This is your time to be free

Last week, I was talking on the phone to a friend of mine and he told me about a business conference in New York City that he had recently attended. At the conference, my friend said there was a speaker who gave the audience a powerful story offering an important life lesson.

“Catherine,” my friend said, “The anecdote was about a wise business- man.” He told that the businessman was a good man. He was a leader in the organization and in his community. People came to him for advice. For the businessman was faithful, kind and giving. And he helped others in times of their greatest need. Confident and secure, there was a calm and peacefulness that radiated from him.

Balancing the phone between my shoulder and my chin, I listened with awe as he described the story.

“Each morning, when the businessman arrived at his office, he would take off his suit jacket and he’d place the jacket on the back of his office chair. Then, the businessman would stand behind his chair for five minutes or so, looking at his jacket.”

I was silent on the other end of the phone, as my friend continued, “As time went on, many of the businessman’s co-workers speculated as to why he had this daily ritual.” Hesitantly, I envisioned the businessman being deep in thought, staring at his jacket. So, I commented, curious, “I’m wondering the same thing.”

“Meanwhile,” my friend uttered his voice stronger, “one of his long-time coworkers got up the nerve to talk to him about it.”

My friend explained how the co-worker saw the businessman outside his office. His mind began to race, and he asked if he could speak to him for a few moments. The businessman was welcoming, as he guided him to his spacious office and replied, “Of course.” While inside, privately, the coworker seized the opportunity and quickly questioned, “Why do you remove your jacket, put it on the back of your chair, and then stand over it like you’re praying.”

He leaned toward his co-worker as if he was telling him a secret. “This daily ritual has helped me tremendously,” the businessman declared. With the same compassion in his voice that he offered to everyone, the businessman spoke, “My jacket represents my worries, fears, and any issues I am dealing with in my life.”

His words strung together beautifully, as he carried on, “Each day is a gift that God has given to us. By removing my jacket, in my mind’s eye, I imagine that my fears, worries and challenging situations are on the jacket.”

Listening to his every word, the co-worker was intrigued. “After I take off the jacket, I spend a few minutes detaching myself from all of those negative things. It helps me to turn off any anxious thoughts and regain control of my mind. I ‘let go’ of certain circumstances, so I can go about my day being free,” the businessman sincerely said.

A peace came over me as I thanked my friend for sharing this narrative with me.

Likewise, is there something you need to detach yourself from? What thoughts do you play over and over in your mind?

Are you being held back today? At a Safari Park there was a baby elephant that had a chain placed around one of its back legs. Next, the chain was wrapped around a large tree to confine and restrain the baby elephant until it was old enough to be able to fend for itself.