Chapters 6-7: Exotic Possibilities

Is it Monday already? Erica, back with this week's two-chapter edition of the book club selection:  Make the Impossible Possible by Bill Strickland.

Chapter six, Impossibility Thinking, told how the Manchester-Bidwell Center gained a 40,000-square foot greenhouse to grow exotic orchids. Wrapped up in the story is a search for the nature of genius. To quote Strickland, "...genius is not the same thing as IQ or talent. It's not something you're born with. It's not something you are. Genius is something you discover." I like this definition of genius, that we all have a vein of it running inside, waiting to be mined.

I must admit chapter seven, The Power of Passion, initially threw me. I couldn't seem to get past one sentence, had to read it twice...he bought an airplane? My first reaction was to wonder if Strickland was married at that time, and if he was...how long did he end up sleeping on the couch? Once I got past that, I was able to appreciate some of the wisdom he shares. He describes some of the challenges he faced as he built his skill set to include knowledge needed to run a large corporation and how he didn't allow adversity to quench his passion.

I was especially touched by his take on why it's so hard for many of us to recognize our passion. "The problem is fear. We're afraid that following our passions will make us look impractical, ineffectual, self-indulgent, or even irresponsible." I had a sudden vision of Peter, walking across the water towards Jesus' outstretched hand. (How often have I let fear hold me back from achieving what seems unreachable?) Next time I falter, wrestling with seeming impossibilities, I'll think of Peter, exotic orchids and the passion that lives deep inside me.

Next week, let's finish the book!

More on these chapters:  Laura's The Power of Beauty

Photo by nAncY. Used with permission. Post written by Erica Hale.

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• bill strickland
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