“In prosperity, our friends know us. In adversity, we know our friends.”
– John Churton Collins, English literary critic (1848-1908)
Ain’t that the truth?
But, it’s no surprise, is it?
The difference maker welcomes a dose of adversity when it knocks. The difference maker opens that door and faces it, in — the — eye.
In my day job, I am so blessed to be surrounded by difference makers. In my life I am similarly blessed.
An assessment of our conditions will likely give us an accurate inventory of our true friends. Hitting on all cylinders? Closing deals left and right? Getting straight A’s and Class President? There’s probably a crowd around us, slapping our back, buying a drink, asking a favor.
But in those times that nothing is going right; bad health, a sales slump or a longer-than-anticipated time between jobs. A divorce. A kid in trouble or a parent who’s struggling. The crowd is smaller, the line is shorter.
While the crowd might be smaller, those in it will be standing closer. Propping us up. Face-to-face with whatever is on the other side of that door.
If we know someone who’s hearing the knock — let’s go stand beside them, help them pull it open and stare adversity right in the eye, before walking right through the door we opened and toward whatever great lesson lies on the other side.
Let’s make a difference so that our friends know we are true friends.
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