An Experiment in Asking

I heard a story about a man who needed a ridiculously (at least to me) large amount of money for a business venture or project he was working on. He had a chance to meet the billionaire Ross Pierot. On the day he met the billionaire, the man cinched up his courage, explained his project to Mr. Pierot, and boldly asked for half the amount he needed, which was a huge sum in itself. Mr. Pierot looked the man in the eyes, paused for a minute, took out his checkbook, and wrote a check for the full amount the man asked for. The man was stunned. Elated. Flabbergasted. He reached for the check, thanking Mr. Pierot profusely. As Mr. Pierot tucked his checkbook away in his coat pocket, he said, "If you'd asked for the full amount, I would have given it." Sometimes I get tunnel vision and asking for help never even occurs to me. In 2009, I want to pull my head out of the sand and ask for what I need. I'm going to:

• remember that I can't have everything I want when I want it because it's not always my turn;
  
• be pleasant so people are glad I asked - even when they can't fill my request;
  
• say yes more often when people ask me for help. Because it's not all about me and what I need to get done. It's also about you and what you need to get done. (By they way, if you ask me for help and I can't help you myself, maybe I know someone who can. So ask!)
• remember to ask God, too. He knows what I need even before I ask Him!

Have you been spinning your wheels all by your lonesome, when you could have been asking for help? Run an experiment in asking. You may be pleasantly surprised.