Begin Empty, Finish Full…

Begin Empty, Finish Full…

As I sat and listened to a keynote speaker this past week, I was struck by the words on the screen. His presentation, and his company are built around the slogan, "Finish Empty." By far, he was one of the best speakers that I have listened to in my 25 years of education and previous business career. Like all speakers, he came from humble beginnings, grew up in poverty, lived with his parents and his grandmother after his grandfather drank himself to death. Grew up riding his bikes in what is not the best neighborhood, living life unaware of the "other side" of living. His home neighborhood was very near where my husband and I had our first apartment. The streets he rode his bike, my husband traveled countless times during his 30 years as a firefighter. He speaks now to major corporations, MLB teams, franchizes across America, and yes, administrators and educators. He stands in locker rooms and boardrooms with the same message. His message; lay it all out there, the right way, everyday, and every minute. His brother, a baseball coach, took the Little Rock Trojans to their first ever D1 Super Regional appearance contrary to what many thought could happen. His approach is to be driven, disciplined, diligent, determined, dependable, and demanding. But this impressive resume was not what struck me the most. It was this, read every book about almost all leaders and you will find the same thing. Between the beginning and the end, the book is the same. The story told is the same. It is adversity and how the leader overcame that adversity.

As I was listening, my mind went to the Bible. To the scripture of Paul, 2 Corinthians 11:23-31,..."been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. ²⁴ Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. ²⁵ Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, ²⁶ I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers. ²⁷ I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. ²⁸ Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches. ²⁹ Who is weak, and I do not feel weak? Who is led into sin, and I do not inwardly burn?³⁰ If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness. ³¹ The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, who is to be praised forever, knows that I am not lying."

You see, adversities are not just hardships we must endure to be a Christian. Adversities are the opportunity for God's power to be shown to all. For others to see Christ in us and understand that God is all powerful, loving, merciful, kind, forgiving, and willing. Our opportunity to show others that God loves us, guides us, and protects us through it all as we rely on Him. Adversity is our opportunity to give God the glory for all to see.

In order for us to overcome adversity through God's grace, we must Begin Empty. We have to empty ourselves of pride, worldly desires, love of money and self, and all those things that keep us from seeking Him first. We have to begin as an empty vessel willing to be filled with the image of God in order to be used. Only when we begin empty, can He finish us and make us completely full of His grace and mercy. We are full of His character, His goodness, and His love for others. We are the body of Christ, full of Grace ready to show others how much He loves us and what we can endure through Him. To me, there is not one single thing that can do more harm to the Kingdom of God than a Christian who is trying to live full of what they want with a Sunday attitude. A Christian who can talk the talk, but cannot walk the walk through adversity. Now, let me stop here and say, I don't always face adversity the way I should. I am flawed in perfection, we all are. I face adversity and sometimes move to the inward self, the flesh, to "fix" the problem, instead of moving to God. We all do this, but I don't make excuses anymore. I acknowledge the flaws, let God empty me, and fill me anew with His forgiveness. That is my definition of Beginning Empty but Finishing Full. When I can look at God through all my mistakes, flaws, and issues, and realize that I need to empty myself of "me" and fill myself with "Him".