Wow! Orrin - you and Laurie continue to inspire us and encourage us to grow - and stretch - and expand our capacties to learn! I heard from the guys at Men's Leadership about Pastor Dickies talk on Proverbs and his hope that one many in the group would begin to ready proverbs - and I know one of the guys in our car yesterday intended to do just that- and he has not read the Bible before. So, there's success already! And, after hearing Pastor Dickie spoke on that, to see that as part of your regular Sunday posting here, is incredible. Reinforces to me the heart of the leaders I'm following!

If I look at the tremendous seminar yesterday in Saginaw and the phenomenal talks you and Laurie both gave, and your wonderful servant spirit yesterday signing books during the breaks, my specific intent to develop wisdom is to follow leaders who hold the same values I hold and who encourage me (through their own actions) to broaden my own knowledge, to read books and think through things on my own with the facts rather than just what the media pours out, leaders who's heart is for the people, who want to glorify God and be thankful for all the blessings we have, no matter where we are in life, and to help others be better. All those things, associating with that kind of leadership, reading the books they read, all of those things are what my family wants to do to develop wisdom.

There are many people in life we encounter on a daily basis who helps us to grow and learn and develop wisdom. Our experiences and how we handle them shape us into who we are. Following leaders who give lead by example, who make us think about a bigger picture, bigger Vision, who make us laugh. who help us grow in our capacity to learn, and who shine light on passages of history and the bible so that we can learn, and learn and learn, and get better- that's how me and my husband intend to develop our own wisdom Get more information - and get it from the right source. Have character and associate with people of character. Count blessings and be thankful = and associate with like-minded people in that regard as well.

Drink heartily from the fountain of goodness that God has provided us.

Thanks again for all that you and Laurie, Chris & Terri and all the other leaders do! You have touched so many lives in so many ways!

God Bless you!

Ann

Ann, It was great meeting you and your husband yesterday. Very impressed by your hunger to grow! You will gain wisdom by associating with this wonderful team of leaders that support and encourage each other. Keep going! thanks, Orrin

G o o d M o r n i n g Orrin, here my thoughts on Proverbs 1:5 A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; ( How often do we assume we know what the other person going to say, before they say it. Then catch ourselfs breaking into their conversation, which some how, always changes the direction of their true thought. Or is it human nature to want the first word? Or we know what their going to say before they say it. The know it all's. What Proverbs is say here to us, we need to keep our ears open first, then speak after we have heard what they are conveying. A true leader will listen, then speak. How often we miss WISDOM by not listening first. This is a area I'm working on.) and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels: ( Her where you will find out, that if you are always breaking into their conversations. People tend to not want to share there true thoughts ( WISDOM ) with you. But if they fell that your deeply ingrossed in there conversation. You'll find they will talk your legs off. Old saying. Much is given to those who listen. Have A Great Day.... Dave GBA

Dave, Great thoughts on listening. I love the saying, "You have two ears and one mouth. Use in this proportion." Keep growing in wisdom! thanks, Orrin

What do you do when you spend 8 hours a day 5 days a week with individuals you wish not to associate with? I try to turn to the cd's and read on breaks. Do you have any ideas?
cindyh

Cindy, Positive and negative is like a teeter-totter. If you are forced to be in a negative environment do all you can to be a light in the darkness. When you get out of work listen to CD's, DVD's and read books until you balance back over to the positive side of life. Keep learning and leading! thanks, Orrin

Orrin, what a great topic to start a discussion on. I admit that I have never read Proverbs but a friend of mine recently gave me John C. Maxwell's Leadership Bible and I've really enjoyed going through it. Reading has always been a struggle for me but a few months ago several TEAM members in my area have been getting together and discussing the top 5 books. This is my second time through them and I feel that I have a deeper understanding of them because I now have the perspective of the others in our group. It also holds me accountable to read more. I've developed a routine of reading a book for our group during the day, such as "How to Win Friends and Influence People" and a few weeks ago added a history or biographical book at night. Currently, I'm reading a biography of Samuel Adams by Mark Puls.

