4 Levels Of Love

One of my academic degrees is the Master of Divinity. For most major denominations it is the basic academic requirement for clergy. It is a three year graduate program that broadly covers all the essential areas for scholarly and practical ministry. I’m a proud my Master of Divinity and appreciate the great education it provided me.

Mastery is more than acquiring an academic degree. Indeed most people want to or already have mastered important elements of life. I am proud of the fact that I have mastered being a dad for my kids and being a great husband for my wife more than anything else. Please note that being a Master does not mean perfection or not having the need for growth. But it does mean having a level of proficiency that is remarkable.

My wife is a Master real estate broker, among many other things. Her knowledge experience and success in real estate is amazing. In our community she has perhaps the best reputation for honest dealing, integrity and love… yes she loves her clients, her co-workers, and the business. Her mastery is characterized by what psychologists call “flow.” When she gets into it she is carried to levels of proficiency and expertise where even time itself seems to standstill while she works her magic.

Since I joined our real estate firm a few years ago her level of mastery has eluded me. I want to get and “A” in real estate like I did in graduate school. But recently I discovered that there is a difference in getting and “A” in, let’s say, a foreign language and becoming a fluent foreign language speakers. In deed many people who got A’s never mastered the language!

Let’s take the real estate business. Getting and “A” would be selling 24 units a year. That would be a good living by any standard. Not many people make as much money as a realtor who sells 24 houses a year.

Being “fluent” however is not limited by the numbers. Being fluent in real estate means that you master the all the elements the real estate business; time management, prospecting, lead follow up, setting appointments, getting signed contracts, understanding the contract, negotiating the deal and closing the escrow… and all this done while you are in the flow of it. The fruit of being fluent is more than money (if you are in the flow and a master of your business then you’ll no doubt make a lot of money), it is having control, autonomy, and freedom. The best realtors are fluent and flow.

I am not a master in real estate like my wife or my sons and daughter. But judging from my past experiences I soon will be one. For me the challenge is moving away from the idea of getting an A to the idea of being fluent. Being fluent takes time, repetition, wanting it, and commitment.

For Christians mastery is good stewardship; it is using and developing the gifts that God has given you to the highest level. God gives each person gifts. For business people mastery is the key to success and happiness. For human beings mastery is self-fulfillment and contributing to the well-being of humanity and the world.

Getting an A is great but being fluent is really useful. So here are the questions of the day. #1. What are you a Master of? Remember, Mastery is not perfection; it is a high level of proficiency in some area where you feel the flow. What are you the Master of?

#2. What area(s) do you aspire to be a Master of? And… how will you become fluent in it?

Share your response and inspire others.

I love you – Bryan p.s.

Say a prayer for our brothers and sisters in Haiti.

American Red Cross (www.Redcross.org)

Samaritan’s Purse (www.SamaritansPurse.com)

Love your neighbor – Help One