I am blessed with the opportunity to write a column. When it started, the focus was 100 percent on helping small and midsize businesses and other types of organizations. Over time, the columns began to cover personal and community topics. Why? Creating great places to work creates better families and communities. 

A number of conversations created learning this week. The first occurred when a person shared a situation she was going through. Upon hearing it, I pulled up “Unanswered Prayers,” a song recorded by Garth Brooks in late 1989 that became a hit in 1991. The song describes a person praying to God for something and not getting it. Years later, he realizes how fortunate he was to not get what he prayed for. Sharing this song helped the person.

The second was a reflection on my friend Marv, who recently transitioned from life on earth. He said not to judge a situation for what you think it is. Marv ended up in treatment for alcoholism and drug addiction. That day he entered the treatment facility, he thought this was the worst thing that could happen.

For the rest of his life, he would say that the best thing that ever happened to him was going into treatment. His message, and the message of the Garth Brooks song, is about life’s unexpected blessings.

We all have those unexpected blessings. I did not get many jobs I tried for. When I was working for a hospital in Wisconsin, I was a finalist for a job in Iowa. I even looked at real estate. Then the final call came that the hospital had chosen someone else. It was disappointing. A year later, I received a job offer from Mark Clement to join him at Holy Cross Hospital in Chicago. This job changed my life and career. It would not have happened had I gotten the other jobs I tried for.

After three years, I was ready for a president job. I was a finalist for the top position at a hospital, and the search firm shared that I was on top. 

The night the hospital board met, the head of the search firm shared that he would call afterward with what he felt would be good news. That night he called and said to his surprise, the board went with someone else. I was disappointed again. A few months later, I received a call from Al Stubblefield in Pensacola, Florida, to come and be the administrator of Baptist Hospital, Inc. Funny how things work. 

For the past several weeks, I have spoken with a person who was in the finals for a job. Throughout the process, we spoke. She at times indicated that she felt uneasy with the process and the interviews. But the money was good, and she felt she could do a great job.

She did not get the job. I shared with her that she was uneasy with the process and at times did not have good feelings. I then mentioned the song “Unanswered Prayers” and Marv’s teachings.

A common term is, “I did not get what I wanted. I got what I needed. And I learned it was what I wanted.” Sometimes, unanswered prayers are the answer.

Thank you for allowing me to be in your life.

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Quint Studer is the author of 16 books on leadership in the workplace and the community. His book Building a Vibrant Community is a valuable resource for civic leaders, business owners, and all citizens who have a stake in building a community they can be proud to call home. In Sundays with Quint, he shares a selection of his popular leadership columns for leaders, employees, and business owners in all industries. He can be reached at Quint@QuintStuder.com.