Disqualification can be internal or external. For many years after sharing my ideas or visions with a few people, I’d hear something like this “They said you can’t.” I have always wondered, who are the “they”? Does “they” have a physical address? Can I visit “they” and have a heart to heart conversation of never giving up with “they”? What I am getting at is that I was building a new DC (Disqualification Closet) even before I evaluated my own strengths and weaknesses. Even the greatest weaknesses of mankind ever recorded have been neutralized from ever disqualifying anyone from greatness. A person can also discourage themselves from the loud disapproval that is coming from friends, families and others. The voice of disqualification sounds like this, “What makes you think that what you are bringing to the table is different from what someone else has brought to that table before?” The reason I called this closet “DC” is because that great idea, that next generation technology, or that big dream could have changed the world or maybe just changed one person, but it remains hidden forever because the wrong light was shown on it. In the age of disqualifications, people’s potentials are wasting, while only a few dare to dream bigger than themselves. Then, we all stand in awe of their dreams that are blossoming right before our eyes.
This closet can also be titled the “cannot closet.” The thoughts that I am having right now for this DC goes like this; I am not educated enough, I am too educated, I don’t have the right credentials, I don’t have the right title behind my name, I am not famous enough, I am not strong enough, I have a different background, a different degree, I have an accent, too black, not black enough, my grammar is sometimes off, sometimes right, I am not smart enough, etc. Who said we only need smart, famous, or strong people before we can do anything? (1 Corinthians 1:27) These are clutches that no one should lean on while on their way to success. These thoughts are all thoughts that flow through our minds when we are trying to put ourselves in a DC. The reason it is a disqualifier is because you are hiding it from people and looking for the right time to perfect your disabilities before taking any action. That right time will never come, if you don’t act right now on whatever you got in your DC, then you’re not ready for any kind of success. Most smart and successful people started with their DC with plenty of failures and inadequacies along the way. No success without plenty of failures. “Practice makes perfect” or “Practice makes permanent”. These are slogans that do not hold the whole truth. Consistent practice with periodic assessments not only makes perfect permanent, but transforms generations. Don’t practice something to perfect it when it has been proven not to work. During periodic assessments, change course if need be.
Freedom Thoughts
When you are disqualified from anything life throws in front of you, you go searching for answers. Let’s take the story of David and Goliath in the Bible. I know this is a common sermon preached with different interpretations, but let’s look at David. He was disqualified even before he had a chance to prove his qualification. First, his family ridiculed him for his stature, profession, and his position in the family. Second, his nation ridiculed him about not having the right material to slay the giant Goliath. If you are familiar with 1 Samuel 17, Goliath’s qualifications from his youth was so magnified that it made David’s nation dismayed and greatly afraid. David used his years of training in the field mixed with faith. (Education Vs Faith is another day’s blogging title) Faith can mean believing in God, confidence in yourself, trusting your instincts, having courage, knowing your strengths, or a substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. (Hebrews 11:1).
As people were disqualifying David, David was requalifying himself (1 Samuel 17:28) David’s eldest brother angrily rebuked David and accused him of showing off. “I know thy pride, and the naughtiness of thine heart.” Wow! Have you ever shared something with someone then they immediately think you are prideful or just showing off when in your heart you were only trying to tell them you can slay a giant? David became smart, famous and strong after he defeated the obstacle in front of him with his faith, a stone, and a sling. You cannot be smart, famous or strong without first opening your DC. The significant of David’s faith, a stone and a sling, is that you cannot use another person’s faith and opinions to defeat any giant in your life, you have to use your own tools (I Samuel 17: 38-39) I believe that another person’s education and faith are not easily transferable or received by osmosis. We can benefit a little from people’s education and their faith, but that benefit is not enough to change the world or our immediate circumstances.
Finally, as you try to get out of your DC, do not drive yourself into the competitive mood. Don’t copy things you are not passionate about. (Romans 12:4) I have recently learned that we are all different in three ways: our fingerprints (what we do), our footprints (where we go) and our mouths (what we say) can make a difference in our family, faith, business, education, justice system, media, and even the government. Find your own Goliath nation to conquer and leave your three DNA prints there.
Reflection
1. Be educated, not only in the academic setting, but other settings
2. Be encouraged to study, train, and pick up tools as you are getting ready for the day of disqualification
3. When “they” pull out their list of disqualifications, be ready to pull out your list of qualifications
4. Open your DC wide without fear until you find your purpose in life and slay that giant
5. If the education or the certifications required was met, find out why you were disqualified
6. Requalify yourself by any good means necessary
7. Find tolerable solutions around religion and politics
8. Find peaceful solutions around injustice and racism
9. I know some of you will say, “Fight injustice and racism!” Yes, Only if God gave you the tools to do so. Not many people are equipped to fight a battle that sometimes only belongs to God and probably one man (1 Samuel 17) Remember the whole of Israel’s army was at the battlefield including their chosen king Saul.
10. If you do not use injustice, racism, and the unfair nature of life as a clutch, success is inevitable.
11. Today, regardless of race, religion, and politics that has clouded justice, success can thrive without a hinge.
12. There should not be a universal standard for qualification or disqualification without understanding the uniqueness of individuality. “Life is not fair.” But life is promising.
