June 6th is always a day that offers a sobering perspective. I think about the little spats we have between people and their feelings. Things that are so inconsequential, but get turned into large distractions. I think about bad attitudes, selfish behaviors, emotional walls, and turf wars.
It all just feels silly when I consider the 150,000 brave soldiers who stormed the beaches of Normandy, France, on June 6, 1944, to liberate the world from the clutches of evil. A turf war of biblical proportions and one that could only be fought with everyone committed to putting purpose over person.
My heart pounds in my chest when I think about what it would have felt like to be there and how proud I am to be the grandson of a young man who hit that very shore just a few weeks later. It frustrates me to think of the gnats we spend our time swinging at while they were out slaying dragons.
"Again, I say, don't get involved in foolish, ignorant arguments that only start fights. A servant of the Lord must not quarrel but must be kind to everyone, be able to teach, and be patient with difficult people. Gently instruct those who oppose the truth. Perhaps God will change those people's hearts, and they will learn the truth. Then they will come to their senses and escape from the devil's trap." (2 Timothy 2:23-26)
The petty little ignorant spats that we engage in are such a foolish waste of our time, energy, and focus. It is the devil's trap designed to deteriorate teams, families, and nations. Throw a little toxic gossip in there, and a firecracker can turn into a nuclear bomb. Unacceptable.
The purpose must always be bigger than the person.
Don't let your ego, your attitude, your feelings, or your mouth derail your focus or the team's mission from God's purpose. Liberating the world from the devil's trap requires courage and togetherness. When you storm the beaches in your life and business, you need to trust the person next to you and believe the mission is more important than your emotions.
Whatever gnat you are swinging at (or being), ignore it or crush it, grab your sword, and let's go slay a dragon… together.