The More Challenging Path

As I drove to and home from Wisconsin in the last couple of days, I listened to Mere Christianity by C. S. Lewis. I have read the book many times and it was the inspiration for a great deal of my work in leadership development during my Scholar in Residence Program at The Kilns. One of the statements Lewis made in the book was, “For the longest way round is the shortest way home” (p. 87). While I had highlighted this sentence while reading the book other times, it struck me as more profound as I listened this time.

I believe Lewis was emphasizing that sometimes, taking a more indirect or challenging path—such as deep inner reflection, honest self-examination, and moral growth—actually leads us more efficiently to our true spiritual or moral destination. I also believe this is true for our professional growth as well. Just like personal growth, professional progress often involves overcoming setbacks and persistent effort. Embracing challenges as opportunities to learn helps us build resilience, enabling us to navigate workplace hurdles more effectively.

Rather than seeking instant solutions or shortcuts, embracing the full process of personal and professional development, with its struggles and setbacks, ultimately brings us closer to genuine understanding, virtue, and harmony with ourselves and others. It’s an encouragement to trust that enduring the journey, even if it seems lengthy or difficult at first, will lead us to where we truly want to be—the authentic “home” of our character or spiritual fulfillment.

Byron's Babbles