Wednesday; February 24

I don’t like traffic lights. It seems that whenever I am trying to get somewhere, they are always against me. About the time I am making progress, they stop me and I have to wait for what seems like an extortionately long time. They stop the long line of cars on the road I am traveling just so one or two other cars can enter traffic. If I had my way about it, I would eliminate traffic lights – well, at least in my lane of traffic.
While the preceding paragraph is written somewhat tongue in cheek, there is an element of truth to it. Just watch as people get stopped by a traffic light: many of them bang their fist on the steering wheel, some yell some not-so-nice words and others just speed up and try to make their way through them before the light turns “too” red. While we sit there we are impatient, and we are quick out of starting blocks when the light turns green.
The other day, as I was fussing about being stuck at a traffic light, I got to thinking about why I was upset, and I came to the conclusion it was because I wasn’t getting my way. I was sitting there while everyone else was getting preference. Then it dawned on me, if it weren’t for traffic lights, only certain people could make progress. Everyone else would have to sit there and wait. Traffic lights are sort of a way to give everyone access to proceed to their destination. As I looked at this from a human perspective, isn’t that what selflessness does? When we show preference to others, don’t we give them a chance to pursue their dreams? Sure, letting others go first, may temporarily delay our progress, but it helps enhance the advancement of the people around us.
Let’s not be selfish. Let’s give those around us a chance to move forward and enjoy their journey, too.

Think About It!

Popular posts from this blog

Tuesday; November 29

The biblical story of the Good Samaritan has changed our world. Notice I didn’t say that it had change religion or even Christianity, it has influenced the world. There are very few people who don’t know the moral of Jesus’ parable about the Good Samaritan. In fact, the phrase has become a common description of everyday people doing good to their neighbors. While Jesus’ parable from Luke 10 shares several spiritual lessons, one of the most practical is that good can be done by anyone. You don’t have to be a church official to do good, it is not only possible for each one of us to help, it is required of all of us. If a Samaritan can be good, so can we! After presenting the parable, Jesus asked the man who had originally asked the question about being a good neighbor which character in the story was a good neighbor, “… he said, ‘The one who showed mercy toward him.’” at which point, the discussion from theoretical to personal, “Then Jesus said to him, ‘Go and do the same.’” (Luke
Read more

Thursday; January 12

The other day I was watching a television show that used a rather common term applied to overcoming challenges. When organizations experience unexpected setbacks – especially when they lose key people – they rely upon the concept of “Next Man Up”. In essence, when our starters (or stars) go down, effective organizations rely upon their next levels to step into the vacancy. While this is an effective response, have we given much thought as to how we prepare to be the “next people up”? First, we must know our job. Even when we aren’t the primary players, we need to be preparing ourselves to be ready when we get the opportunity to shine. Second, we must do our best when we get the chance. Knowledge is important but what turns potential into talent is effort. Yet, maybe the most underappreciated aspect of this concept is a willingness avoid excuse-making and whining about the unfairness of our situation. When we complain about the circumstances that caused the need for replacements
Read more

Monday; September 25

When I was a youngster, I remember hearing about this thing called the Generation Gap. I was a little bit too young to be active in the social movements of the 1960s, but I do remember listening to the challenges the generations were experiencing way back then. Interestingly, now that I have been on both sides of the aging process, I have to admit that the Gap of the 1960s was nothing new. With the development of each generation comes conflict. The young people don’t feel like the older people understand them and the older folks tend to believe their input is being underappreciated. Too often trust is the casualty when two generations collide. The sad thing is that it doesn’t have to be this way. When we can capture the innovation and energy of the younger folks and harness the wisdom of those who have been around for a while we can develop a winning combination. No, we won’t always see things eye-to-eye nor will we necessarily speak the same emotional language, but when we app
Read more