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A good example is city leaders in Houston. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
They ignored catastrophic flooding risks and Hurricane Harvey devastated thousands in 2017.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A few days ago, the culprit was 80 mph winds knocking over thousands of trees and power lines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
1. <\/mark>Courage for good decisions<\/mark><\/h2>\n\n\n\nHarris county flood control director, Arthur Storey, knows his city is vulnerable to monster storms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\u201cI knew enough this was going to happen and I was not smart enough, bold enough to fight the system, the politics, and stop it.\u201d<\/strong> Arthur Storey, Dallas Morning News, 9\/06\/2017<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\nStorey\u2019s neighborhood floods all the time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And he has all the facts and statistics that this will happen again and again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Everyone has regrets over decisions made and not made. I have my share.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But, this recent storm in Houston made me curious if a formula exists for making decisions that minimize catastrophic disasters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
2.<\/mark> Better decisions by weighing likely outcomes<\/mark><\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\u201cThe prudent see danger and take refuge. But the simple keep going and suffer for it.\u201d<\/strong> Proverbs 27:12<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\nThe ancient proverb confirms two simple lessons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n- Underweight obsession.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Overweight direction.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
We make bad decisions because we deceive ourselves easily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I love this house even though it’s in a flood plain!<\/em> <\/p>\n\n\n\nOr . . .<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Yes this giant tree will crush me and my house but the branches are beautiful!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\nIsn’t it amazing how folks voluntarily live in a flood plain and don’t trim their overgrown trees?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\u201cThe obsession to demand that things go the way we want them to go is one of the greatest bondages in human society today.\u201d<\/strong> Richard J. Foster, Celebration of Discipline<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\nBack away from obsession and see the direction of likely scenarios.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Act on direction. Not obsession.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
3. <\/mark>Interpret your way to success<\/mark><\/h2>\n\n\n\nLanding in good places is tricky business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But, sunny beaches are likely with lively interpretation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n“The fruit of experience, the wholeness of life, requires good interpretation. A good football quarterback is a good interpreter. So is the live motorcyclist. He scans the field or the road, recognizes half a dozen problems at once, makes quick and appropriate judgements, moves deftly and adroitly, and he is in the clear.”<\/strong> William McNamara, The Human Adventure<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n
\u201cI knew enough this was going to happen and I was not smart enough, bold enough to fight the system, the politics, and stop it.\u201d<\/strong> Arthur Storey, Dallas Morning News, 9\/06\/2017<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n Storey\u2019s neighborhood floods all the time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And he has all the facts and statistics that this will happen again and again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Everyone has regrets over decisions made and not made. I have my share.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But, this recent storm in Houston made me curious if a formula exists for making decisions that minimize catastrophic disasters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe prudent see danger and take refuge. But the simple keep going and suffer for it.\u201d<\/strong> Proverbs 27:12<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n The ancient proverb confirms two simple lessons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We make bad decisions because we deceive ourselves easily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I love this house even though it’s in a flood plain!<\/em> <\/p>\n\n\n\n Or . . .<\/p>\n\n\n\n Yes this giant tree will crush me and my house but the branches are beautiful!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Isn’t it amazing how folks voluntarily live in a flood plain and don’t trim their overgrown trees?<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe obsession to demand that things go the way we want them to go is one of the greatest bondages in human society today.\u201d<\/strong> Richard J. Foster, Celebration of Discipline<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n Back away from obsession and see the direction of likely scenarios.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Act on direction. Not obsession.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Landing in good places is tricky business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But, sunny beaches are likely with lively interpretation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n “The fruit of experience, the wholeness of life, requires good interpretation. A good football quarterback is a good interpreter. So is the live motorcyclist. He scans the field or the road, recognizes half a dozen problems at once, makes quick and appropriate judgements, moves deftly and adroitly, and he is in the clear.”<\/strong> William McNamara, The Human Adventure<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n2.<\/mark> Better decisions by weighing likely outcomes<\/mark><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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3. <\/mark>Interpret your way to success<\/mark><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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