“A father, being on the point of death, wished to be sure that his sons would give the same attention to his farm as he himself had given it.  He called them to his bedside and said, ‘My sons, there is a great treasure hid in one of my vineyards.’  The sons, after his death, took their spades and mattocks and carefully dug over every portion of their land.  They found no treasure, but the vines repaid their labor by an extraordinary and superabundant crop.”  - from Aesop’s fables 

Knowledge is a good thing.  But there is a vast difference between “knowledge” (having the facts) and “wisdom” (applying those facts to life).  In other words, we may amass knowledge, but without wisdom, our knowledge is useless.  We must learn to “live out” what we know.  The father in the fable understood the facts of farming, in particular that vigorous tilling of the soil in the vineyards would produce an abundant harvest, but it was only through his wisdom that he was able to convey this knowledge to his sons in such a way that they in turn would “live it out” and perpetuate his legacy. 

“Wise refers to skill in living,” explains Eugene Peterson in his book Earth and Altar.  “It does not mean, primarily, the person who knows the right answers to things but one who has developed the right responses (relationships) to persons, to God.  The wise understand how the world works; know about patience and love, listening and grace, adoration and beauty; know that other people are awesome creatures to be respected and befriended . . . know that God is an ever present center, a never-diminishing reality, an all encompassing love . . .” 

We are often encouraged to be life-long learners, and rightly so.  But more importantly we should strive to become life-long seekers of wisdom - in how to “live out” the knowledge we attain with greater understanding and deeper meaning. 

“My sons, there is a great treasure hid in one of my vineyards.”  (Aesop’s fables)  “My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart, for they will prolong your life for many years and bring you prosperity.”  (Proverbs 3:1-2)  Wisdom is that great treasure, but we must seek it out and be alert when it appears.

“The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.”

- Jesus of Nazareth, Matthew 9:37 

The economy seems to take two steps forward and three steps backward, doesn’t it?  It just can’t seem to get any traction.  What’s it going to take to get it going again - more stimuli from the government, bankers loosening their purse strings, improvements in real estate and the stock market? 

Several weeks ago we went into a large well-known department store to purchase a wedding gift for a family friend.  As we entered the gift department we noticed three sales clerks sitting together at a desk chatting.  Obviously business was very slow.  Since we had already decided on a gift to buy we asked where we might find that particular item, to which one responded by pointing - without getting up - “Over there,” she said as she continued to chat with her co-workers.  Hmm, I wondered, how many times have I been guilty in my own way of the same type response?  How often have I waited for the phone to ring, a client to walk in, or someone else to stimulate my business? 

That incident caused me to spend some time examining my business, and in the process it occurred to me that I happen to reside in one of the fastest growing metropolitan areas in North America where, in spite of the sluggish economy, the prospects are enormous.  Yet the truth is there are not enough trained, experienced coaches who do what I do to serve all the needs - just in this one marketplace.  “The harvest is plentiful,” in other words, “but the workers are few.” 

 ”You can get everything in life you want, if you will just help other people get what they want,” according to Zig Ziglar in one of his many inspiring quotes.  Zig’s right.  When more of us who are able begin to help other people get what they want and need the economy will get traction and get going again.  That’s the real answer.  Then we’ll see that Jesus’ words are not only true about the Gospel but apply to business and the economy as well:  “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.”

They became partners in their early twenties starting off with nothing as many do, only a gleam and a dream.  Had it not been for the support of their families who believed in their dream they might not have survived that first year or so.  But they had a mission and were determined to succeed, with a vision and strategy for getting there.  It was risky, but their passion was stronger than their fear and their determination more powerful than the mistakes they would make.  There would be setbacks - cash flow problems, emergencies, disappointments, and heartbreaks.  But they would persevere, and over the years would prosper and expand, and become greatly admired for their success by all who know them.  They would bring others into their fold who they would nurture, teach and mentor, developing a succession plan so that their mission would live on for generations to come. 

