Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy

Welcome to Day 169 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me.

This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom.

5 Trails to Hike to Get Over Yourself #1

Thank you for joining us for our 7 days a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 169 of our Trek, and yesterday we explored verses 15-23 of Proverbs Chapter 5. Today we are heading back out to the trails as we look for the 5 trails to getting over yourself so we can trek on in life. We will hike on trails 1-3 today. If you miss any of our Wisdom-Trek episodes, please go to Wisdom-Trek.com to listen to them and read the daily journal.

We are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina. Last week seemed to zip by too quickly, but we did have a great time with Kip on Saturday picking out materials for his quilt that Granny will be making for him. On Sunday, we had a good time of fellowship and worship at our local church. This is the first time we have been in Charlotte for the weekend for nearly two months, so it was a great time to be back.

5 Trails Hiked to Getting Over Yourself So You Can Trek On With Your Life

Have you ever noticed that life just happens? It just does. And yet we spend so much time trying to control what happens in our lives, micro-managing how it happens, and then telling everyone else what they should do to control and manage their lives that we often miss the point of what we are actually experiencing in ours.

The question is why do we expend so much energy trying to control things we really have no control over. At the end of the day, isn’t it just exhausting?

Life is actually quite simple. We have two choices in any given situation, circumstance, or event. We can be a victim and believe that things are happening to us that we have no control over our situation and blame others for the injury we have suffered. Or, we can start taking responsibility for our own lives, our own thoughts, our own words, and our own actions and decide that regardless of the injury, we are going to choose to live life on our own terms, powerfully.

In our society, we are supported, encouraged, and even rewarded for being victims. And yet, does being a victim ever feel good? Not usually. Being a victim tends to make us feel weak, vulnerable, and powerless. And these feelings in turn can lead to depression, frustration, and uncertainty.

The difference between taking responsibility for ourselves when life throws us a curve ball versus being a victim of a situation is that we become far better equipped spiritually, mentally, emotionally and many times even physically. We stop allowing energy vampires to suck the life out of us, and rather than feeling powerless, depressed, and frustrated, we are able to experience our situation as an opportunity to test our superpowers of strength, positivity, clarity, and focus.

If you are sick and tired of feeling frustrated, drained, like you just can’t get a break, and are ready to get over yourself and on with your life, here are a few guidelines for living life on your own terms.

1. Stop blaming everyone else.

Seriously, stop it. Stop giving your power away and blaming others for what is, or is not, happening in your life. Your life is not anybody else’s fault, and people are not doing anything to you. This reminds me of the old Bob Newhart episode clip where his diagnoses for all his patient issues was “Stop It.” You can view the clip here if you wish to watch it.

What you are experiencing is not somebody else’s fault. They may have had a hand in creating an uncomfortable experience, but YOU are the one who gets to decide how it goes from there.

Something better than Bob Newhart’s treatment though can be found in Colossians 3:13,

Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy

Welcome to Day 168 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me.

This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom.

Proverbs 5:15-23 Making Wise Choices #3

Thank you for joining us for our 7 days a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 168 of our Trek, and yesterday we explored verses 7-14 of Proverbs chapter 5. We will remain at camp for today as we finish up the 5th chapter of Proverbs before heading back out on the trails. If you miss any of our Wisdom-Trek episodes, please go to Wisdom-Trek.com to listen to them and read the daily journal.

We are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina. This past week has been a productive week for us, and we accomplished a significant amount of work. I have been struggling somewhat with either severe allergies or a cold, which probably has been evident in the quality of my voice on our daily trek’s this week. I trust that this has not been too distracting and that the lessons we are learning are still effective.

This episode is being released on Sunday this week. Paula and I plan to take our grandson Kip with us on Saturday to Mary Jo’s, which is a fabric outlet in Gastonia, North Carolina. Granny wants Kip to help her select the materials that she will use for his planned quilt that she will be making. I also enjoy spending the time with Paula and helping her decide on material selection for her on-going quilt projects. She is very talented with quilting and cross stitch.

