Christian Living

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General Reflections
© 2011

by

Stephen A. Peterson


Rank, Power, Influence. These factors dominated United States Army Colonel Anthony Connors’ life as a 25 year career officer. As Brigade Commander, he routinely sat alone in his office to plan the remaining years of his military career. “What do I have to do to become a General? Who in the Pentagon should I keep in contact with to present my career to? What other military and civilian education courses do I have to have at this point?”

At times Colonel Connors had nothing else on this mind but becoming a General. He ignored his family needs often telling his wife and children that he had to do what he does to move up the ranks to provide a home, food, clothing and to pay the bills. While clearing his desk of the clutter that dominated his desk at times, he discovered a colorful book his daughter had left on a recent visit. Curious he picked up the book and began to read its contents.

There was a wealthy wine producer whose only concern was to become wealthier in order to have widespread influence across the state, nation and world. In order to achieve these goals he determined that he had to produce more and more wine. Therefore, he needed more land, more storage areas and better strains of grapes to resist disease and heat. While planning to expand business, he decided he needed to purchase 5120 acres of land within two years to become a multi-billionaire in five years. This meant that he had to purchase the property of 18 neighbors.

To begin his project, the wealthy wine producer called in his lawyers, county and municipal leaders and the clergy to tell them of his plans and how they would personally benefit. He developed his list of special guests then sent out invitations to each inviting them to dine with him in his huge office building in the city. He paid his attorneys generously to write legal documents to offer his neighbors a price for their property he believed they could not refuse. If money could not pursue them to sell to him, he paid the county and municipal leaders to use governmental regulation and law to convince them to accept his offer. Lastly, he gave a very generous donation to each of the clergymen where his neighbors attended religious services to convince them that to sell their property to him was a good thing for them and the local community. He also sold the clergymen on the idea that they needed to convince his neighbors that he was a “good” and “generous” person. And he was really looking out for them.

Each group left the wealthy wine producer’s party pleased to have him as a friend as well as the money they received. Everyone, that is, except one of the lawyers who viewed wealthy wine producer’s actions in a different light. After the party had concluded and everyone else had left, the lone attorney took the wealthy wine producer to the picture window in the office’s party room than said, “Sir, could you look out your window, please, and tell me what you see.”

“What’s this about? What’s going on?” the wealthy wine producer asked.

“Nothing, sir. Could you tell me what you see? This is not a trick question.”

“I see cars and people,” said the wealthy wine producer. “There’s a taxi cab driver waiting for a customer; a street vendor selling hot dogs; and a woman putting bags of groceries in her car.”

The attorney then held up a mirror in front of the wealthy wine producer. “Who are you looking at now, sir,” he asked.

“It’s me. I thought you said no tricks?”

“Sir, I’m not attempting to trick you. I’m trying to show you that when you have a clear window to the world you will see everyone else, what they do, their contributions to everyday living and that they have feelings, wants and needs. Once you come to see who people are and do you might come to regard them as more than just “somebody” or “something”. But when your window is covered up with plastic or metal, you are looking only at yourself, your wants and needs. Sir, God has given you a business mind, intelligence and wealth. Put your trust in God, be fair with your neighbors and if God wants you to advance in wealth, you will have it. Your true wealth right now in your family, neighbors and friends, sir.”

As the attorney left the wealthy wine producer, he returned the generous check to him with a final statement: “I will be willing to work for you if you wish to retain me.”

The Colonel closed his daughter’s book, placed it on his desk then reflected upon the story he had just read.

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