My wife Rachel and I are fortunate to be able to mentor with Terry and Ann Franks and their sons Jon and Matt. It was Matt that started the book club with me and has encouraged us to become better leaders. I've seen how fast Matt has grown in leadership and I feel I must step it up a notch to keep up. As evidenced by Matt's posts on this blog, he and his family are certainly wise counsels. I also look to my wife Rachel as a source of strength. She has always been a great leader and reader and she has motivated me to move forward and grow. There are a lot of other people that I've met through the TEAM and elsewhere that I respect and learn from but it would take this whole page to list them all. Thanks for all that you do! I'm looking forward to Sundays' Blog.

-Bert Fall

Bert, You have phenomenal leaders to follow and great books to read. Keep stretching yourself everyday to get better! Very proud of your learning. thanks, Orrin

Thanks Orrin for your passion for life... and learning... I have been reading proverbs on and off for the last 28 years because a wise youth leader in my church challenged me that reading Proverbs would direct me in becoming a better leader among my peers in junior high. However, there have been times, and periods of time in my life that those verses meant more then others. I have grown more in the last 12 months then ever before in my life. It is directly because my life has been revolutionized by reading...and getting wise counsel... Getting into the mind of the writer takes time... and proverbs is one area that requires thought and meditation. Because of the people that I am now surrounding myself with, I am learning each day to 'Be Still and Know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth! The Lord of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah' Psalm 46:10, 11. The key words for me there are 'BE STILL and KNOW THAT I AM GOD. In such a hurried and rush rush rush world we live in, I many times have failed to BE STILL AND KNOW... with only the hum of the lights... in silence seeking and knowing HIM more. Oh how great is our God! It's people like you, and Pastor Dickie and other leaders on the TEAM that have encouraged me to continue to grow in my walk and to begin and continue to learn & understand that this world is looking for, and desperately needs, true Christians to 'live' the Christian life. I can't even put it into words how grateful I am that you and the leaders on the team are truly living the Christian life. For these men are where I will seek my counsel so that I will continue to hear and increase learning. Count me in! Sincerely, Dave Ober

Dave, It was great seeing all the guys at men's leadership. Very impressed by the hunger level of everyone! You are really coming into your own as a servant leader. Keep going strong! thanks, Orrin

hey Orrin! I just wanted to say that it was awesome meeting you finally on friday at the restraunt! Listening to you and Dean and all the leaders at the Mens Leadership meeting gave me more insight of the places we're going and I love it. Pastor Dickey has inspired me to read the bible, and I started to read from the Proverbs everyday since then. I never really read the bible before so I know this will be another stepping stone in becoming the leader I want to be. Thanks for leading Orrin. God Bless.
Devin Miller

Devin, Very impressed by your continued growth. Set your sails and stay the course! thanks, Orrin

Orrin,
just wanted to thank you for being such a servent to the team, and becoming a man I look up to so much. I have been a part of the team for about 4 years and have had a few chances to meet you and come to your house, and each time Iam arround you I want to be a better person,father, abd leader. 5ust the knowledge I have learned from the leadership system has been a blessing. But one of the key things I want to thank you for is teaching me to dive into different areas of kife and information to find out why I believe what I believe. One of those areas is faith Ihave been very hungry to find the reason people can have faith like they do and I figured out that faith comes from digging in and reading information to get the awnsers instead of trying to cpme up with the awnsers by my self or just shying away because it is an unknown for me.

One of the things that have helped me is the information to dig into. Like mens leadership this weekend helped me have a focus on what parts to read and as a hungry student you are the first to lead by example and I thank you for giving me someone to be an example of persuing excelence. hope to hear more insights from you on the blogs thanks and see you at mens leadership in jan.