For today, though, we want to spend one more day around our campfire as we explore the remaining verses in Proverbs Chapter 5. Just like a campfire can be extremely enjoyable when it is kept within the confines of its designated parameters, so the physical relationship between a husband and wife will bring much joy and pleasure when it is kept within the boundaries set out by God in His Word. The Bible is so full of practical wisdom for life, especially in the book of Proverbs. This includes what makes for a proper and fulfilling physical relationship within a marriage. I realize that not everyone has been as fortunate within a marriage relationship as Paula and I have for over 36 years now, but it is never too late to make a new beginning.

Let’s look at what Solomon recommends to his sons when it comes to the proper physical relationship between a husband and wife.  For today’s Trek, we will explore verses 15-23 of the 5th chapter of Proverbs. I trust that some of the candid language used in this passage will be taken in the light that it was written and not tainted by any secular views. There is nothing more pure or holy than the appropriate physical relationship between a husband and wife within the boundary of marriage. Let us start with verses 15-17.

15 Drink water from your own well—

share your love only with your wife.

16 Why spill the water of your springs in the streets,

having sex with just anyone?

17 You should reserve it for yourselves.

Never share it with strangers.

Here Solomon uses the analogy of the physical relationship in marriage and compares it to water. In dry countries, which is the setting for which the book of Proverbs was written, water is valuable. Clean water is very precious. You should not waste water. It should not flow into the streets. It should not pour out, into the town. Your family and your animals should drink it. You should water your crops. Use it wisely!

Think about your own life in the same way. You should use your strength wisely. If you follow your base physical and emotional desires, you will waste your energy on something that is not yours to have. You should have sex with only your husband or wife and not with anyone else. Our lives belong to God.

Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy

Welcome to Day 167 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me.

This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom.

Proverbs 5:7-14 Making Wise Choices #2

Thank you for joining us for our 7 days a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 167 of our Trek, and yesterday explored the first six verses of Proverbs Chapter 5. We will remain at camp for a couple more days as we explore the remaining verses of Proverbs Chapter 5. If you miss any days of our Wisdom-Trek episodes, please go to Wisdom-Trek.com to listen to them and read the daily journal.

We are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina. As we sojourn through each day of life, it is good to take time each day and reflect on all the blessings we have in our lives. Even if you are going through a difficult time, there are still many things in life that you can be thankful for. One way that I keep this focus is every morning when I get up, the first thing that I do is to read and pray through a list of items for which I am thankful. As new items come to mind, I add them to my list, and any items that may no longer be relevant I remove.  Starting each day with my gratitude list helps to set the tone for my entire day.

As I mentioned yesterday, I have discovered that as we sit around the campfire and the night wears on, the stories shared become more personal in nature. Today we will dig for more of these personal wisdom nuggets found in Proverbs Chapter 5. Solomon continues to warn his children with strong words about the dangers of stepping outside of God’s precepts for marriage and relationships. While this passage cautions about an inappropriate sexual relationship, it can also be applied to others areas of life when we choose to ignore the guidelines that are set out in Scripture. While we may not fully understand all the reasons, principles, and precepts that God has established in His Word, by faith we can trust that it is because of God’s love for us that he has established these boundaries in our lives.

The next few chapters of Proverbs deal with some of the weaknesses we have as humans, and since God chose to leave them in His love letter to us, we will cover them as well as we dig for the nuggets of wisdom that are contained in the verses.

Since the beginning of recorded history, humans have struggled with keeping God’s commands, especially when it comes to appropriate physical relationships, but it also applies to all relationships that we have. Sometimes we may think it is more than we can handle, but Paul addressed this in his 1st letter to the church in Corinth in Chapter 10 verse 13 where he wrote, "The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure."

Of course, it is up to us to choose the steps that lead up to that temptation. Just like the campfire that burns brightly before us at our camp, the closer we get to the fire and the more we play with the burning wood, we will likely get burnt by the very embers that we are playing with.

