We can learn from all history, all the time. As we learn, we need to think critically about what we learn. The story of the feeding of the five thousand is important about pressing forward with what you have available to you.

Measure your powers, not your problems, is the profound lesson of the feeding of the five thousand people. Whether or not you accept the story as true, it makes for good reading and you can learn from it.

The five loaves and two fish represent your resources in life. The five thousand people represent the impossibility of a task ahead. For me, it’s not about the miracle of feeding the thousand that stands out, but the attitude that considers the resources possessed rather than the difficulties presented. The disciples were asking, “how are we going to feed them?”. They were wholly focused on the impossibility of the situation. It happens.

I remember being in a board meeting one day, and the managing director was expressing his vision on a project that he felt could be accomplished. The rest of the board members came up with excuse after excuse WHY it could not be achieved. The focus of the board was on the “impossibility” of the task ahead, rather than on the resources possessed to get it done. The MD got so annoyed at the lack of focus that he slammed his hand on the table and yelled, “Stop telling me why it can’t be done and start telling me how it can be done with what we have!” It changed the focus from impossibility to possibility based on our resources. He forced us to look at WHAT we had to make it happen.

Focus on your resources, not the crowd, nor the size of your problems. You have resources — however small or big they are. Your personal resources are mental, physical, and social. In a company, you have people, money and inventory.

Best,
Marcus

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