Let's Go ... Together

I like living life in pairs and groups.  There is something about the shared experience that adds to the memory.

A few years ago I read a book by Reuben Welch entitled We Really Do Need Each Other.  In it he tells this story.

“After teaching a class on group and interpersonal relations at the college campus where he taught, the class decided to take an hour and a half group hike together up to a place called Henniger Flats, just outside Pasadena, California.  It was to be a sort of culmination of all that they had learned during the class time.

They picked the day, they set the time, they made the sandwiches and the chocolate and bought the soft drinks and packed the back-packs and off they went.

The strong, stalwart ones started out fast, lead by Don, a former paratrooper.  In no time the group was strung out all along the trail on their way up to the top of Henniger Flats, with Don in the lead, marking the trail for the others to follow. 

Don paused, looked back a few switch-backs and saw Jane, who was as we say “a bit over weight.” 

Don felt a strong urge to go back and walk with Jane for a while, which he did.  The others up ahead often called out, “Come on up.  Go faster.” 

Jane would call back, “I can’t.  I don’t think I can make it.”

“Oh yes you can.  Try harder,” came the reply.

And Jane did not make it to the top.

Thankfully the group decided that this was no way to end this shared experience together, so they decided to try again, only this time they made some new rules.

This time we will all go together, or we don’t go at all.”

So they picked the day, they set the time, they made the sandwiches and the chocolate and bought the soft drinks and packed the back-packs and off they went.

Time passed.

It took them four hours to reach the top, and by the time they arrived all of the back packs were empty, the sandwiches were eaten, and the hot coco and the soft drinks were all gone. 

BUT THEY MADE IT, TOGEHER.

TOGETHER!!!

What a concept. 

What if we adopted this idea a bit more in our lives, in our towns, our state, and our communities? 

What if families banded together in such a way as this and determined “we are family, we are together, and we survive together.”

What if churches exhibited this concept?  We would probably sing a good mixture of hymns and praise songs and nobody would be left out. 

What if the strong stalwart ones could humble themselves enough to reach back for the weaker, slower ones and lend a helping hand? 

That would be something else, wouldn’t it?

We’ve got to go together!

Some will definitely

have to slow down.

          And some will probably 

need to speed up.

But we do it together.  We go … together.

It’s not a matter of finishing first, or having your own way.  It’s working together as a group, sharing, laughing, loving, crying, but it’s all about this thing called “TOGETHER”.

We are facing some dire times.  If ever there was a time for us to pull together it is now.  Jobs are being lost. Families are stressed and being pulled apart.  Blood pressures are rising, bank accounts are dwindling. 

What do you say?  Next Saturday, how about all of us go up to Henniger Flats? 

Together!

GENSHAI (Pronounced GEN-Shy)

One of my all-time favorite books is titled Aspire by Kevin Hall.  As a result of reading this book and befriending the author, Kevin and I are developing a fine and life-long friendship.

One of the words that Kevin introduces us to in this book is the word GENSHAI (pronounced GEN-Shy).

Genshai means “You should never treat another person in a manner that would make them feel small.  And that means yourself.”

So, that means 

I treat myself with respect.    I like myself; I appreciate myself; I approve of myself.  This is not haughty, self-aggrandizement, self-inflating stuff.  Genshai is simply appreciating my uniqueness, my specialness, my God-given character traits and focusing on ways to develop them and bring them to more fruition. 

Kevin says this; “The way I treat myself reflects the way I treat others.  I have divinity within me.  I have greatness within me.  I attract into my life that which I believe I am.”  

I am determined to treat every human being I meet with great respect, great cordialness, and great honor.  How can I possibly accomplish this unless I also care for and consider myself with equal esteem and value?

Do I believe in me?  Kevin says “Believe means to be love.  When I believe in myself, I love myself.  When I love myself, I treat myself with respect.  “Spect” is to look at.  “Re” is back.  “Respect” is to look back at.”

Do I respect myself?  Do I look back on my life and see character traits that I can accept as good, wholesome and true?

Remember Genshai. 

A good word.

A good thought

A great way to live!

How Is Your Vision?

J C Penney was once interviewed by Dave Le Shanna, former college president of Taylor University.  As Dr. La Shanna was ushered into Mr. Penney’s office, he saw Mr. Penney sitting behind his desk examining the business card David had presented.  He was moving it back and forth like someone playing a slide trombone.

He looked up at Dr. La Shanna, cleared his voice and said, “You’ll have to forgive me.  My vision is not as good as it once was.”

He then slapped his hand on the desk and said, “No that is not right.  My eyesight is not what it once was.  I’ll never lose my vision.”

WoW!  That is a mouth full. 

I think that is all that needs to be said. 

How is your vision?

Towards life?

Toward your company?

Toward your future?

Teams Work

Let's talk about TEAM!

There is no “I” in team.

Earl Nightingale tells a great story about the importance of teamwork. 

“Once upon a time a group of boy scouts were on a weekend hike.  They came upon an old set of abandoned rail road tracks.  One by one the boys hopped upon the tracks and soon made a game out of seeing who could walk the longest distance without falling off.  Many tried, and of course they ultimately lost their balance and fell off the tracks.

“Two of the boys withdrew from the group and put their heads together for a few minutes and then approached the scout master. 

“They boastfully said.  We can walk the tracks farther than anyone without falling off. 

“They hopped up on the tracks, joined hands, and away they went, in perfect balance and in perfect sync.” 

You see, they discovered the art of teamwork.  In the word “team’ there is no “I”.

Synonyms for TEAM are words such as:

Togetherness

Partnership

Squad

Players

It all comes down to teamwork.  We share the load; we share the grunt, and the blood, toil and tears.  We share the nitty-gritty.  Above all, when we become victorious, we share the glory.

The most important two-letter word in our English language is “WE”.  Bosses should love it when their employees proudly say “Look what WE did!”

Napoleon Hill is famous for his doctrine of the Master Mind; two or more minds united for a common purpose, drawing upon the collective wisdom of all of the minds in a group.  That is Teamwork.

So, how is your team? 

I hope you are finding and developing your team.  I hope you fit like a hand in a glove. 

What if … on the 8^th day, God looked around and saw one more thing that needed creating.  And then he said … “Let there be teams.”

Teams are GOOD! 

Very good indeed..