For years, we’ve heard about “Golden Parachutes,” which are ways rich people get paid if something unfavorable happens in their careers. They can bail but still get paid handsomely. Parachutes of Gold, so to speak. I’ve been researching this concept and realize there is no parachute in any employment contract I’ve ever had!
But I do know there is something golden in my life.
I think we all face the moment of gold at some point. Are we ready to grow from it? Can we capitalize on it, or do we wait for another day?
Artists and photographers understand the Golden Hour when the sun is about six degrees above to six degrees below either horizon. Twelve degrees of separation. It’s a narrow window of opportunity to capture the effect. The light is more direct, and the hues of color are richer and smoother. If you want to wow the audience, you focus on getting into the Golden Hour Zone for your best work.
I also learned that the Golden Hour has many more applications. A mother and newborn have a Golden Hour to bond immediately following birth. Medical personnel knows a similar hour when it’s the time to do support services with a life hanging between living and death.
There are probably many Golden Hours at play. Learning to be proactive for that moment is my feeling today. A pandemic has bottlenecked us, but I refuse to let it define my future. Every entrepreneur I follow points to this unique window of reacting to the past, taking reins of the present, and charging into the future with success! Go! Dog! Go!
Recognizing Your Golden Hour
It could be making the right decision at the right time, either by luck or by planning. Choosing to go one way or the other. Move, or stop. Fly or drive. Attend or not. We make decisions all the time that can affect the outcome.
Imagine any tragedy you want. Could it be the Golden Hour of preparation without knowing why took care of the results through the struggle? That’s normally where we hang our hope. Someone made life right just before things went south. through the years I’ve heard of those who made life right just before life gave out. Even again, after preaching last Sunday. The blessings are that we look back to understand now and have hope for the future!
As WWII unfolded, a newly-elected Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Winston Churchill, encouraged everyone to think what the future would say about their ability to stand against the challenges of a terrible foe: “This was their finest hour.” He spoke to a nation facing the biggest challenge of their times – the future will know that we did our best!
For the Church, in the face of daunting challenges, I feel this is the Golden Hour. There is a concern that the Church will fail because we’ve become an organization. Big Business. A machine. But if the True Church would recognize a truth: We Don’t Have To Be That Way! Jesus said to Peter upon the revelation of who He was:
And I also say to you that you are Peter,
and on this rock I will build My Church,
and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.
Matthew 16:18 NKJV
The job of the Church is to let the Builder Build His Church. That’s our finest hour. I do what I am called on to assist, but God gives the increase! (1 Corinthians 3:4-11)
What About You
How many Golden Hours have you wasted? In the stock market, we are continually reminded “if only.” If only you had bought stock when this company was young and starting out. Track the dollars you could have made if only you bought at the right time, and hang on! Someday you will be better off!
We fondly look back at Classic Cars and say,
“If only I had kept mine!”
Since we don’t know what the future holds, I believe it is incumbent upon us to get ready to act, watch for the signs, and then step out by faith and achieve.
#TwentyTwentyTwo is going to be Our Golden Hour.