Dennis, You are a seeker of knowledge and this is so important today. Most people choose the comfort of chosen ignorance rather than the discomfort of knowing ignorance on the journey for truth. Keep going! thanks, Orrin

Orrin,

Thanks for your teaching on association and the importance of gaining wisdom as you learn. You have such a great way of communicating such important subjects! I read a short pros on association that I wanted to share with you. It is titled "The Company You Keep"

“The Company You Keep”

It is better to be alone, than in the wrong company

“Tell me who your best friends are, and I will tell you who you are. If you run with wolves, you will learn how to howl. But, if you associate with eagles, you will learn to soar to great heights. A mirror reflects a man’s face, but what he is really like is shown by the kind of friends he chooses. The simple but true fact of life is that you become like those with whom you closely associate – for the good and the bad.

The less you associate with some people, the more your life will improve. Any time you tolerate mediocrity in others, it increases your mediocrity. An important attribute in successful people is their impatience with negative thinking and negative acting people. As you grow, your associates will change. Some of your friends will not want you to go on. They will want you stay where they are. Friends that don’t help you climb will want you to crawl. Your friends will stretch your vision or choke your dream. Those that don’t increase you will eventually decrease you. Consider this:

•Never receive counsel from unproductive people.
•Never discuss your problems with someone incapable of contributing to the solution, because those who never succeed themselves are always first to tell you how. Not everyone has a right to speak in your life. You are certain to get the worst of the bargain when you exchange ideas with the wring person.
•Don’t follow anyone who’s not going anywhere. With some people you spend an evening: with others you invest it.
•Be careful where you stop to inquire for directions along the road of life.
•Wise is the person who fortifies his life with the right friendships.”

----Anonymous----

When considering who is in your inner circle of association just remember that there are normally 4 types of people:
1. Adders - those that add to us we love to be around
2. Subtractors - those that subtract from us sometimes can tolerate
3. Multipliers - those that multiply our potential we invest and value the time we can be around them! They know how to notice and pull out people's innate gifts and build them up!
4. Dividers - those that try to divide us we completely avoid!!!!

Mark Twain once said “Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you, too, can become great.” When associating with people I always try to remember that simple nugget of wisdom!

One time I had someone ask me what type of qualities I look for in leaders who I would want to be in my inner circle. I told them:

1. Character = "Character is the ability to carry out a worthy decision, after the emotion of that decision has passed." - Hyrum Smith
2. Intellegence = Smart People Matter
3. Energetic People = Look for people that are energized enough to energize others.
4. Relational I.Q. = Some people might get things done, but they hurt people in the process. You cannot get away with that in a people development community.
5. Win or Die Spirit = Not looking for people that cave in or give in when the price gets high.

Thanks Orrin!

Best,

Matt

Orrin,

Oops! I forgot to do the other part of the assignment! My professors in college would have told you that was a "spiritual gift" of mine:) You asked us to discuss what our specific intent is to develop wisdom. One of the things I have always had to overcome in my leadership walk when tryinig to influence people is always the "age factor." Being that I am younger than a lot of people I work with or sometimes talk to, I used to always get the response of "what do you know? You are only 24, 25, 26, 27 years old. What type of experience could you possibly have?" When I was just beginning my leadership journey that used to really infuriate me because I knew what I knew and I knew I wanted to add value to people. As I have progressed down the road of my leadership journey I now know that they were partly right in their challenging comments because I had a real hard time drawing wisdom out of my experiences in life. However I now realize many of those people did as well. Let me explain.

There is an old cliche' that states "experience is the best teacher." That is completely bogus........experience is not the best teacher, EVALUATED EXPERIENCE is the best teacher. If you can't draw out wisdom from an experience you can't learn from that experience. I believe your wife said from stage "lesson continues until the lesson is learned." That statement was so profound in my life and helped me so much! I have discovered that so many people equate experience with age. Can I tell you something..........? Experience doesn't always come with age! Sometimes age comes alone! I know many people that are getting older, but are not getting better. I heard a funny japanese proverb that said "“Knowledge without wisdom is a load of books on the back of an ass.” Just because a person has studied a subject matter does not make them the “holy grail” in that subject. If knowledge is not acted upon, it does not matter how much knowledge you have. When I was in college, the most valuable professors I ever had were the ones that had acted on the very same subject they were teaching me about. They had a way different perspective than the ones that simply memorized the textbook.

