Recently, I was reminded of the old story of the man who reached the gates of Pearl and was greeted warmly by St. Peter. As St. Peter welcomed him and showed him the wonders of heaven, the strange thing that caught the man’s eye was a massive warehouse in the distance. Its presence seemed out of place, and curiosity got the better of him.
“What’s that building for?” he asked. St. Peter initially avoided the question, steering the conversation elsewhere. But the man couldn’t let it go. Each time he asked, Peter seemed reluctant to answer. Finally, St. Peter sighed and said, “Everyone who comes here asks the same thing, and most are disappointed by the answer.”
Still intrigued, the man insisted on knowing. They walked toward the enormous structure, and as they drew closer, the man was struck by its sheer size. Peter explained, “Inside, there’s a box for every person who enters heaven. If you want to understand, you’ll need to find yours.”
When they stepped inside, the man was awestruck by endless shelves, each lined with boxes of varying shapes and sizes. They were arranged alphabetically, and St. Peter guided him to locate his. When the man found his box, it was neatly sealed with a ribbon. Confused but eager, he opened it—only to discover it was filled with smaller, unopened boxes.
Peter explained, “This is a record of the gifts you were given but never used. Inside are the books you didn’t write, the jobs you didn’t pursue because you doubted yourself, the business you didn’t start out of fear, and the apologies you withheld. Here are the acts of kindness you held back, the love you were afraid to give, and the joy you stifled because of life’s stresses. It contains the ideas you didn’t bring to life, the solutions you never shared, and the opportunities you let pass by.”
The man stood silently, overwhelmed by the realization of all the potential he had left untapped.
This story struck a chord with me. It challenges me to reflect on the gifts and opportunities I may be leaving unused—the dreams I’ve dismissed as impossible, the challenges I’ve avoided that could have made a difference, and the love or kindness I’ve held back.
How about you?
Watch for the blind spots.
Great leaders understand their blind spots—do you? Blind Spots in Relationships is your guide to unlocking self-awareness and building stronger connections.
Get a copy today. 📚http://tinyurl.com/yc3usfsp
Author Jerry D. Clark has faced life’s challenges and created strategies for success—he’s eager to share his insights with you! 🎯
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