-
Passion and Perseverance: Lessons from the Great One
"The most powerful weapon on earth is the human soul on fire."
Field Marshal Ferdinand Foch
Field Marshal Ferdinand Foch
"...whatever you do, do it all to the glory of God."
1 Corinthians 10.31
________________________________________________
The gift Gretzky’s Ranger teammates gave him at his last practice said nothing of his records or accomplishments. It was a leather sofa in the shape of a baseball mitt, with a brass plaque bearing the message: “Thank you for your passion.”
Ultimately it’s what is inside that determines your leadership effectiveness. If that is not maintained, in time things will crumble and fall from the inside. In the final analysis, it may not matter how well we have performed or what we may have accomplished but rather, have we finished our task with integrity and perseverance? A life without heartfelt passion is a life not worth living because it is out of this fountainhead of our soul that real accomplishments, genuine and meaningful leadership and lasting fulfillment is produced. It is in our heart that we first heard the voice of God and His call on our life and it is in our heart that we learn to live and lead in His love.
Can you think of anything more exciting than to have the privilege of leading? If our goal is to impact others for the sake of eternity can there be anything more exciting than to be entrusted with this lofty privilege of leadership? Passion kept Gretzky skating for twenty-one demanding years, it sustained Moses for forty arduous years and it can do the same for you!
Stay the Course,
Greg Morris
Gregory K. Morris, Ph.D. is the founder and president of Leadership Dynamics, a non-profit corporation committed to the training and development of Christian leaders and their organizations. He has authored In Pursuit of Leadership, a study of leadership principles in the life of Moses. For more information, visit LeadershipDynamics.org.
1 Corinthians 10.31
________________________________________________
The number 99 has been forever retired from the National Hockey League. No player will ever again wear the number that for twenty-one NHL seasons graced the jersey of Wayne Gretzky. He led his team to win four Stanley Cups on the way to rewriting the NHL record book. Widespread opinion in the sports world holds that not only is Gretzky the greatest hockey player ever but the best that may ever be! No wonder he is nicknamed “The Great One.”
It is an interesting tribute to the player Time magazine referred to as “a most unlikely one.” Even in his prime, 
Gretzky wasn’t the fastest skater, the strongest shot or the most talented player. He explained his remarkable success with these words: “Maybe it wasn’t talent the Lord gave me. Maybe it was the passion.”
Gretzky wasn’t the fastest skater, the strongest shot or the most talented player. He explained his remarkable success with these words: “Maybe it wasn’t talent the Lord gave me. Maybe it was the passion.”The gift Gretzky’s Ranger teammates gave him at his last practice said nothing of his records or accomplishments. It was a leather sofa in the shape of a baseball mitt, with a brass plaque bearing the message: “Thank you for your passion.”
Ultimately it’s what is inside that determines your leadership effectiveness. If that is not maintained, in time things will crumble and fall from the inside. In the final analysis, it may not matter how well we have performed or what we may have accomplished but rather, have we finished our task with integrity and perseverance? A life without heartfelt passion is a life not worth living because it is out of this fountainhead of our soul that real accomplishments, genuine and meaningful leadership and lasting fulfillment is produced. It is in our heart that we first heard the voice of God and His call on our life and it is in our heart that we learn to live and lead in His love.
Can you think of anything more exciting than to have the privilege of leading? If our goal is to impact others for the sake of eternity can there be anything more exciting than to be entrusted with this lofty privilege of leadership? Passion kept Gretzky skating for twenty-one demanding years, it sustained Moses for forty arduous years and it can do the same for you!
Stay the Course,
Greg Morris
Gregory K. Morris, Ph.D. is the founder and president of Leadership Dynamics, a non-profit corporation committed to the training and development of Christian leaders and their organizations. He has authored In Pursuit of Leadership, a study of leadership principles in the life of Moses. For more information, visit LeadershipDynamics.org.
Blogs
User Comments
Latest posts by Greg Morris
Greg Morris
Gregory K. Morris, Ph.D., is the founder and president of Leadership Dynamics, a non-profit corporation committed to the training and development of Christian leaders and their organizations and is available for new clients. He has authored the book, In Pursuit of Leadership, a study of leadership principles in the life of Moses.