Never confuse motion with action. When you are in motion you simply do things that make you feel busy. It almost feels like you are doing things to just check off a list. People that become very good at staying in motion, most of the time, do not feel like they are traveling on their success journey. The reason is because they focus on things that don’t matter to the big picture and it makes it seem like they are so far away from achieving their potential.

People that are action oriented know that they will pick up any “motion knowledge” that is important by being intent with their action. Again, if knowledge is not acted upon, it does not matter how much knowledge you have. Action allows you to take your knowledge to another level.

Someone once told me “you cannot steer a parked car.” That is so true! It is important to learn all you can, but if you don’t apply or act on that knowledge it is all for nothing. When you are in “action mode” it allows you to withdrawal wisdom and insight from the knowledge you have learned.

To learn and gain wisdom from my experiences I will continue to:

1. Value growth over my achievements
2. Initiate Action
3. Follow the PDCA Cycle
4. Value People = no matter who I come in contact with, they have the potential to teach me something.
5. Value the importance of asking great questions!

Thanks Orrin!

Matt

Matt, I am genuinely blown away by your leadership understanding. If I am away from my blog for a week I vote for you as guest blogger. These are excellent points and add to the discussion greatly! I love the quote, "You say you have 30 years experience, but you really have one years experience repeated 30 times." Ouch, that hurt when I first heard it! I want to constantly be uncomfortable because I know if I am comfortable then I am not stretching myself. Great stuff. thanks Orrin

Orrin,

I am genuinely blown away by your comments! I wish I could take credit for my growth in the area of leadership development. In the book, 17 Indisputable Laws of Teamwork, John Maxwell describes his Law of Significance. The law states "One is too small a number to achieve greatness." That is an incredible law! The credit goes to people like my parents and brother, my association with the TEAM, and other mentors I have had the blessing to learn from in the area of leadership. As stated in another post I wrote to you: I know God will only give to me what he knows can flow through me. I am sure you already know this verse in the bible, but check out Romans 12: 1-8.

That passage has always helped me value my growth over achievements. By the way I love the quote you sent to me, "You say you have 30 years experience, but you really have one years experience repeated 30 times." That quote will be huge in my life to help people understand the value of gaining evaluated experience instead of just experience!

You have been a great inspiration Orrin and I look forward to developing a long friendship with you!

Best,

Matt

ORRIN, THANKS, YOUR RIGHT, THE POWER TO BE AROUND GREAT PEOPLE!!!! FOR A BIT I WAS SLIPPING INTO THE 95% WORLD YUCK!!!!!! FRIDAY NIGHT WAS AWESOME...... I REALLY NEED TO THANK YOU. STAND UP FOR THE CAUSE. IN 15 YEARS FROM NOW WHICH ONE WILL YOU BE ????? WHAT WILL YOU TELL YOUR KIDS. THAT STORY ABOUT THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR........................ WOW. MINUTEMAN OR MINIMAN. WHAT WILL YOUR STORY BE NOW ABOUT WHAT WE DID AS A TEAM.
LOVE YA MAN THANKS
RAY & JENN

Ray, I use the legacy test a lot when pondering what to do. I ask what will I tell my kids and grandkids if they ask me about this. If I would feel embarrassed or ashamed then I know this is the wrong option. As leaders we must stand for truth and act on that truth! Keep learning. thanks, Orrin

