The Bible tells us to honor our Parents. My siblings and I are lucky, we have great parents.
This weekend we are all getting together to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of John and Conni Chapin. The actual anniversary isn’t until October but they live on a lake and August is a better time to spend at the lake. Plus their Grandchildren are busy people and it is hard for all 10 to be available at the same time during the school year.
I think my parents are wonderful. Evidence of their greatness is when we tell our friends about the party several have given us gifts and cards to take to the party. It is very moving when people go out of their way to honor our parents.
Reflecting on how our parents have gone about raising us I think it is best summed up by a story from about 15 years ago.
My Dad and I were together at a meeting where we ran into an old friend of his. Neither of us had seen the friend in quite some time and when my Dad updated his friend about the family my Dad pointed out I was a father of three.
The friend looked at me and remarked how he hoped I was able to be at least “half the parent of my Dad.”
I laughed and told the guy I was “a much better parent, then my parents.”
The friend got a horrified look on his face. You could tell he couldn’t believe I was saying such a thing out loud.
My Dad quickly said “he right, he’s a much better parent then me.”
I added “if I am not better than my Dad then he wouldn't be able to consider himself a very parent. It is my understanding part of being an excellent parent is making sure your children turn out better then you.”
My Dad again agreed.
The friend had no choice but to agree with us.
The point of story isn’t who is a better parent. My point was to acknowledge for my Dad it isn’t about him. It is about making the world a better place. He is serious about setting a good example and serving others.
It really sums up my parents. They want to make things better. The want to make a difference in the lives of others. They do it on a large scale by working hard for causes over the years. They have made a difference in several large causes such as The Hope Pregnancy Center, several local churches, and Associated Builders and Contractors just to name a few.
The bigger impact of their lives is day to day on little things. Just yesterday they threw a birthday party for Ben Jones, a friend of our sons, because he was away from home on his birthday. All summer, every summer, they host dozens of their grandchildren’s friends at their cabin. Our Mom never forgets a birthday for even the most distant relative. Their prayer list is so huge it boggles my mind. I could go on and on with examples about how my parents have serve others. If you are reading this and you know them you likely have your own stories.
My Dad coined the phrase “People making a difference for people.” We paint it on the walls of all our offices at Willmar Electric because it is our purpose statement. Our parents serve as a living example.
The Bible tells us to honor our Parents. Nancy, Justin, Allison and I are lucky, we have great parents.
Friday, August 5, 2016
Wednesday, August 3, 2016
Rolling Stones Wisdom
I was lucky enough to make it the Republican National Convention a few weeks ago. It was a fun event to get to see in person. Lots of pageantry and excitement.
But I don’t want to bore you long stories about the convention. I prefer to write about a minor event I was part of as the convention came to a close. It involves my favorite Rolling Stone’s song.
As I boarded the elevator to leave the arena I heard the sweet sounds of the London Bach Choir. Few people know much about the London Bach Choir but every fan of Classic Rock will recognize them the beautiful voices who sing the intro and background to the Stone’s classic, “You Can’t Always Get what you want.”
I quickly announced to everybody I hoped the elevator got stuck so we would be able to finish listening to Mick and the boys finish off one of my all-time favorites. I stood and listened with a smile on my face until the millennial standing next to me announce she didn’t like the song.
I was shocked and sadden. And then it got worse.
It wasn’t the beat or rhythm of the song she objected to it was the message!!! She said “I hate the message of the song.” I hope she was joking but it seems she wasn’t. Lucky for her we were in an elevator because elevators don’t have windows.
My Children are very familiar with the song. Not only because it comes up a lot on my iTunes and Spotify. My children are familiar with the song because if they had a nickel for every time I told them, “you know what Mick Jaeger would say about that,” they would be able to afford whatever they want.
In fact a few years ago my son, Mike, and were at a Fun. concert and when Nate Ruess started his cover it didn’t take more than about two bars before he was able to point out “Dad they are playing your song.” (Maybe someday my children will think it is our song, not just my song.)
I’m not suggesting you use pop culture for advice on how to live. The Stones have plenty of song I would prefer my children not live out. But in the case of this song, I would like every American to come to except the songs not so subtle message.
They don’t hide it. If fact they say it over and over and over and over again.
You can’t always get what you want but if you try sometime you might just get what you need. Oh yeah. I love it.
At Willmar Electric our core values include “treating other the way you want to be treated.” Coming to except you can’t always get what you want is the first step toward treating others the way THEY want to be treated. It is hard to focus on others and serve others if you haven’t accepted you can’t always get what you want and in fact you should even be seeking it out.
A wise man once told me. If everybody put everybody else first just imagine how much better off we all would be. We would have everybody watching out for us instead of themselves.
(Side note. Music critic Richie Unterberger once wrote, "If you buy John Lennon's observation that the Rolling Stones were apt to copy the Beatles' innovations within a few months or so, "You Can't Always Get What You Want" is the Rolling Stones' counterpart to 'Hey Jude.’” Hey Jude is my favorite song. So maybe I’m just a sucker for this very specific genre.)
But I don’t want to bore you long stories about the convention. I prefer to write about a minor event I was part of as the convention came to a close. It involves my favorite Rolling Stone’s song.
As I boarded the elevator to leave the arena I heard the sweet sounds of the London Bach Choir. Few people know much about the London Bach Choir but every fan of Classic Rock will recognize them the beautiful voices who sing the intro and background to the Stone’s classic, “You Can’t Always Get what you want.”
I quickly announced to everybody I hoped the elevator got stuck so we would be able to finish listening to Mick and the boys finish off one of my all-time favorites. I stood and listened with a smile on my face until the millennial standing next to me announce she didn’t like the song.
I was shocked and sadden. And then it got worse.
It wasn’t the beat or rhythm of the song she objected to it was the message!!! She said “I hate the message of the song.” I hope she was joking but it seems she wasn’t. Lucky for her we were in an elevator because elevators don’t have windows.
My Children are very familiar with the song. Not only because it comes up a lot on my iTunes and Spotify. My children are familiar with the song because if they had a nickel for every time I told them, “you know what Mick Jaeger would say about that,” they would be able to afford whatever they want.
In fact a few years ago my son, Mike, and were at a Fun. concert and when Nate Ruess started his cover it didn’t take more than about two bars before he was able to point out “Dad they are playing your song.” (Maybe someday my children will think it is our song, not just my song.)
I’m not suggesting you use pop culture for advice on how to live. The Stones have plenty of song I would prefer my children not live out. But in the case of this song, I would like every American to come to except the songs not so subtle message.
They don’t hide it. If fact they say it over and over and over and over again.
You can’t always get what you want but if you try sometime you might just get what you need. Oh yeah. I love it.
At Willmar Electric our core values include “treating other the way you want to be treated.” Coming to except you can’t always get what you want is the first step toward treating others the way THEY want to be treated. It is hard to focus on others and serve others if you haven’t accepted you can’t always get what you want and in fact you should even be seeking it out.
A wise man once told me. If everybody put everybody else first just imagine how much better off we all would be. We would have everybody watching out for us instead of themselves.
(Side note. Music critic Richie Unterberger once wrote, "If you buy John Lennon's observation that the Rolling Stones were apt to copy the Beatles' innovations within a few months or so, "You Can't Always Get What You Want" is the Rolling Stones' counterpart to 'Hey Jude.’” Hey Jude is my favorite song. So maybe I’m just a sucker for this very specific genre.)
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