Simple & Old School?

Over the last year I have been reading and thinking through the book of Proverbs. Solomon was one of the richest people on the face of the earth. I would assume that as he looked back on life what he would reveal most about wasn’t his 1,000’s of mistresses or how much gold there was in the national treasury but on understanding God’s heart of being simple and to the point. He was given an opportunity to choose between wealth and really anything as a gift from God. His choice ultimately was for the richest gift – WISDOM.

It shouldn’t be any surprise that over the last decade plus as the internet and social media has come to the forefront of culture that what stands out isn’t the need for more info, high tech discoveries or wealth but for being able to use the knowledge we already have in practical ways that can and will change the way we live and impact the lives of those around us. I confess that I ready many articles each day that are from LinkedIn or TED and typically the most astute articles are the ones that go back to the basics and talk about real life. Reality check – few are going to be billionaires and be CEO. Most will be part of families and communities where one person’s choices will ultimate turn the tide of evil overcoming the good.

One of the verses that has hit me and is so applicable to any situation is the following from Proverbs 15:9 ‘A life frittered away disgust God, he loves those who run straight for the finish line.’ This verse especially strikes me with working in marginalized neighborhoods where too many adults have literally thrown away their lives. This could be the deadbeat dad who has fathered numerous kids but has spent most of his life behind bars. It could also be the single mom who is still living and acting like a teenager and taking advantage of grandma or auntie to raise her kids. The sad fact is that too many of my teens and their peers are literally wasting their lives between their video addictions, Facebook obsession and tuned out lifestyle that means they always have ear buds glued to their head.

What I’m seeing is that the shift to going back to the basics and being simple means that what the grandparents said really does have value and substance. Most of us remember at least a couple of teachers that were old school and got our attention. We may not have gotten an A in their class but our study habits and behavior patterns changed after being in their class. This will definitely be the one teacher whose name you will remember when you go back for your 10, 20 or 30-year reunion.

I totally get that no expectations means that most kids, teens or adults will aim for the ground and not the sky. I know that we live in a very confused and complicated world where we assume that the experts are 100% correct and that the average person can’t know much. I’m starting to see how we have got it all turned around. It isn’t the experts who understand life because most likely the marriage counselor or therapist for you or your teen have never been married nor had teens. I know that book learning and information gathering has its place in life, academia and our communities. The challenge is that experience in life that gives you ‘school of hard Knox’ type of education is what typically works. So why is it that all of the business, management or leadership gurus are now talking more about doing it simple and learning from the obvious? Maybe the finish line for the other mindset or paradigm just didn’t cut it. Why is it that gas prices go through the ‘roof’ when there isn’t a Middle East oil crisis? How can the stock market crash just because some company with an apple logo doesn’t meet their expectations but still earn over 8 billion in a quarter?

I have learned more by being around if anything below average people who choose to live extra-ordinary lives. I have a close friend who is a grandma, retired nurse and now a caregiver for a few 80-90 year olds. This last month her oldest client, actually she works for free, gave her a new Camaro as a gift for all of her labors over the last decade. This is one of the hottest cars on the road. All of my teens dream about the chance to even be driven in one of these forgets being able to own one!

So what has to happen so fewer fritter their lives away and actually cross the finish line? Maybe we need to start listening to the old folk? Maybe it’s time to step back and not allow those in the know supposedly to get away with determining our future. What would happen if normal people just did the norm but in an extra-ordinary fashion. I know that the American Dream in the past was to be married, have 2.5 kids, a dog, a cat and a white picket fence around a nice house in the suburbs. This vision has changed a little but what is wrong with being content and appreciating what you have instead of always wanting something that is beyond your grasp?

Solomon was a father, a king and world leader that learned more through his mistakes, which ultimately devastated his family and his life. It is always much easier to write something looking back and gleaning from our dumb mistakes then to play it forward and purposely learn from the life experiences of those who are older and have failed more to know what it is like to stand back up after brushing off your back.

I have run a few marathons and know the most important part of the race isn’t your time but walking, crawling, jogging or running across the finish line. I know that there will always be someone faster and slower then me. Also someone younger or older, skinnier or fatter than me that makes me look like a snail. I don’t want to fritter my life away but want to cross the finish line with many friends!