Problems or Opportunities?

The story is told of a shoe company that sent two of its salesmen to another country where most of the people went barefoot.  The company believed that this would be the perfect market for selling its shoes.

After the first week, both salesmen called into the office.  The first salesman said, “Please get me out of here!  There’s no one interested in buying shoes, they all go around barefoot.”  The second salesman called in and said, “Please send me all the shoes you have!  Everyone here needs a pair of shoes!  They all go around barefoot.”

It’s interesting how both salesmen saw the same situation differently!   One only saw obstacles, the other saw opportunities!  One man saw the people as not being interested in what he had to sell, while the other man believed that everyone would want what he had to sell!  What a difference of perspective! 

How are you looking at your present situation?  Are you focusing too much energy on the problems that surround you, and not enough time on the opportunities that may be waiting to be embraced?  Many times our work demands that we bring a spirit of openness, flexibility, and creativity.  Often, great opportunities are lost because of narrow thinking and prejudiced attitudes that blind people from seeing what is before them.   Too often people move in directions that become predictable and routine.  When this happens, the sense of adventure and risk is lost and new avenues and ventures are lost. 

Every day we need to pray for fresh vision to see clearly the great opportunities that come our way!  And then, with great joy and enthusiasm run out and embrace them!