PICKING DAISIES and CHASING BUTTERFLIES

Picking Daisies, Chasing Butterflies

I have been a youth soccer coach. One of my most interesting times was helping with a group of five-year-old girls. The trick when it came to teaching these little girls the game of soccer, as I learned, was to slip in some soccer tips between the flower picking, butterfly chasing and girl-chats.

If you are the type of coach who must have the player’s attention and demand they follow your instructions, this is not the team for you. These are little girls, first, and they are out there for a good time.

Don’t get me wrong. They like to kick the ball and run up and down the field, but they are easily distracted by the wonders around them. If you keep these things in mind, and enjoy the experience with these kids, you will go away with some great memories.

Things change as kids get older, though – or one might think. It is especially true when it comes to achievement and competition. The successful ones can be both competitive and achievement oriented, and somehow hang on to the gift of wonder.

Not everyone will agree with my previous statement, but later in life, when our bones, bodies and minds grow a little more brittle, and we are forced to slow things down, you will see what I mean.

There will come a time when you either lose interest or ability, and then all you have left is your memories. It is then that you will either have the ability to enjoy the remaining wonders of life, or you will just wonder – you will wonder what just happened!

I see it every day. The ‘great divide’ between those who have lived a long life and are still able to enjoy their remaining years, enjoying the remaining wonders of life; and those who have become old, resentful and cranky about, well, about just about everything. They are especially cranky about their loss. They will have lost the only thing they ever had – the ability to achieve and compete.

If you are a young adult or middle-aged, you still have time to adjust your course if needed. I won’t go through some serendipitous, feel-good list of things you can do, like ‘stop and smell the flowers’ or ‘watch a beautiful sunset with someone you love’. I will leave that to you.

But what I will suggest is just one of the principles which will lead you to a new world of wonder and reward.

 

Give that which you want to receive. The secret here is to give freely. In other words, you cannot get the benefits of giving if you are expecting something in return.

Give unconditional kindness.

Give unconditional goodness.

Give unconditional respect.

Give honor without conditions.

Give your love without conditions.

Give your time.

There is an ancient and proven saying that advises, “Give, and it will be given to you. Give and others will pour into your lap a good measure; it will be pressed down, shaken together, and running over, until there is no space left for more. It is by the standard of measurement you use when you do good to others, that it will be measured to you in return.”  (See Luke 6:38)

This is not a magic formula. It is more like a seed. A seed you are patiently and carefully planting. Sometimes the ground will be hard and rocky and dry. But you plant anyway. Carefully, deliberately and patiently. You turn the soil. Water and fertilize the planting. Then one day you will stand in wonder and amazement as your giving begins to yield its fruit. Some a hundred times what you have sown; some sixty time and some thirty. (See Matthew 13:8).

There may be times that you want to doubt. But stay with it. It will bear fruit in its season. Believe me. (Or believe the thousands upon thousands who have discovered this secret of secrets to be true and have lived their lives out in the satisfaction of wonder and true success.)

 

And, believe me, the benefits will far outweigh your efforts.

 

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young.

(who is still in the process of trying to get this right).