Hey Orrin!
It really doesn't seem so hard to seek wise counsel. What seems to be a greater challenge (for me), is accepting it. Oh, to have a heart like David! Looking at how he handled this principal and how King Saul handled this principal, sheds a little light on what to do with wise counsel. Or maybe what being a man after Gods' own heart is all about. (2 Sam 12:13) When Nathan approaches David and lambastes him regarding Urriah the Hittite, David answers," I have sinned against the Lord." Ouch! His response to the death of the child is another great lesson, but this one, oops! I did it. differs so much from Saul that it almost creates the legacy of them both... (1 Sam 15:13-24) verse 13...(paraphrased)((Saul)) Howdy Sam! God bless you! I did my job!!! (14)((Samuel)) "Oh yeah? Since when do dead cattle low? (15) Cattle? What cattle? Oh! Those! Well, uh, the soldiers... Ahhh the passing of the buck! In verses 17-24 it just illuminates the way I like(d) to respond to the truths that hurt! It becomes clear that Sauls only concern was his position and his reputation.
What I love about this leadership journey, is that anyone can... if they stick around long enough... learn to lead correctly. When I have trouble with a book...most often it's the Saul in me arguing with the painfull side of truth. When I get tweeked by a mentor or friend or anybody... it's more often than not, that nasty ole Saul trying to short circuit change. the really good news is this...according to you and most of your referances, if we continue to plow through that thinking, and the pain of seeing ourselves as we are, enough... it becomes a habit. So that's my specific intent on hearing wise counsel... if it hurts, if it excites an imediate response that includes any of the following words; Really? Oh yeah? But, If, You, They,( anything other than I'm sorry...Can you elaborate) I'm gonna recognize it for what it is. A very valuable lesson.Until it becomes a habit...
Thanks Brother! What a great Subject! Looking forward to next Sunday... R

Rick, Thank you for the insights. It is exciting to see how many people are reading, growing and sharing on this blog. Keep learning and being mentored by great leaders! thanks, Orrin

I can't wait to read your writings on Proverbs. I heard you and Laurie speak on Saturday in Saginaw. All I can say is WOW! It was fabulous. I did take notes and will be referring to them to make sure that I read all of what you and Laurie suggested to read. I have learned so much in such a short time from Team. What a great community and now some Bible study too. A well rounded community to learn from. I am looking forward to all the learning and then passing along to others what I have learned from everyone else and reading. Thanks so much. God bless you & Laurie.

Mandy Jo, I am glad you enjoyed the Saginaw Leadership Event. That was a great crowd to speak to and I am impressed with the hunger to grow and improve! I look forward to sharing on Proverbs also. I learn as much as I ever teach by researching and writing! Keep learning and growing. thanks, Orrin

Orrin, My boyfriend went with me to Saginaw. He isn't much of a reader and he commented that he should start reading more. So, hopefully things will go in that direction.

I have added a link to your blog on my blog. I figure it's best if people know who is inspiring my ideas.

I miss being in the Team office, but I love being apart of Team on the "other" side.

Mandy Jo

Hey Orrin! Just thought I'd let you know my husband and I took your assingment about Proverbs to heart and read the first chapter. Well, to be honest Richard (who never used to read anything) read all the way through verse 8 - his theory is if Pastor Dickie encouraged the guys at Men's Leadership to read a chapter a day for the month, he'd better get crackin' so he should be done with Chapter 10 tonight!

My theory is it never hurts to combine reading of both Leaderships from Maxwell, James hunter, Woodward & Brady and complement them with the Bible. It's funny how when you read Proverbs and apply to what we are learning through leadership development, the themes are so similar - especially as you view them in comparison to our leaders and their character. Awesome stuff!

Ann, I am so proud of you guys for reading Proverbs. It will really change your life by changing how you think about life. Keep it up. thanks, Orrin

Orrin,
I was perusing some articles that I received from George Wythe College and came across one that spelled out what Team is all about. I'm not sure if Proverbs Leadership is the place to put it, but I guess we're all about Leadership and so is this article. I believe you will forgive me the length when you read the content.

