Shift Happens

       After visiting Seoul, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Shanghai and Beijing, after reading The World is Flat by Thomas L. Friedman and after watching the video below titled “Shift Happens”, I was trying to digest a paradigm shift that was happening in me.

       One afternoon, I was driving down the road with my family in my Suburban and while stopped at a traffic light, I turned to my three oldest children (Kai, Avery and Noah) who were sitting behind me and I said:
       “Guys, school is important. There are kids in India and China right now that are studying their “tails off” trying to learn more than you. They don’t have much money and they don’t have video games, iPods, or Hannah Montana. Because they don’t have those distractions, they have a “ton” of time.  
       They work hard and long. They want the jobs that you are going to try to get when you graduate. If they are more prepared, they win.  
       If you don’t study hard, work hard and remain diligent, you will not have a job. You will be homeless and on the street without food, clothing or shelter.
       You cannot “goof off” at school. You must be serious about everything you learn as if you and your family’s lives depend on it.”
       The light turned green, so I started to drive and I could feel Elise’s eyes on me.  
       I asked what was wrong.
       She said “They’re just kids.  Do you have to be so serious?”
       I told her that their education is “that serious” and I don’t want them to fail for lack of effort.
       I looked in my rear view mirror to see the kids’ reactions.
       They were all staring straight ahead and with mouths open. I didn’t see a blink.
       I think the point was made. Maybe too well.
       By the way, I was preaching to myself, too.
       Just because I have a few degrees does not mean that I get the right to sit around and wait for “Shift” to happen.

      I can cause “shift” and I can direct “shift”. I may even be able to ride “shift”. But I can’t if I am not prepared.

       Jesus talked about the being stewards of the gift(s) He has given us.  Time is just one of those gifts. 

       We should not squander it, nor should we be unprepared.  Neither should we allow our children to be unprepared for His work.

       We should all be prepared for shift.  We should prepare our children for “shift”. 

       If not, “shift” will happen to them.