Sundials In The Shade

Sundials in the Shade

Whatever is good and perfect comes down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow.

James 1:17

People who thrive, who excel to the highest levels—personally and professionally—have at least one thing in common: they know what they do best. Take an easy example from the professional world: Warren Buffett, “the world’s greatest investor.” From outward appearances, this down-home, slightly disheveled financial titan from Nebraska may not seem like one of the wealthiest men ever, but he certainly knows how to sniff out a good investment. His patient and practical mind makes investment his signature strength. What makes him special, according to Marcus Buckingham and Donald Clifton of the Gallup International Research and Education Center, is that “he became aware of it.”^a Buffett knows what he’s not so good at (so he leaves that to others), and he knows what he does best. And he loves doing it every day he wakes up.

Authors of a landmark study and book, Now, Discover Your Strengths, Buckingham and Clifton have revealed that most people do not know what their strengths are. Business guru Peter Drucker reinforces their point in his endorsement of the book: “When you ask [people about their strengths] they look at you with a blank stare, or they respond in terms of subject knowledge, which is the wrong answer.”

The tragedy of life for many people is not that they don’t have enough strengths; it’s that they are unaware of the ones they have. Benjamin Franklin aptly called these wasted strengths “sundials in the shade.” It’s especially tragic for a married couple to be unaware of their strengths, because that means they haven’t been seeking out those strengths in one another. One of our greatest gifts to our loved ones is our believing in them and helping them to see the best in themselves.

So here’s an assignment for you and your spouse today. Take a moment right now, each of you, to identify a personal strength in the other person that you don’t think he or she fully recognizes. Exchange observations, and take note. This is not a mere compliment; it goes deeper. Help your spouse see a God-given personality strength, and thank God together for this good gift to you both.

God makes three requests of his children: Do the best you can, where you are, with what you have, now.

—African-American proverb

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