The overall subject in Proverbs Chapter 5 is avoiding immoral women although the same principle applies in avoiding immoral men also. If you missed yesterday’s Wisdom-Trek, it would be best if you listened to it first so that you will be familiar with the story before today’s passage.

Let’s continue and look at verses 7-14.

7 So now, my sons, listen to me.

Never stray from what I am about to say:

8 Stay away from her!

Don’t go near the door of her house!

Solomon advises that his sons should not even meet the married woman.

Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy

Welcome to Day 166 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me.

This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom.

Proverbs 5:1-6 Making Wise Choices #1

Thank you for joining us for our 7 days a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 166 of our Trek, and yesterday we finished our exploration of Proverbs 4. We will remain at camp for a few more days as we explore Proverbs chapter 5. If you miss any days of our Wisdom-Trek, please go to Wisdom-Trek.com to listen to them and read the daily journal.

We are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina. It is good to be back to somewhat of a routine this week. Being a disciplined person, I tend to like a structured schedule that allows me to get up at the same time each day for exercise and meditation. I find that I am able to accomplish much more when my schedule is set. I have been recording the Wisdom-Trek podcast early in the morning over the past few weeks, which seems to be working out well in my schedule as well. If I sound a bit raspy this week, it is due to allergies or a cold that seemed to flare up after returning from the cruise. It appears to be clearing up, so hopefully I will be over it soon.

In my hiking experiences, I have discovered that as the night wears on and we’re sitting around the campfire the stories shared become more personal in nature. So it is with the Bible, and especially in Proverbs. God does not sugar coat the subject discussed. Woven within scriptures we see the good, the bad, and the ugly of people’s lives. Even with all of the advances in information, technology, and medicine, people and societies have not changed all that much over the millenniums of human existence.

The next few chapters of Proverbs deal with some of the weaknesses we have as humans, and since God chose to leave them in His love letter to us, we will cover them as well as we dig for the nuggets of wisdom that are contained in the verses.

Just as the smoke from the campfire can drift into our eyes, temporarily blinding us and making our lives uncomfortable, there are times when we are blinded by desires and temptations in our lives which end up making our lives very uncomfortable. The question for today is “Do you stay in the same place allowing the smoke to continue to blind you, or will you take action and make the needed changes to avoid smoke getting in your eyes?” By God’s grace, regardless of past situations, we do not need to remain in the smoke.

The overall subject in Proverb chapter 5 is avoiding immoral women although the same principle applies in avoiding immoral men also.

As with part of the previous chapter, we see that chapter 5 is a poem. The poem has two subjects:

A married woman tempts a man who is not her husband.

Evil practices are like this woman because sometimes these things attract us. But evil practices offend God. We must obey God, and refuse to continue those evil practices or habits.

Solomon discusses both subjects at the same time. This is similar to Proverbs 2:16-19. The actions of the woman show us how evil ideas can attract us.

1 My son, pay attention to my wisdom;

listen carefully to my wise counsel.

2 Then you will show discernment,

and your lips will express what you’ve learned.

Solomon begins his lesson in the usual way. He reminds us why we need wisdom and knowledge. With wisdom and knowledge, we can avoid danger like what is described in the following verses.

3 For the lips of an immoral woman are as sweet as honey,

and her mouth is smoother than oil.

A married woman attracts a young man. She seems so beautiful. When he kisses her, her lips seem to taste like honey. When he listens to her,

Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy

Welcome to Day 165 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me.

This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom.

Proverbs 4:18-27 Wisdom Provides Light

Thank you for joining us for our 7 days a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 165 of our Trek, and yesterday we reviewed verses 10-17 of the 4th chapter of Proverbs. Today we are going to remain at camp and finish our exploration of Proverbs 4.  If you miss any days of our Wisdom-Trek, please go to Wisdom-Trek.com to listen to them and read the daily journal.

We are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina. It was a joy to have our grandson Kip over for the day. At 3 1/2 he is very inquisitive, full of detailed conversations, and loves to listen to Gramp’s Wisdom-Treks on his way to pre-school each morning. What are you teaching your children or grandchildren? Are you guiding them on the path of wisdom?

