The English word opportunity comes from the Latin phrase ob portu. In the days before modern harbors, ships had to wait till flood tide to make it to port. The Latin phrase ob portu referred to “that moment in time when the tide would turn.” The captain and the crew would wait for that window of opportunity to open, and they knew that if they missed it, they would have to wait for another tide to come in.

I’ve always believed that the definition for success is when preparation meets with opportunity. I also believe that no matter how much you prepare, you will never be totally prepared for every opportunity. There is a key to seizing opportunities that is mentioned in Ecclesiastes 11:1 “Cast your bread upon the waters, for after many days you will find it again.” There is a time to test the waters and a time to cast your bread on the water. There is a time to be cautious and a time to throw caution to the wind. There is a time to be prudent and a time to be valiant. And it takes great discernment to know the difference. But I know this for sure: If you wait for perfect conditions before you seize an opportunity, you’ll be waiting till the day you die.

More often than not, the only thing between you and your dream is a rational excuse. What excuses are you making? I’m too busy… I’m not qualified… I’m too qualified… I’ve go too many problems… I don’t have enough money… I’m not ready yet.
I’ve got news for you. You’ll never be ready.

I wasn’t ready when I started a business. I wasn’t ready when I got married 21 years ago today. I certainly wasn’t ready to pastor a church. We weren’t ready to have kids. And we weren’t ready when our ministry recently opened a restaurant.
I like what Mark Burnett, the creator of Survivor and The Apprentice outlines as his philosophy of business in his book Jump In. He says,

“Nothing will ever be totally perfect, and nothing can be totally planned. The best you can hope for is to be about half certain of your plan and know that you and the team you’ve assembled are willing to work hard enough to overcome the inevitable problems as they arrive. And arrive they will.”

So don’t watch the wind. Don’t look at the clouds. You’ve got to cast your bread on the waters. After all, the willingness to fail is a prerequisite of success.

Greg Richards is Senior Pastor of Morning Star Church in Kaufman.