Tag Archives: overcoming selfishness

The 1989 classic Field of Dreams illustrates that perspective is everything as Ray Kinsella played by Kevin Cosner risks his reputation, finances and home to follow an irrational vision of building a baseball field in the middle of his Iowa cornfield.  Throughout this film, Ray acts on faith, traveling throughout the country, listening to a voice, periodic whispers which serve as clues to accomplish his dream.  When only Terence Mann, played by James Earl Jones, is allowed to experience what goes on beyond center, where baseball greats from the past disappear, Ray’s perspective changes.  This selfishness brings out a “what’s in it for me mentally,” the same message God has been teaching me about this week.

Over this past weekend, I began 2 new jobs, a part time position as a consultant trying to help people save money and the other, a full time position to help pay monthly bills.  My motivation for serving as a consultant is based upon a vision of reducing an organization’s bottom line, providing a free service with the hopes of obtaining refunds to these same business’ and help a dear friend, Joe Feeley Sr., raise enough money to create a foundation to minister and provide for families who have a child battling cancer.  This vision, like Ray’s Kinsella’s baseball field, is easy to do since I am motivated to make this dream a reality.

On the other hand, the first day at my full time job, working the graveyard shift didn’t go as I expected.  The expectations I had going in were drastically different from what I initially experienced.  Thus, like ray Kinsella, I asked the question, “what’s in it for me Lord, why do you want me here?”  Last night, through a series of events, God spoke directly to me through books, people and circumstances, illuminating the reason why the Lord has placed me in this company, to impact others.  All the disappointment and humility from my first night was replaced by meaningful conversations, a clear vision and a transformed perspective.  As soon as you can remove a what’s in it for me attitude, God can show you through the power of the Holy Spirit his good, pleasing and perfect will, Romans 12:1-2.

by Jay Mankus