Christian Living

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Larry Lilly's Letter Thursday December 13, 2007

This week I heard a story that reminded me of another one. Both are good but I will share the other one with you. Joyce just looked at this statement and asked, "Larry, how on earth will they know which story you are telling them?" I simply said, "Sweetie, both are good so it doesn't matter which one I share." Hey, I could write speeches for slick Willie.

A young college educated man moved to the country with the idea of starting a successful farm. In the course of his building a herd of milk cows he came upon an old countrified farmer with a cow for sale. He proceeded to demonstrate his education by asking the farmer, "What is this cow's pedigree, butterfat weight and monthly milk production?" The old farmer said, "I don't know what a pedigree is, and I don't have an idea about butterfat production, but she's a good cow, and she'll give you all the milk she has."

President Eisenhower told this story and it is still making the rounds and it is a tip off to success in choosing an employee or being one, and it is of utmost importance if you want to take your life and use it to touch others in an manner to lift them above the mundane routine of daily living.

All a cow or a person can give is all they have. When a person is giving the best they have to another person or project, wise people learn to accept this as a sacrificial offering. And the person giving their best, their all, should be satisfied with this gift, until they have grown to the point where they are more knowledgeable or have more ability, through improving their talent or skill.

The opposite of giving it all you have is the old saw about a man who couldn't figure why he was always getting fired, laid off or in modern vernacular, outsourced. He whined that he had 20 years of experience. One day an old guy looked him in the eye and said, "I have watched you for some time, and it's true, you have worked in your field for 20 years, but your expertise level tells me that you do not have twenty years experience. You have one year of experience 20 times."

I often use a statement attributed to James B. Conant former president of Harvard and a brilliant chemist whose contribution to nuclear science is a factor in our speaking English instead of German said,

"Each profession, each honest calling has its own elite, based on excellence of performance."

If a person, man or woman will develop the habit of giving whatever is at hand their best shot, and studying, practicing and accepting mentoring, in time they will grow in the understanding of the mechanics and nuances of their chosen field and voila, they are walking among the elite. Simple? Certainly. Easy? Ha.

The Old Testament says it thusly: Ecclesiastes 9:10:

"Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest."

In other words, babe, the time is NOW. Now is the time to search out your calling, your niche, and go at it with gusto, for the time is coming, sooner than you think when you will not be able to use your time, talent or treasure for man or God. Sobering, but also motivating.

I have never felt that I am all "that much" but like the old farmer's cow, I plan to give my all to the Lord, and that involves making life a little better for the people I impact. Never forget that Christ served the father through impacting people.

Larry Lilly Copyright © 2007 Use with credit

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