November 2024

What really matters?

B. Keith Chapman, President & CEO

Well, we are two short months away from another year passing by. As we step into the holiday season, it will create an opportunity to reflect on 2024 and establish our goals and expectations for 2025. I don’t know about you, but this past year was filled with challenges in my personal and professional life. Everything seemed to be difficult; even the simplest of tasks took more time and effort than usual. Many days ended with unfinished or pending work. In seasons like these, most of us are trained to pause and prioritize our efforts to ensure our strategy will produce the greatest value. While prioritization did help some, many days still fell short of making me feel accomplished. Nonetheless, I firmly believe that even in the most difficult times, there is always something to learn and hope for in the future.  

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe once said, “The things that matter most should never be at the mercy of the things that matter least.” This quote got me thinking about what was out of balance in my life. I recently read an article about the mindset of people who only have a short time to live. Their interest in money, cars, vacation homes, and other possessions seems to fade.  Their focus tends to shift from assets to people they love. I found this to be a good reminder that what God says matters most. I Corinthians 13:1 says, “If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing. If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it, but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing.” This passage clarifies that we are just noise and do not gain anything unless we love others. While opportunities to love and serve others are available year-round, we are often distracted and miss these opportunities. The holiday season creates natural opportunities for us to work on what should be valued the most and ensure it is at the top of our prioritization list. The next few months may present some challenges, but it is a great time to reset our focus and prepare our mindset for the coming year.       

I am very aware that the holidays can also bring a host of negative emotions for some. The heaviness of life doesn’t just stop when the calendar indicates it is time to celebrate.  Sometimes, focusing on what matters starts with reminding ourselves that we are loved. John 4:16 says, “We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love. God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them.” God is the foundation of love and the perfect example we should all follow. Each of us is loved by our Creator, regardless of what we have done or our choices in life. The opportunity to draw close to God and embrace hope is available to us all.

Challenge:  Next year is coming whether we are ready or not. Don’t miss the opportunity to reset and focus on what matters most. Love others like God loves us. No matter the number of tasks, the heaviness of the emotion, or the difficulty that comes our way, God has a plan for each of us and will be our rock to get us through. Focusing on what matters will help us tap into the endless love and security that only our Creator can provide. 

Published: November 1, 2024

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