As with our trek of life, we have many trails that we can take each day. We will remain in camp for today, and as we reflect around the campfire let’s continue our exploration of wisdom that is found in Proverbs chapter 4. Let these truths penetrate deep into our minds so that they will change the way we think, which will change the course of our lives.  In doing so, we will be able to take the wise and correct trails each day.

Proverbs 4:18-27

Verses 18 and 19 are written in a short poem fashion and this is what they say:

18 The way of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn,

    which shines ever brighter until the full light of day.

19 But the way of the wicked is like total darkness.

    They have no idea what they are stumbling over.

This is a beautiful short poem. It contrasts a good man and an evil man. Sometimes people think that everyone is the same. Some people say that everyone is good. The Bible does not say this. The Bible says that we all have turned from God. We must turn back to him. Only God can make us good.

The good man has a good life. He does not yet know everything that God wants to teach him. He has not yet received all the gifts that God will give to him. His life is like a man who walks at dawn. At dawn, there is only a little light. But the light will soon become brighter. And soon the good man will know God better.

Paul writes about this in 1 Corinthians 13:12, "Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely." Paul is writing about the time when he will see God in heaven.

The evil man has the opposite fate. He is like a man who hikes on a dark path. A trek during the dark of night is dangerous. A hiker cannot see in the darkness. Without any lights, the hiker will trip and fall. In the same way, the evil man is in great danger. He will suffer because of his evil behavior.

Many people, who are not Christians, want God in their lives. They know that they are in danger. They are like someone who travels at night. Christians should provide the light for them. We should share the light that God has given to us. God will help those who ask him. When these people first trust God, they will know little about God. In time, they will know more as they live God’s way. We won’t fully know God until we are in heaven. A path becomes brighter as the day begins. As they know more, they will trust God more. 

20 My child, pay attention to what I say.

    Listen carefully to my words.

21 Don’t lose sight of them.

    Let them penetrate deep into your heart,

22 for they bring life to those who find them

Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy

Welcome to Day 164 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me.

This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom.

Proverbs 4:10-17 Life is Like a Journey for Wisdom

Thank you for joining us for our 7 days a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 164 of our Trek, and yesterday we covered the first nine verses of the 4th chapter in Proverbs. For the next few days, we are going to remain at camp as we continue to explore Proverbs 4. If you miss any days of our Wisdom-Trek, please go to Wisdom-Trek.com to listen to them and read the daily journal.

We are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina. The fall weather has set in with cooler temperatures. With being away for over a week, we have a substantial workload to complete but are very excited and grateful to be busy and have the ability to complete the work.

We also have the opportunity to watch our grandson Kip or Harold Guthrie Chamberlain, V, as he is off from his pre-school for Veteran’s Day and his parents have to work. The blessing of working from our homes is that we can include these special moments as part of our daily routine.

For today, let’s gather back around the campfire as we continue our exploration for wisdom that is found in Proverbs Chapter 4. Take a moment right now and imagine that we are listening to the crackling of the burning wood of the campfire.  If you listen closely, it sounds almost as if someone is whispering in your ear, and this is how the wisdom nuggets in the book of Proverbs are revealed to us. As we allow them to permeate our minds, they will provide insight, discernment, and understanding.  This insight will help us on our daily trek through life, and as we digest these nuggets each day, they will help us to create our living legacy for life.

Proverbs 4:10-17

This passage returns to the idea that life is like a journey. 

10 My child,  listen to me and do as I say,

and you will have a long, good life.

If we plan our journeys wisely, then we are safer. We can avoid many dangers. In the same way, if we are wise, then our lives will be safer.

11 I will teach you wisdom’s ways

and lead you in straight paths.

We shall not walk alone. Wisdom will be our guide and our guard. Remember that this whole book is about God’s wisdom! God protects us when we live our lives in his way. Jesus said in the good news according to Matthew 6:28-34, “And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing,  yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith? So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today."

