Focused until the end

When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill the boys…in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi. – Mt 2:16, NIV

Long journeys can be arduous and boring! Towards the last mile, short supply of resources like time, food, and water cloud our judgement and make even the best of us falter and fall. This can also happen when we are executing mission critical projects or assignments. Sometimes, when we are doing the last 5 percent of the project, issues crop up and impede the completion.

The narrative of the wise men who made an error of judgement in the last mile of their journey plays out interestingly. The wise men of that time, similar to the subject matter experts (SME) of today, did their research by reading the literature and matching it with symbols and events and understood the fulfillment of the prophecy of the birth of a King. Their study revealed that by following a bright star in the East they would be led to the King. So, they decided to follow this bright star to lead them to their destination.

The main trade route of Babylon to Bethlehem of 1,300 kilometers by camel caravan which went at an average speed of 32 kilometers per day would have taken about 40 days. In essence, the journey entailed planning, detailing and providing for resources. They were clear on what was needed, and they followed the plan.

However, as they came close to their destination, perhaps in the last 10 km, they lost their focus on the plan. They let their preconceptions take over and assumed that the King had to be in a palace. They took their sight away from their source of guidance and, instead, relied on an assumption which turned fatal for scores of children who were below two years of age. (Mt 2:16)

We don’t know if these wise men ever learnt of the consequences of their indiscretion.

As professionals who strive for excellence, staying focused on the goal till the end is essential. We have to review the progress at important milestones. Overconfidence, common assumptions and hearsay can sidetrack us from walking that last mile to victory and excellence.

Father, help us not to stray away from what started to do, but lead us to completion. Amen.

From Management Devotional 2020 published by Christian Manager of Christian Institute of Management.

Please refer to the full narrative in https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+2%3A+1-18&version=NIV