This is not the story of a successful business enterprise that grew out of an entrepreneurial venture as you might think, but the story of a successful marriage that grew out of two people’s love for each other.  It is the story of my brother Richard and his lovely wife Janice who celebrated their fiftieth wedding anniversary this past weekend.  Marrying young, in their early twenties, they started off with nothing, only a gleam in their eyes for each other and a dream about a life they would build together.  They had a mission and were determined to succeed, with a vision and strategy for getting there.  Difficult at times, they experienced their share of setbacks - financial strains, illnesses, emergencies, and heartbreaks.  Yet their family has grown, having raised two fine sons who have blessed them with five beautiful grandchildren, all of whom they have nurtured, taught and mentored, instilling in them the right values and character that will live on for generations to come. 

I share this story for all those who dream of starting their own business, for there is no better model for an entrepreneurial venture than a successful marriage, as so beautifully demonstrated by my brother and his bride.  And I also share this story for all those starry-eyed lovers starting out in life together, for marriage is the best example there is of an entrepreneurial venture, and it is the most exciting one you’ll ever experience.

In my experience as an executive coach it is rare to have a client who during the course of our engagement does not seek help at some level or in some instance in the art of human interaction.  And I’m always impressed when this occurs, for it is an insightful recognition that no matter what position that person holds, how powerful, skilled, intelligent, innovative, or gifted, the ability to relate to others is pivotal in his or her personal and professional effectiveness. 

I’m reminded of an incident several years ago that stirred up an intense debate between my boss and me about a certain colleague who though extremely skilled at what he did, had some severe interpersonal deficiencies.  I argued that in the long run his inability to interact favorably with other people would one day be to his detriment.  But my boss strongly defended the guy, arguing that as long as he produced such profitable results it would outweigh his inability to get along with people.  Neither of us ever won the debate though, for soon after we had engaged in that heated conversation the man left our firm and took a position elsewhere. 

Human interaction is an art whether we think of it that way or not.  It is a creative activity, creative meaning that by definition it evolves from our own thoughts and imagination.  And true artists are much more than just conveyors of their thoughts - through painting, sculpting, music, writing and so forth - but are equally concerned with how the audience will receive and perceive their works.  That’s why those who are masters at human interaction are artists, by creatively conveying their thoughts in such a way that considers how others will receive and perceive them. 

Who knows who would have won the argument about my former colleague, perhaps my boss was right on that one.  But I also know that the most successful people I run across consider their ability to relate to be pivotal in their personal and professional effectiveness - and that means seriously developing and practicing the “art” of human interaction.

It’s all a numbers game, isn’t it?  Or that’s the way it seems these days.  Think about the last time you saw your doctor.  If yours is like most physicians he or she probably presented you with a bunch of numbers - cholesterol, glucose, triglycerides, PSA, granulocyte (whatever that is) - all of which are supposed to tell you whether you are healthy or not.  Really!  Now don’t get me wrong, all those numbers are important, for they may be indicators or warning signs of issues affecting your health.  But numbers in and of themselves are not necessarily proof of the state of our health any more than fingerprints at a crime scene are proof someone is guilty of a crime, they are only evidence.  The ultimate determination of our health is how we feel, act, look, how well everything is functioning and how much energy we have.  And that cannot be measured with numbers; it is only an experience we can somehow attempt to describe. 

It still feels like everything is a numbers game, though, doesn’t it?  In business it’s all about sales and profit numbers; in education it’s all about test scores; in sports it’s all about scoring the most points.  And even when there is no logical criteria for measuring we think something up such as “how would you rate her beauty or his looks on a scale of one to ten?”   Really!  Since when can beauty and good looks be measured in numbers?  It can’t; it is only an observation or experience we can somehow attempt to describe. 

Life, health, beauty, family, love, joy, relationships, goodness, mercy and forgiveness - the most important things in life cannot be measured in numbers.  Health is health not just a cholesterol reading; business is providing products and services to other human beings not just sales and profit numbers; education is about learning and the ability to think, not just test scores; and sports is about striving for excellence on the field of competition, not just scoring the most points.  Above all these are life experiences that can never be adequately measured in numbers, that at best we can only attempt to describe. 

Is it all really just a numbers game?  I don’t think so because the most important things in life are beyond anything numbers can ever measure.