God cares for us. He will provide what we need for each day. He will lead us to our home in heaven.

12 When you walk, you won’t be held back;

when you run, you won’t stumble.

The people who trust in God will become stronger. They will be so strong that they will be like the eagle. As Isaiah 40:31, one of my favorite verses, states,

But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength.

They will soar high on wings like eagles.

They will run and not grow weary.

Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy

Welcome to Day 163 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me.

This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom.

Proverbs 4:1-9 Teaching Wisdom

Thank you for joining us for our 7 days a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 163 of our Trek. Yesterday we discovered how Life is Like a Word Well Spoken, or in other words, we need to understand how important our words are every day. Today we are going to return to camp for a few days, sit around the campfire, and discuss the 4th chapter of Proverbs. If you miss any days of our Wisdom-Trek, please go to Wisdom-Trek.com to listen to them and read the daily journal.

We are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina. We have returned from the Podcasters Paradise cruise, and I have to say, it was one of the best and most valuable conferences that we have ever attended. The small group of podcasters and the high caliber speakers along with the cruise venue really made it a great week. We made new friends, and we have returned with a renewed vigor to make Wisdom-Trek even more impactful and have solidified plans for our next step within the podcasting community.  I will be announcing those plans over the next few weeks as we begin to finalize some of the details. Keep listening each day for additional details.

After such a busy trek over this past 10 days where we compared life to various topics, we will remain at camp for the next few days as we dig for more wisdom nuggets that are contained in the book of Proverbs chapter 4. Regardless of your spiritual persuasion, the book of Proverbs contains such great nuggets of wisdom that they can be applied to everyone’s life. As we sit around the campfire today, we drink in the crisp fall air and the smell of the burning wood, which sets the environment for reflection and contemplation. It is absolutely necessary that we take time in our lives, even on a daily basis, for reflection and contemplation. These are the times when we become creative and energized to make an impact on the lives of others.

Proverbs 4:1-9

As we start digging into the 4th chapter of Proverbs, it is important to know that the first 9 verses of this chapter in the original Hebrew language were in the form of a poem. This poem is not just about Solomon’s family. It is about all families. As parents, we are responsible for teaching our children. Even as grandparents, we can have a significant impact on our grandchildren. This is training that needs to be passed down through each generation. As your children and grandchildren grow older, they are responsible for their own children.

Solomon’s family was Israel’s royal family. In the poem, the father does not teach about being a king or royalty. He does not speak about wealth and money. He does not explain how to lead the nation. For this father, only one thing matters. His children must learn wisdom.

We can teach our children about many things. We must not forget to teach them wisdom. This is the most important lesson of all.

Let’s start with verses 1 & 2.

1 My children,  listen when your father corrects you.

Pay attention and learn good judgment,

2 for I am giving you good guidance.

Don’t turn away from my instructions.

The poem begins with commands to listen. The father will teach a valuable lesson to his children.

3 For I, too, was once my father’s son,

tenderly loved as my mother’s only child.

The advice did not begin with the father, who is writing the poem. The father learned this lesson from his own father. The lesson is good because it is ancient. Grandfather followed this advice. And he saw that it was good advice.

Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy

Welcome to Day 162 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me.

This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom.

Life Is Like a Word Well Spoken

Thank you for joining us for our 7 days a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 162 of our Trek, and yesterday we looked at why life is like a whirlwind. Today we are presenting our final short wisdom story for now, and tomorrow we will stay at camp and continue our commentary on the Book of Proverbs with Chapter 4. I hope that you have enjoyed these stories, and if you miss any days of our Wisdom-Trek, please go to Wisdom-Trek.com to listen to them and read the daily journal.

We are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina. This episode will be released on Monday when Paula, and I will be in Ft. Myers, Florida to visit Paula’s aunt for a few days. Tomorrow we will head back to Charlotte for about two weeks.

Today we will hike on the Word Well Spoken Trail where we will explore the power of our words.

Today’s story is...

Life Is Like a Word Well Spoken

We may not all be created equal in every attribute, but we all have several things in common.

