard enough.” “I omitted a key detail.” “I underestimated the competition (or overestimated the market for what we were selling).” When we experience success, however, we might not know whether it was simply good fortune, being in the right place at the right time, or any of many other factors beyond our control.

Problems also have a way of building character, even if it requires being humbled – even humiliated – in the process. In the Bible”s New Testament, Romans 12:3 exhorts us, “Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought.” When we struggle with problems, they remind us of our limitations. They also can dispel notions we might have of our own self-sufficiency. Whether we are facing health issues, encountering financial problems, wrestling with difficult decisions, or attempting to handle tasks beyond our capacity, we eventually realize we need help. We cannot do it alone. So as you ponder perplexing problems, consider the following:

Problems should be viewed positively. Instead of complaining about problems, we should accept them and seek to reap positive value in working through them. “…but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope” (Romans 5:3-4).

Problems can promote teamwork. A team of horses combined pulls much more weight than each could pull individually. Similarly, problems affirm we can accomplish more collectively than by working on our own. “Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken” (Ecclesiastes 4:12).

Problems can point us to God. Without problems we believe we can handle anything; facing difficult circumstances, our inadequacies become evident. Such times can remind us of our need for God”s intervention. “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:8).

Robert J. Tamasy is vice president of communications for Leaders Legacy, Inc., a non-profit corporation based in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.A. A veteran journalist for more than 39 years, he is the author of Tufting Legacies; Business At Its Best: Timeless Wisdom from Proverbs for Today”s Workplace (River City Press); and has coauthored with David A. Stoddard, The Heart of Mentoring (NavPress). For more information, see www.leaderslegacy.com or his blog, www.bobtamasy.blogspot.com.

Reflection/Discussion Questions
What is your typical first reaction when an unexpected problem occurs? When was the longest period you can remember when you did not encounter problems or difficulties of any significance? What was that time like for you? Do you agree with the idea that we can actually regard problems in a positive light, that they can work for our benefit? Why or why not? Have you ever found that problems have resulted in your being drawn closer to God? Explain your answer.NOTE: If you have a Bible and would like to review additional passages that relate to this topic, consider the following verses: Proverbs 13:24, 16:18, 18:12; 2 Corinthians 12:7-10; Hebrews 12:4-13; James 1:2-4