“I devoted myself to study and to explore by wisdom all that is done under heaven. . . .I have seen all the things that are done under the sun; all of them are meaningless, a chasing after the wind.”  Ecclesiastes 1:13-14 

We had gone back as we sometimes do to pay our respects at the old family cemetery plot where our parents, grandparents, and other relatives and ancestors have been laid to rest over the years.  It was just my brother Richard and me that particular day.   We were mostly chatting about pleasant memories as we roamed among the various grave markers when Richard suddenly stopped, looked around and made a remark I’ll never forget.   Some in our family, he observed pointing to certain names, have simply vanished as if they had never existed leaving no meaningful legacy of any kind, while others, pointing toward other names, have left indelible footprints that continue to influence our lives as well as the generations beyond our own.  Why the difference?   Those who had simply vanished, we concluded, had spent their lives chasing after the wind, absorbed in themselves and their own worldly desires.  Those who had left the indelible footprints, on the other hand, had a mission and purpose beyond themselves.  That was the difference. 

King Solomon, purportedly the wisest man who ever lived and notably the richest and most powerful person of his day, reported the same conclusion some three thousand years ago in a profound essay known as the Book of Ecclesiastes.  But Solomon didn’t learn this by simply observing others; rather it was the result of his own self-reflection, for he was a man of tremendous knowledge, unheard of achievements, and enormous wealth.   We would say “he had it all”, for he had tried, tested, and tasted almost everything the world had to offer.  Yet, in spite of his great accomplishments and worldly experiences “all of them are meaningless,” he concluded, “a chasing after the wind” - that is, unless we make the right choice, as he points out toward the end of his essay.  Are we in it for ourselves, or are we here on assignment from God?  One is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.  But the other leaves an indelible footprint influencing generations to come. 

My brother’s observation that day has haunted me ever since with one challenging question, “What choice will I make today?” . . . . . What choice will you make?

When black and white televisions began populating America’s homes in the 1950’s a great concern arose that society was becoming reclusive as people abandoned their front porches where neighbors had once gathered on summer evenings and retreated to their living rooms to be entertained by these new electronic picture tubes.  Yet here it is almost sixty years later and people in our society appear to be as social as ever if not more so.  In fact, the advancement of cell phones and the internet technology seem to have accelerated social interaction rather than diminish it.  

Today computers and cell phones are as common among households as televisions.  In fact, if you are reading this message you are most likely either in front of a computer monitor or staring at some sort of a smart phone or other hand-held device.  Besides, if it were not for modern technology I probably would not have bothered to write it in the first place given the otherwise limited options for getting it published and distributed to an audience of readers.  Now I can do it myself and the whole world has access. 

Just as there was with the advent of television, though, there seems to be some concern that the world is turning into e-everything, that the younger generations have become reclusive and will continue to be more so.  True, their eyes do seem to be glued to their electronic devices just as ours have been with the TV, but humans are social beings and always have been.  Technology is simply a tool for social interaction not a replacement of it.  People still desire face to face contact as they always have.  Starbucks has successfully proven that by creating modern day public houses, neighborhood gathering places that are bustling with people at all hours engaged in social interaction. 

Technology has certainly transformed the world in many ways, brought us closer together as a global society, provided innovative ways to communicate and express ourselves, opened up new markets for commerce and efficient ways to transact business.  But it is only a tool, a tool created by man, and no matter how advanced computers become they will never replace human beings, who were created by God in His own image.  And man, even the brightest and best among us, will never be able to out create God.

As it so often does this time of year the summer heat has descended on Texas with a vengeance with temperatures rising near or above the century mark almost on a daily basis.  Yet here we are, Tee and I, in the midst of all this heat undergoing some major renovations around our house requiring a great deal of physical labor much of which is outdoors.  You’d think we would know better at our age especially since the medical community and the news media consistently caution us about the dangers of these high temperatures and how essential it is that we keep ourselves well hydrated.  They’re right, of course, and I would not begin to speculate how many gallons of water I have consumed in recent weeks, which is probably what has kept me healthy. 