A Renaissance of Kings
By Andrew Groft
I wonder how many people know that we’re at war. In fact, we’ve been at war for some time now, and many of us are wondering when it will end. For ages now, good men and women have toiled their lives away seeking solutions and drafting battle plans in the hopes of a final and complete victory. Often skirmishes involving bows and bullets and bombs distracted their work, but soon they were back on task—thinking, drafting, teaching, living, serving and making every effort to vanquish the foe.
“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood,” said Paul as he stood on the Ionian Coast almost two thousand years ago, “but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world …”
***
I lately embarked upon a study of intellectual elites of the 20th Century. These were men and women,
Americans and non-Americans who had supposedly studied really hard and knew a great deal. It troubled me some because so many of them expressed an almost flippant cynicism toward God, Religion, Spirituality, Personal Mission, and the idea of living your life to make a real difference in the world.
One said, “The act of worshipping, as carried on by Christians, seems to me debasing rather than ennobling.” Another said, “Life is a racket…take nothing serious, for nothing is certainly depending on this generation…Don’t have an ideal to work for. That’s like riding toward a mirage…”
My study wasn’t all that bad; I learned quite a bit. But why does it seem that as we gain knowledge we lose hope and faith?
It seems like the smarter we get, the more cynical we become. It seems like the more knowledge we acquire, the less hope we have. On the other hand, it’s also true that when hope and faith have been strong, we tend to look at the acquisition of knowledge as meaningless and often even unholy.
You could say that Greece taught us to use our minds at the expense of our hearts; and that the Roman Church rescued the heart, but denied the mind. You could look at 14th Century Europe and claim that our minds were once again rescued. But that modern enlightenment—of which we are still a part—while giving us so much, has also taken from us.
I think I know why the writings of many of those intellectuals were filled with such cynicism. I think I understand something that needs to be considered more fully than in times past.
So, consider two reasons and two solutions.
First, there is something deep within each of us that knows we are at war against the darkness of this world. It’s not hard to see. It confronts us everyday in the choices we make, in the lives we live. We daily see the darkness around us; we daily take action that we hope will dispel it. Sometimes our actions are successful, and sometimes they make things worse. Often we get lost in the whole mess and nothing seems to make sense anymore.We are not the only generation that has fought this darkness. Ancient Greeks sensed the darkness and sought to diminish it by increasing knowledge and seeking for beauty and harmony. Ancient Rome tried to fight by setting up systems of government that they hoped would reign in the darkness; They forced lesser states into their parental arms; they fought other men who seemed to them to exhibit the traits of this darkness. The Roman church fought against darkness by darkening the mind in hopes of softening the heart. Blind faith was the way. And during the Italian Renaissance, and later throughout Europe, there was a brief effort to combine faith and reason; but that quickly gave way to an enlightenment that almost completely destroyed faith.
One of the graduates sitting with us today articulated it this way: He said, “The people we see as our enemies are not our enemies at all. The people are the prize. They are the ground we must take; they are the victory.”
What this brilliant statesman was saying is that darkness is the enemy--darkness of the mind and of the heart, darkness in ourselves and in others.
Other than the power of knowing that there is a battle raging, and that the winner will claim our very souls, consider what it means to have an army of principles and an arsenal of light. The right kind of education is an essential part of the solution to this war against darkness. An education for a time like this is both biological and biopathical. It is not just understanding life with our minds, but with our hearts also. It is not limited to cells, tissues and organs, but to relationships. An education for a time like this must focus on knowledge AND character, on books AND people, and on relationships that combine life forces not just to get a job—that part is relatively easy—but to combat darkness.
So the first reason for the cynicism we see in the world is that we are at war with darkness. And getting an education that strengthens the mind and the heart helps us to see our fellow man not as the enemy, as some would have us believe, but as the prize. We need an education that helps us see the real wars so that we can fight the real enemy. Do you see the cynicism that can come from misunderstanding the real war and misinterpreting the real enemy? When moving forward with that misunderstanding, we fight, build, kill and destroy, and very little gets better because of it. Although the material well-being of the so-called victors may improve after a war of bullets, much of our lives suffer because we are fighting the wrong enemy.
