There’s an old story about two Mississippi paddleboats, which left Memphis about the same time, travelling down the river to New Orleans. As they steamed along side by side, the two skippers challenged each other to a race. Eventually, one boat began to fall behind because it didn’t have enough fuel to keep the boiler going at full capacity. So the skipper ordered the crew to throw some of the less important items of cargo into the furnace, which immediately helped build up a greater head of steam. Then, to keep it up, they began to burn more and more of the cargo. They ended up winning the race, but with nothing to show for it at the end.
I wonder how many of us are in danger of sacrificing the things that have been entrusted to us because of our compulsive need to win at any price?