Like the summer heat this extended economic recession - some are now referring to it as the “Great Recession” - has descended on our society with a vengeance with gloomy financial news being reported almost on a daily basis.  And just as we must keep ourselves hydrated during exposure to high temperatures there are certain steps we must take to avoid the dangers of emotional depression and loss of hope that can occur during times such as these.  Here are a few:  (1) Work.  Work tends to beget work, so keep working whether or not you are employed.  If you don’t have a job that pays, volunteer at something.  You’ll be rewarded for it down the road.  (2)  Learn.  Read, study, or take a course in something.  Learn a new skill, a new hobby, new technology, more about the world around you, more about yourself.  It will keep your mind sharp and prepare you for a brighter future.  (3)  Experiment.  This is a great opportunity to be bold and creative, to experiment with new ideas and new methods.  You might be surprised what you will discover.  (4)  Stay fit.  Take care of your health, eat right and exercise.  You’ll have more energy, look better, and feel more confident about yourself.  (5)  Have faith.  Recessions don’t last forever, they never have.  So have faith in what is to come, faith in yourself, and faith in God. 

And when the tide returns - which it will - it will be the ones who have continued to work and kept themselves mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually fit who will be riding the first big wave.  They always are, and it could be you.

“Go there!” my wife Tee demanded, pointing impulsively to a small handmade sign she spotted at the corner of an intersection while traveling through a small off-the-beaten-path town in rural Tennessee near where we were visiting this past weekend.  The sign read “quilts 2 miles” with an arrow pointing down a narrow country lane.  Being obedient to her command I turned immediately and sure enough about two miles down the road came upon a charming country cottage with a sign announcing “quilts”.  We turned up the gravel driveway lined on both sides with large rose bushes loaded with bright red roses.  At the top of the drive we exited our car and rather timidly tapped on the front door which was answered by a most delightful lady who looked as one might expect an expert quilter to look.  “Do you have quilts?” we inquired, to which she responded yes and graciously invited us into her lovely home.  But once inside we were disappointed in how few quilts she had, only a small sampling of her works.  Then she began to explain how her quilts sold quickly, most before they were made, a credit to her fine reputation as a master quilter.  She shared photos with us of many of the beautiful quilts she had made through the years, taking time to explain the various designs and patterns and how she tediously stitched each small patch of fabric together to create her works of art which often times took months to complete.  Stepping into the next room she showed us her most current work-in-progress, a quilt she casually mentioned that had been commissioned by a lady from Texas where we are from - and then as if speaking to herself almost under her breath she happened to whisper the lady’s name.  You can only imagine the surprised looks on all our faces when we blurted back to her the name she had just whispered as one of our closest and dearest of friend.  What are the chances of such a thing out here on a Tennessee country road, right?  But because of it our whole relationship with the quilt lady suddenly changed - once strangers now friends. 

If you do not believe there are only six degrees of separation between any human being, think again; for this is not the first time such coincidences have occurred with us, chance connections between a close friend and a complete stranger.  It is in such rare moments that strangers are no longer strangers but kindred members of the same human family, created in the image of the same Creator.  Such moments must make God smile, and I suspect it might be a dream of His that we would all see each other that way all the time. 

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal . . .”

- Declaration of Independence 

I’ve been privileged in my own life by having been born into a uniquely stable and loving family, including not only my parents but through a legacy going back for generations.  I was close to all four of my grandparents and had the opportunity of knowing each of them fairly intimately.  I still remember their voices, their personalities and senses of humor, how they moved about, deeds they did and things they said.  I had a chance to see the types of men and women they were, to witness their character.  And even though I did not know my great-grandparents I have heard enough family stories to get a glimpse into their character as well, and even a few things about their parents before them.  

All-in-all I have been blessed by having been born into a great lineage of stable and loving ancestors, a fact that often gives me reason to pause and consider with great humility all I’ve been given, and I then realize that yes all men may be created equal, but not all are born under equal circumstances.  I know this to be true because there are people I encounter almost every day who came into this world under much poorer conditions than I, whether they be financially poor, from an unloving or abusive family environment, or challenged in some way physically, mentally, or emotionally. 

 It is in experiencing such conditions of other human beings that I am reminded of my responsibility toward them, that what I have been given is not mine to keep, but rather to be steward over for the benefit of others.  It is my responsibility to perpetuate the great legacy of my ancestors by providing that same stable and loving environment for my own children and grandchildren.  And it is my responsibility to share what I have with those who are less fortunate, by doing whatever I am able to improve their circumstances in such a way that will provide the opportunity for a better future for them and their families. . . . All men, I believe, are created equal, but it is up to me who has been privileged with much to act responsibly in helping create equal circumstances for others.  And if I do perhaps I am doing my part to make this great democracy continue to work.