Consider the second reason for the cynicism in the world being that there is something deep within each of us that calls us to be heroes in the fight. Another way of saying it is that we were meant to be great and to do great things. This is the second root cause of the cynicism. People believe the call to greatness in their youth and then become disillusioned at the realization that they can never really turn the tide; they can never really be the hero. It’s too overwhelming. It’s too hard.
Do you think the intellectual who said that nothing is depending on this generation always believed that?
We were meant to be heroes in this fight against darkness. But we, too, will become cynical if we don’t grasp the new battle plan. Every person you know will lose his sense of mission, and will cease to believe that his life will ever really matter unless we all consider the emerging strategy.
The emerging strategy I speak of, is already happening. Like Dante and Petrarch in the early 14th Century, we are part of something that we don’t even realize. The winning march is in our hearts but we haven’t yet given it a name, and we would be surprised at how many others are feeling it, too. It is the policy that conquers the cynicism of my intellectual friends, and wins the war that has been fought from the beginning.
Now, I know it is a bold thing to say, but I firmly believe that something is happening. A new Renaissance, only this time it is based, not on the iconic and monarchic model of a single hero making a bold move that changes the world. That may or may not happen. But the model, the strategy, is that for the first time in recorded history the masses come of age, learn of their own virtue, and change the landscape of the world with strength like a herd of mighty buffalo.
The new strategy is that the masses will finally become the heroes that they were always meant to become; their great deeds will be small but significant. And coupled with the small but significant deeds of first hundreds, then thousands, then millions of others, they will change the world.
***
Here’s how I believe it will work. If you consider all of the known history of our human family, all of the injustices, the persecutions, the oppressions, I think you will agree that everyday people like you and me are living in a pocket of time that is relatively safe. Our dangers present themselves in distractions, not inquisitions, in apathy and skepticism, not persecutions. So for a while at least, we are safe to think, say and do what we will.
The real power in world affairs has always been embedded in the everyday, common people. The masses have always possessed the bulk of the heart, might and strength. Lacking only the mind, they have been ruled over. Even when the world tried democracy, it wasn’t long before we were only virtual participants in government—letting others make decisions for us, listening to the experts who surely knew what was best.
The world is different from past times. We have access to greater libraries than the kings of Europe, and greater opportunities for education than the Greek Nobles of the Golden Age. I predict that we are in the beginnings of what will someday be known as a Renaissance of Kings (and you must understand that the original meaning of king meant a man and a woman who gave and protected life). Our virtue dictates that we were born to be kings and queens—not to rule over others, nor to be ruled by others, but to give life and to make life better by the use of our noble minds and hearts. We were born to be noble fathers and mothers who rear their princes to goodness, knowledge, leadership and action. Jesus said that he came not only that we might have life, but that we might have it more abundantly. Jesus understood because he is a King.
Remember that the first difference with the coming Renaissance of Kings is that the kings and queens moving the renaissance forward are regular, everyday people who learn what it takes to be who they were created to be.
The second difference is people realize that a life of purpose may or may not yield enormous and iconic impact, but it will always lead to small and significant impact. And since we reject the notion of a single king, or a single hero (at least as seen in anything but God), the masses finally see their power to change the world with millions of noble lives.
It is important that you understand this concept, and so I want to say it again in another way. Most of the people you know, yourself included, will be tempted to stop seeing life as a mission. They will be tempted to give up on living a life of purpose. A paralyzing cynicism will likely infect all of us because we will base our judgments of success on the old model where there is one king and one hero, and realizing that we could never be that one. Or the current model where there are no kings and no heroes. Our goal then becomes getting from here to death as painlessly as possible.
The new model is that we were all meant to be kings—not one of us, all of us. We were all meant to engage in a life of purpose, and if we do that, the aggregate will literally change the landscape of the world. Darkness will begin a massive retreat. It is our responsibility, our duty, to dedicate our lives to making a small but significant difference in the world.
