This blog post I first published in March 2009. It's reflections on a speech given by Steve Jobs. It seems fitting and right to give him the floor today in the wake of news of his death.
Steve Jobs – one of the most remarkable innovators of our time. A man with a cult following, so much so that his health has an almost direct influence of Apple’s share price. Not only do his computers sit at the heart of many peoples lives, but the films of Pixar – of computer animation fame which he founded – have made billions laugh and cry over the past couple of decades.
In this posting I want to bring to you the commencement speech (like graduation) he made on 15th June 2005. In the speech he gives three stories. Watch, listen, and think.
The full text of the speech is available here
His first story was about joining the dots. Adopted at birth, he was a young man with no idea what to do with his life. And so he looked for what he could be passionate about.
“You can't connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. You have to trust in something — your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever. This approach has never let me down, and it has made all the difference in my life.”
For us as Christians we see that though we may plan, it is God who directs our steps and he is at the helm. “In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps” Proverbs 16:9.
Steve Jobs goes on to say that “Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work.” In the Bible we see that to love what we do is a gift from God. “…to accept his lot and be happy in his work—this is a gift of God. He seldom reflects on the days of his life, because God keeps him occupied with gladness of heart” Ecclesiastes 5:19b-20.
His second story is of love and loss. Getting fired from his own company. Getting fired from your own company is not too dissimilar to the experience of God with the Israelites – they rejected God and instead followed religion – the laws God had given them, but without giving glory to God – or idols. In Isaiah we see that god has not forgotten his people and he is making a way to call them back to himself. “But as for you, Israel my servant, Jacob my chosen one, descended from my friends Abraham, I have called you back from the ends of the earth so you can serve me. For I have chosen you and will not throw you away.” Isaiah 41:8-9
The third story Steve Jobs shares is about death. The maxim that he has taken through life is that “If you live each day as if it is your last, someday you’ll most certainly be right”. He goes on to say that “Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart.”
In the Bible, Job [no relation to Steve] learnt this firsthand when his family was hit by trials – Job 1:21 “I came naked from my mother’s womb, and I will be stripped of everything when I die. The LORD gave me everything I had, and the LORD has taken it away. Praise the name of the LORD!”
Paul in one of his letters says that ‘I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. To live is Christ, and to die is gain’ Philippians 1:20-21.
Back to Steve Job: “Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life.” So often as Christian’s we look around at those around us, and we aspire to be them – to have their personality, giftings, luck, girlfriend, boyfriend or maybe just their good smile. As Christians we all have a part to play in the Body of
Christ – that collection of all believers under the headship of Jesus.
So that’s some thoughts on Steve Job’s speech. And his closing remark of “Stay hungry, stay foolish”? Well, Paul writes “We are fools for Christ, but you are so wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are honored, we are dishonored! To this very hour we go hungry and thirsty, we are in rags, we are brutally treated, we are homeless.” 1 Corinthian 4:10-11.
Will we chose to stay hungry and foolish for God and his Kingdom?
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