Did You Realize?

Last weekend was a retreat weekend for me.  Ken and I took the RV to the mountains to simply unplug.

We all need to unplug!

The weather in the mountains was cool and it was quiet. Saturday Ken went fishing and I read.  My book “The Carpenter” by John Gordon is a wonderful short story.

The main character, Michael, wakes up in the ER to realize he passed out on a run where a Good Samaritan called 911 on his behalf.  His wife fears a heart attack.  As it turns out, it is simply stress!  Simply stress!!! That is enough to give you a heart attack.

The story goes, Michael hires his Good Samaritan,  a carpenter to build an entertainment center for the family because Michael thinks he owes the guy. 

The  inside front cover of the book says, “Michael finds out the man who saved his life is…more than just a carpenter; he is also a builder of lives, careers, people and teams.”

On  page 63  the carpenter tells Michael, “….even though I’m known for sharing success strategies, true success isn’t about money or possessions.  It’s about people, commitment, loyalty, and relationships.  In the end we won’t be measured by our bank accounts, sales numbers, wins and losses, or the size of the company we built, but by the difference we made in the people’s lives----and we make a difference through relationships.  So don’t be so busy chasing dollars and success that you fail to make a difference and build meaningful relationships.”

WOW, I read that and then reread it----“don’t be so busy chasing dollars and success that you fail to make a difference and build meaningful relationships.”

The book was finished by noon and my afternoon was spent in reflection ---simply pondering,  “What do I spend my time on?  Who really counts? How to I show them?  When do we get together?  Where will all this get me?”

If you do not regularly spend time in reflection, get there.

Stop and consider the next six months.  Schedule time to relax and reflect.  I believe like myself you will realize there is what we do and there is who we are.

It is the desire of my heart that at the end of my life people say “Carolyn used things and  loved people!”

Take time this week to reflect on your life, “What will people say?”