You see, for so many years, those with the mind ruled those with the heart, might and strength. The small elite told the bulk of our human family that they were the kings, and that they were the ones who could do great things and make the lives of the masses better. Those small elite made us think of our lives as insignificant and our actions possibly as good, but never great. But for the first time, many of us are getting the mind. We are adding that mind to our hearts, our might and our strength. For the first time we are realizing that if we will simply dedicate our lives to doing great things—small as they may be—we really do have the power to change the world.
In the emerging Renaissance of Kings, everyday people realize that their creator intended them from the very beginning to be kings and queens within the governance of their families, and priests and priestesses in the spiritual realm of their families. Armed with this understanding, they dedicate their lives to making a small but significant difference in the world. Some are starting schools, some study groups, some children’s organizations, and many are no longer working as merely a revenue source, but are now changing businesses for the better from within, or starting and owning businesses of their own, as well as non-profits bent on service.
In this Renaissance of Kings, common people like you and me realize that we are not common at all, but noble. We realize that in addition to seeking and fulfilling our personal missions in life, we must also do everything in our power to help others fulfill theirs. We have seen the annals of the human family with self-centered men seeking to place themselves above others, and in the new renaissance, this is seen as a huge mistake. The small but significant work we are dedicated to fulfilling must be coupled with the small but significant work of thousands of others to win the war. Sometimes we will work together, sometimes separately, but we must recognize the critical nature of each others’ successes.
Right now the masses of this human family of ours feel something, but they don’t know what to do. They sense a need, but they feel powerless to fill it. But the secret is getting out. When Daniel, Timothy and John spoke of Jesus Christ as the King of kings, do we really think what they meant was that Jesus was the King of the various leaders of Europe. To Christians, Jews, Hindus, Moslems, Buddhists and American Indians alike, Jesus taught us that we were all born kings and queens. Furthermore, the mission of Jesus Christ could be said to be entirely that—to turn our hearts, our minds, and our hands to those of true kings.
Why is there cynicism in the world? Why are people so despondent? Why do so many hide their feelings of failure in mean amusement or grand opulence? Because most of us are not yet doing that which we were created to do. We are not yet becoming the kings and queens our creator intended us to become. We are caught up in the wars of men, and have almost completely forgotten the war for men’s souls.
What do the masses begin to do in this Renaissance of Kings? One writes a book, another runs for office, and another builds a charity organization. Some start businesses, employing the young or inexperienced only long enough that they can gather the knowledge and resources needed to start their own. Many decide to get a real education in a subject that matters. Some start book groups that discuss this Renaissance of Kings and awkwardly but steadily work to become the kings and queens they feel called to become. Most seek to get out of debt; some start schools, and others focus on raising a family of princes and princesses who are equipped to take their place in the battle against darkness.
In the Renaissance of Kings, the common woman is compelled and empowered to compose a symphony, write a poem, or paint a work of art that moves us all to greater nobility. Physical and spiritual sickness presents itself and a common man determines to discover a cure.
Following the lead of the King of kings, Christians, Moslems, Jews, Sikhs and Hindus alike set out with great force to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, liberate the captive, educate the ignorant, and to lift the downtrodden. In our small but significant way, we love, give and serve. And for the first time, the masses are poised to do these things with the heart, might, mind and strength that will change the landscape of the world with thousands, then millions of small but significant lives of greatness.
This is what true kings and queens do. Their lives are dedicated to giving life, protecting it, and making it better. This is the “good life” that so many tried to find. This is the life of purpose, the life of meaning, the life of the true king and queen.
Ideal? Yes. Real? Yes.
It is my firm belief that in the next ten to thirty years we will begin to see this renaissance more fully. Many will call it idealistic, and still the masses will move forward. Some, even those amongst our own ranks, will laugh and call us fools, yet, we will continue on. There will be voices in strong opposition to our audacity, but the tide will steadily and nobly prepare the world for its finest hour—a preparation through the small but significant greatness of literally millions of kings and queens.


Thank you for all you do and are.
Anna

Anna, This was so good I had to make it an entire post! Thank you for sharing it. Keep growing. thanks, Orrin