What do you do when the chips are down?

An eagle is known for soaring to the high skies, presumably where the air is cleaner than lower skies. Eagles thrive on eating fresh food and would not even bother to eat something they did not kill themselves unlike vultures that thrive on dead matter. To be able to eat fresh daily, an eagle has to stay alert and on the hunt, ready to strike when opportunity presents itself. In fact eagles create their own opportunities; such is the nature of hunters. Most birds and animals run away from raging storms, but an eagle flies into the eye of the storm.

When the chips are down, an eagle reinvents itself many times over to be current and to remain relevant. Each one of us is endowed with creative abilities to be innovative and daring to go where no man has gone. While we pursue these great strides we move away from situations that keep us down trodden and in the rat. All this requires discipline and observance of order on our part. Authority has to be honored and due respect rendered to deserving principals. Small hinges open big doors wide. It is the little principled steps that we take that make the world of a difference. Successful individuals respect order enough to make changes as required but contented people sit on laurels.

Accountability keeps us in check that we are doing what we are charged and are being responsible. A person who lacks accountability is like an athlete on a relay team. Each member on the team is accountable to one another and owes team mates their selfless commitment to win it all. Now if one member of the team decides they will not run straight ahead with the button in their assigned lane and instead runs as humanly possible to the nearest candy booth, in the process while setting a world record speed, they disqualify their entire team from winning. The problem is not that the team was not fast enough, but one member was out of principle and spoiled it for everyone. Success comes to disciplined individuals who are responsible over their new found fame. Once in a while, rules of engagement changes, but principles remain the same. Times and seasons changes as well, you don’t have to see snow flacks to know that it’s winter. They are enough signs to show your seasons have changed and would require a different set of clothing. When chips are down, it’s a season for renewal.

For me, the past week was very difficult in many ways, chips were down and I had to take a leaf out of Thomas Paine who wrote, “The real man smiles in trouble, gathers strength from distress, and grows brave by reflection”. Never has my faith been tested so strongly. Faith to know that the sun will rise, the rain will stop, the pain will go away, and God, our God, has not left me nor forsaken me. He is here for me, and He will uplift me. To know that I’m not my job or my paycheck, I am so much more. I am a strong, resourceful, resilient man, and like those who have struggled before me, I will not only survive, but I will flourish.