Posts by biologist

Devotions for a Busy Business Person, no. 300 – Keeping your heart soft This devotion is an elegy for John Vrolijk — a reader of these reflections and a friend. Recently, John stepped from this life into the nearer presence of Christ. There are many things to say about John and his walk with the Lord. But this is a business devotion, so let us consider what John’s life teaches us about leadership. He was a tough businessman who kept...

Devotions for a Busy Business Person, no. 299 – Sailing the boat Last week, we spoke about building your boat. Today, we sail it. In business, ministry, and life, we often wish for calm seas, clear skies, and predictable currents. Yet most of us quickly discover that leadership feels less like driving on a highway and more like sailing a boat. Three things will keep us on course.   Reverence as the...

Devotions for a Busy Business Person, no. 298 – Build your Boat God has stirred your heart. He is asking you to build your ark, your boat. The vision He has entrusted to you will not leave you alone. Rightly so. A God-given calling often persists quietly until it is acted upon. “By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family.” – Hebrews 11:7 As you give substance to your vision,...

Devotions for a Busy Business Person, no. 297 – An affluence of time In business, we are accustomed to measuring affluence financially. Revenue, margins, liquidity, runway. Yet there is another form of wealth that is predictive of human flourishing, and far more elusive. It is time affluence.  Behavioural scientist Cassie Mogilner Holmes uses the term ‘time affluence’ to describe the subjective sense of...

Devotions for a Busy Business Person, no. 296 – A small act of resistance Last week we spoke about choosing between ‘good and good’. Let’s continue to develop our decision-making rigour in business. Recently, Dr Maya Shankar and Dr. Laurie Santos reflected on our society’s penchant for distraction, something that can quietly enter even the best-run organisations. To counter this, they commended a simple but powerful triad articulated...

Devotions for a Busy Business Person, no. 295 – The Choice between Good and Good One of the common traits many of you share is this: you are busy. And most often, you are busy doing good. That, however, creates a dilemma. How do we choose what to do, and when to do it, both in the moment and over the long term? When my children were young and faced decisions, they often found themselves in the same place. Choosing between good and bad...