A third time he married. By 1929 he was worth $40 million.
But the great “Crash” came, and he lost his money as well as his
excellent reputation.
J. C. Penney ended up in a sanitarium in Battle Creek, bro-
ken emotionally and physically. He was near death, not expected
to live past morning. Then in his room he heard a familiar hymn
from the chapel. In his dying state he asked God to help him,
and, in a remarkable transformation, he felt his burden lifted.
He was dramatically metamorphosed, soon walking out of the
institution on his own steam. He became a man with a deep
belief in God.
By the late 1930s he was again prosperous, representing the
J. C. Penney Company around the nation. He gave away millions,
and for decades vigorously communi-
cated his values and faith. At ninety, he
was still going strong.
Sometimes traumas make us des-
perate. Sometimes they may literally
bring us to the edge of emotional or physical death. Not everyone
calling out to God in such times experiences a metamorphosis.
Such experiences, however, do show the power of turning from
overwhelming troubles to the spiritual power that can lead to per-
sonal transformation.
Out of the Depths, Communicate Hope
Leaders, of course, must endure not only their own tragedies
but those of others as well. When employees are diagnosed with
cancer, or cause fatal accidents, or fail morally in ways that stun
an organization, a pastoral role is thrust upon the person in
charge. Some shrink from it or fear being intrusive. But empathy
and wisdom on such occasions become humane building blocks,
creating loyalty and trust.
When storms strike individuals or organizations, a leader who
responds with genuine concern and calm establishes his or her
leadership. We experience our own pain but simultaneously iden-
tify with what others feel and think, reaching out to them.
Experiencing Trauma and BetrayalSo long as we live in this
world, we cannot escape
suffering.
THOMAS À KEMPIS