Wisdom

If you have been reading the MMM for very long at all you know that wisdom is frequent topic.  I think we always seek wisdom but seldom fully grasp it.  It is a character trait that we strive for, yet it is one that is hard to even define.  Here is a great quote that provides a great example of one facet of wisdom.   

“Wisdom is knowing when to speak your mind and when to mind your speech.”

It is true, there is often a fine line between saying what is on your mind and knowing when to carefully say something at all.  Wisdom can make the difference.

Be wise this week…

Who Am I?

I lost my dad way too early,

Who am I to doubt it was part of God’s plan?

His mother lived to age 98, why couldn’t he?

Who am I to question God’s timing?

He loved my mom and all of us so dearly,

Who am I to ask God why we don’t have him anymore?

He was married for 50 years, had nine grandchildren and a great grandchild,

Who am I to not thank God for the time we did have?

He had wood to carve, golf to play and trips to take,

Who am I to ask God why not?

He was kind, loved and respected,

Who am I to ask God why him?

For his disease there were no more options,

Who am I to ask God why no cure?

There were things I had not done or said,

Who am I to ask God for more time with him?

I never heard a bad word spoken towards him,

Who am I to ask God why not someone else?

He deserved so much more,

Who am I to question that God knows what he truly deserved?

I lost my dad far too soon,

Who am I to question God’s plan?

Barry D. Blanton

In loving memory of Don Blanton

January 6, 1935 – June 23, 2007

(Eight years tomorrow I lost my father here on earth.  This MMM is repeated from one originally issued 07.02.07.  It will continue be repeated as long as I write MMM’s on the Monday closest to the anniversary of the passing of my father.)

Action (part two)

"A failure to believe always results in a failure to take action.

A failure to take action results in a failure to achieve."

    – Keith A. Craft

I found this quote after I wrote the MMM last week.  It gets to the heart of the matter regarding action.  I find it curious that Keith Craft connects a failure to believe to the lack of action.  He is right; often our fears, insecurities and past failures deter us from taking action.  The only way to restore confidence is to believe and take the first step of action,  because if we don’t the consequences can be serious.

 
When we fail to take action…

• Plans fail
• Projects flounder
• Dreams die
• Problems fester
• Relationships stagnate

 
What is there in your life that is just waiting for you to take action?

Action

The importance of simply taking action is critical to growth and progress.  Nothing happens unless an initial step of action occurs.  Action, initiation, implementation, these are the starters of all good things; they are also the foundation for success.  Great ideas can be talked about and theorized at great length, you have to do something to make them a success.  This is an area of weakness for me, I have a lot of great ideas in my head that I have failed to act upon.  It takes action and movement for good concepts to be turned into reality, and reality into success.  The more action steps we take the higher likelihood we grow and our goals are realized.  Consider this quote from the very successful Conrad Hilton.

“Success seems to be connected with action.  Successful people keep moving. They make mistakes but they never quit.”
--Conrad Hilton 

The Elusive Truth

 It seems hard to find the truth these days. For some reason honesty and being forthright are rare traits. It is really not anything new; the Bible is full of stories of lies and deceit.

 Why is the truth so hard to find?  In Deflate-gate, in a local bond election, in the Benghazi investigation, and in criminal and civil trials, every day the real truth eludes us. People tend to bend the truth for their own good and or gain. We seem to always have an angle or a personal viewpoint that we believe is more important than the actual truth. Having multiple versions of the truth is risky and most always has consequences.  Honesty truly is the best policy. We should all try to be a little more forthright.