Potential
John 12:24 - "Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds."
This verse is talking about spiritual growth and casting off our old natures. But the principle holds up in other senses, as well.
Potential, for example, must "die" in order to realized. One can't have the potential to be a gold medalist swimmer if one actually is a gold medalist swimmer. The potential has been killed and replaced with reality - where the term "realizing one's potential" comes from.
But, in becoming a gold medalist swimmer, one has also killed the potential to become a world champion tennis player, making it clear that realizing potential in one area kills other potentials as well.
It's a bit like collateral damage, in that sense.
What I'm realizing is that my pursuit of expertise in the field of computer science will mean that I will close off other potential areas of expertise in my life. I may still become able to read basic Latin, but it will be impossible to become one of the world's foremost experts of Latin.
This is okay with me, though. I've always had great potential. And I'm tired of it.
It's time to let my potential die and grow it into something that produces real fruit.
Comments:
Leave a Comment
Submit