The price of due diligence

Running is sweet. If you've tried it, you would be familiar with the gratifying feeling it leaves you after a shower, a glass of cold water, and settling into a soft couch in the office With the air conditioning cooling your head off. One then wishes to make this a daily habit, but it is not easy and takes a lot of discipline and diligence to keep it going. 

This week, there was a lot of talk about diligence, and for the right reasons. Because these days, we find ourselves entangled in circumstances that momentarily distract us from our goal. 

It could be a moment of carelessness or nonchalance that could  cost us something or someone very dear. In this vein, we had calls on the show, from several medical doctors who blamed themselves for certain circumstances where they felt, due to their professional experience, could have been handled better.  

And then there was a pathetic case of a little girl who was involved in an accident causing a minor fracture in one of her legs. Her parents took her to a 'quack' doctor, who wrapped the bandage on too tightly around the affected area, thereby cutting off blood supply to the leg. The little girl cried all night and bitterly complained to her parents that she was in pain, only for them to brush it off as part of the healing process. This gravely led to the poor child being amputated.

We take responsibility for a lot of these issues, sometimes avoidable, and some other times, not. The question about our level of diligence then arises. In the examples given above, one would readily understand the mind of the doctors who inadvertently feel they could have done better in such situations. But at least it is clear they tried their best, given the circumstances. Which interestingly prepares them for future challenges and situations, however tough.

Certain cases though, exist where we lose sight of that which should matter most in our lives, and instead chase after little distractions which should all gear towards the greater goal. Priorities are hence misplaced, costing such people their relationships, marriages, or even jobs. 

Diligence allows us to operate within our best, in practical obedience and discipline to accomplishing a greater goal that is beyond us.  When we stay in a rut or in a bad situation with continual weariness and fatigue, we lose sight of our primary focus, become ineffective, and a stumbling block to others, burn out, or even go into depression. 

In the book: "Diligence - Do it to A Finish", the author Orison Swett Marden, clearly states that the worst crimes are not punishable by law. Carelessness, a lack of thoroughness, are crimes against self, against humanity, that often do more harm than the crimes that make the perpetrator an outcast of the society. Where a tiny flaw or the slightest defect may cost a precious life. Carelessness is as much a crime as deliberate criminality.

The man who habitually slights his work, slights his own character. Botched work makes way for a botched life.

Initiative takes the lead and diligence keeps up the pace. These two converge to give rise to industriousness, which is the principle work ethic of the Puritans that challenged America in the direction to make it the greatest and most successful country in history.

There is no work too small, as our Lord worked as a tradesman, a carpenter. Paul made tents, Luke was a doctor, Philemon was a slave owner who saw diligence to free a slave.

Kobe Bryant went out as the Kobe Bryant of his dreams as he played his last came, retiring in a glorious manner. 

John Wooden, UCLA basketball coach, who has watched every great player in history and considered the greatest coach ever, described Kobe as the greatest player he has ever seen, and said;

"A champion athlete will work with controlled frenzy"

So, the next time you find yourself slipping, take a firm foothold on the primary reason you are here, and where you hope to be tomorrow. Every step counts. Every sense of due diligence defines your character, and your life.

Love,

Val.