Opportunity

      Everywhere we look, we see opportunities.  Some are for good and unfortunately, some are for bad.  For every problem, opportunity is waiting with a solution.  For every frustration, opportunity is waiting with encouragement.  For every fear, opportunity is waiting with a basket of courage.  For every doubt about the future, opportunity is waiting with an abundance of hope.  Frederick Phillips stated, “It is often hard to distinguish between the hard knocks in life and those of opportunity.” 

      Over the years in business, when one would reach a difficult situation and come to my office and say, “We have a real problem.  What are we going to do?”  The usual answer they would hear was, “No, we have an opportunity.”  On one occasion, one of the employees came to the office very excited.  He asked, “What do you call an opportunity when it really is an opportunity?”  The spontaneous answer to the question, after a few seconds was, “probably a surprise!”  One may compare opportunity to courage; it most often shows up during a crisis.

      Each of us would see greater things in our life if we would start to be more observant of the opportunities waiting for us.  Oftentimes a given opportunity only knocks once so we need to live life anticipating.  Many are overlooked while searching for that four-leaf clover or “luck.”  Years ago a song stated, “I overlooked an orchid while searching for a rose.”  The opportunity may be just as simple as a “good morning,” to the stranger at the grocery store or a friendly smile starting with each member of the family in the morning.  It is good to keep a journal for each of the opportunities you find for the good, and you will be amazed at what God will bring your way.  Every day is an opportunity; today is the first day of the rest of my life.  Gal 6:10, “Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.”  NIV