The Tide

I had a chance a few months ago to enjoy a little time walking the ocean shore. I love the ocean - it's mystery, it's beauty, the way it's tide rolls in and out. I especially love high tide because it makes the ocean even more beautiful. High tide covers a lot of debris, seaweed, and dead fish along the shoreline. The ocean even smells better at high tide. During high tide, all the boats float a little higher.

I sometimes feel success is like the ocean tide. It's amazing what the high tides of success in life and business can cover - a myriad of trash and dead fish. I had a supervisor years ago who told me great sales numbers cover up a lot of ills in a business. He said that when companies are doing really well, and money is plenty, the problems they have are less evident. Issues go unnoticed, concerns overlooked. Everyone just celebrates the success - complacency sets in.

I am grateful for the high tides in my life but I am learning to appreciate the low tides as well. Low tides reveal more about what lies underneath; those things I need to pick up and treasure and those things I need to clean up before the next high tide comes in.