SPIRITUAL CAPITAL: The story I told my kids (that was really for me)
Last week we reviewed the five forms of capital. I’m going to spend the next five weeks going through each one in more depth. This journal entry is focused on the most important of the five forms of capital.
SPIRITUAL CAPITAL:
My family and I took a vacation at the beach for a couple days in Florida recently.
I shared a parable with my kids while we watched the waves hit the shore.
It’s a story about a little wave.
The little wave is bobbing along in the ocean, having a grand old time.
He’s enjoying the wind and the fresh air-until he notices the other waves in front of him, crashing against the shore.
“My God, this is terrible,” the wave says. “Look what’s going to happen to me!”
Then along comes another wave. It sees the first wave, looking grim, and it says to him, “Why do you look so sad?”
The first wave says, “You don’t understand! We’re all going to crash! All of us waves are going to be nothing! Isn’t it terrible?
The second wave says, “No you don’t understand. You’re not a wave, you’re part of the ocean.” *
This story was more for me than for my kids.
My ego wants me to think I’m just a little wave and I need to hold on tight. (Scarcity) If I’m being a little wave I’m thinking small and alone.
In my heart, my deepest desire is to be loved and there is an unconditional love available to us that “spins the globe, grows the grass, and holds the stars in the sky.” **
(Wow, isn’t that incredible!?)
Faith (spiritual capital) is the paramount component to building a family business to transcend generations in a fallen world.
If we’re a little wave our hearts will never be able to be a steward. If we’re part of the ocean we are on a path alongside our family and our community to live into sacrificial love, learning, growing, and everything God intended for our journey in family business to be.
Not only do I want to optimize my spiritual capital but I want and must do the same for those who come next.
I’m realizing my kids aren’t going to listen to what I say. They are going to watch my actions.
Parenting is caught not taught.
Here are some questions I’m asking myself about my actions in stewardship in the family room:
Do they see me with my Bible opened?
Do they see me at peace (at least calm) in moments of hardship?
Do they see me engaging in conversations of depth?
Do they see me in quiet service to others?
(Our duty as parents is to cultivate, educate, and live in a way that reflects all the forms of capital.)
Spiritual capital is the glue that will keep us connected for our aspirations of building for centuries. There will be significant ups & downs. The ocean will always be there.
You are not someone. You are some of the One.
You are a masterpiece. A piece of the Master.
Onward,
Matt
* Morrie Schwartz told this parable to Mitch Albom in his book Tuesdays With Morrie
** Jim Murphy quote. One of my favorites :)