…God changed my perspective and opened a door when I had just about given up on the idea of expanding my educational base. Would he do the same now if I were to say yes to write a book? I am reminded of a course assignment where I made a fateful mistake – my failing – and he turned a major error to my advantage. Continued from BLOG: THE CALL (6)…
Unfocused Perspective
I looked in disbelief at my Business Communication course assignment mark. I stared hard at the email. If I focused long enough I hoped the message might differently reconfigure. Perhaps that first quick glance had been a trick of the eye, the light from my office window obscuring the content. But there was no light streaming from the window and the prescription on my reading glasses was current – my eyesight was fine. The number and words did not change no matter which way I looked.
Not only had I failed the first assignment but the course marker rejected my topic. The next two assignments hinged on the topic acceptance and the second assignment was due in just days. In fact it was already done – complete and ready for delivery. Like the first assignment I had spent hours and days perfecting it. There was no time to change topic, start all over and re-write two assignments. The research itself had taken weeks to complete.
The three assignments were a large percent of the overall course mark. Now I would have to Ace the final exam if I was to pass the course. Any final exam written so far had been mind-numbing in exactitude; my chances were slim to non-existent. My mouth went dry and I could barely speak.
I delivered the stunning news to my husband by phone.
“What do I do?” I croaked.
He had no answer.
“Dear Lord, please help me,” I prayed. How on earth was I supposed to recoup from this?
As I sat at my desk lost and not knowing what to do into my mind floated images of rain water when it pours after a summer thunderstorm: torrents that careen off roof tops, thunder through eaves troughs, and stream down driveways to finally coalesce into one raging river at street level – sucking everything into the sewers – like my course, all that time, energy and money swept into oblivion.
What had I done so wrong?
Off Angle Perspective
The assignment comments were extensive. I thought I had done a great job in expressing the topic premise. But as I slowly and carefully reread the paper and absorbed the markers feedback I realized the angle of presentation was wrong.
The assignment was to solve a business problem – real or imagined – and mine had elements of both. I had taken a stance that could have been interpreted (and was) of having thrown a staff member (a subordinate) under the bus as if this person was the source of the problem (not true, it was a process problem).
How could I have been so blind? It was a significant lesson in the power of words and how if they are not carefully constructed can do damage. I was deflated – it wasn’t at all what I had meant to say. The business problem was legitimate (I know because I had experienced it in the workplace) but the focus and presentation skewed the emphasis shining a spotlight on an outcome and not on the problem’s source.
As I sat lost in thought blindly staring at the final page I concluded the marker was correct in her criticisms but not in her rejection of the topic. There was nothing to lose; I had to attempt to salvage this wreck.
I began again at the beginning reviewing carefully each of the markers concerns. One-by-one, point-by-point I addressed, clarified and explained. And finally I got down on my hands and knees and begged her to re-consider accepting the topic. I repositioned the business problem to show it as legitimate and one I had actually experienced.
In the course marker’s response God answered my prayer. The first assignment mark did not change – I did not pass – but she approved my topic. I raced to reconfigure the second assignment.
Carefully through the remainder of the course and final exam I meticulously laboured. My results from the next two assignments were encouraging; finally it seemed I was on the right track. In the end I was sure I had at least passed the course. I patiently waited for the results.
Wrong to Righted Perspective
When the notification arrived I sat hesitating before my computer. The awaited email had just popped into my inbox. With some discomfort I recalled that fateful first response from the course marker and the blithe confidence in which I had opened the first marked assignment. We all know how that went.
I sucked in a breath and clicked on the notice. It was a short paragraph and I read it quickly. Blinking in disbelief I went back to the beginning and read it again. This time slowly. But once again my eyesight was working well. There had been no mistaken interpretation of the first reading. It was with absolute shock that I received the news I had earned the highest course mark in Canada and even more incredulous was the notice advising I was to receive an award to commemorate the accomplishment.
My awkward start and abject failure God used to pave the way to a spectacular recovery. In the process my perspective changed and essential life lessons were delivered.
To be continued in the next post.
Share a humbling experience God used to change your perspective.