So, what are these things?

Of course, Our Time…

All of us have the same amount of seconds, minutes, and hours in a day to do with as we desire.

And there is Individual Power…

We also have individual power although some may think not because they live in countries where they are ruled by a strict dictator or military government. But, even these people have power.

Can time and power combine in your words?

The time you take and the power of your individual words - how you say them, what words you choose to use, and when to speak these words - make a difference. These words can be ones that ridicule, make fun, or chastise, or ones that encourage, praise, or demonstrate kindness, as mentioned in 1 Thessalonians 5:11, "So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing."

A Story Of Time and Power of Words

I recall a story told to me about a man who used to commute to work daily on a train. Once disembarking the train, he always walked the short distance to his office building along with all the other throngs of people hurrying on their way to their work.

Each morning, he passed an older man who was always at the same spot with a cup in hand hoping to get a bit of change from those who passed by. For most people, this person was someone to be ignored as if he didn't exist, a person with whom they didn't want to be bothered.

Invariably, though, this man would always say good morning to him and bid him have a good day. The stranger would smile back, say good morning and remain on station until all the commuters had gone on their way.

Occasionally, my friend would drop a dollar or two in his cup on his way by as he said hello.

This behavior went on for several years until one day, his last day on the job before retirement, the man stopped for a few moments to speak with the one whom some would consider a beggar.

He told the man that he would no longer be passing by because this was his last day on the job.

The man took his hand and shook it warmly saying that he had always looked forward to seeing his friend pass his way and not because he dropped a few dollars in his cup.

He said he would miss my friend because he was one of the few people out of thousands who passed him daily who ever said hello and was the only one who ever bid him have a good day.

The man also said that his warm words always brightened his day and helped him to continue despite being ignored by thousands of others who saw him da...

Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy

Welcome to Day 161 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me.

This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom.

Life Is Like a Whirlwind

Thank you for joining us for our 7 days a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 161 of our Trek, and yesterday we looked at why life is like a mouse. Today and throughout this week, we will be presenting a series of short wisdom stories. If you miss any days of our Wisdom-Trek, please go to Wisdom-Trek.com to listen to them and read the daily journal.

We are recording our podcast from our studio at The Big House in Marietta, Ohio. This episode is being released on Sunday, and Paula and I are in Ft. Myers, Florida, to visit Paula’s aunt for a few days. Beginning Tuesday I will start back focusing on each day’s podcast as we will remain at camp for a few days as we dive back into the commentary on the book of Proverbs.

Today we will hike on the Whirlwind Trail where we determine the importance of prioritizing the most important tasks each day.

Today’s story is...

Life Is Like a Whirlwind

Run, run, run, and then run some more. It is so easy to be in a hurry today darting from one thing to another gaining little ground in any one thing. For a lot of us, our lives are a whirlwind of activity with household tasks, work, all of the messages on our latest technological device that seems to be attached to our hip, and piled up work to catch up on. It never seems to stop.

In the past, you probably heard about establishing priorities and labeling these Priority A, B, and C where A is the most important and had to be done right away. It seems that most of us have forgotten this rule. However, recently, I watched a video online and was reacquainted with the absolute necessity of establishing priorities and not allowing oneself to become distracted by the myriad of information coming at us at full bore. The real challenge is to be able to control the extraneous demands coming to us demanding our attention.

But, when it is all said and done, there are reasons to set priorities on a daily basis. If you do not, you will see yourself flitting like a hummingbird from flower to flower or a project or demand and on to the next without getting anything marked off the major to do list.

An example of planning and prioritizing is found in Proverbs 24:27, "Do your planning and prepare your fields before building your house."

If you haven't set your daily priorities for quite some time, maybe a suggestion or two would be welcome.

The easiest and simplest of ways and still one of the most effective is to start to record your major priorities for the day on your calendar. This can be done on your iPad, iPhone, tablet, or any other electronic device, but some prefer to record it on a physical calendar with a pen. Whichever way works best for you, it is best to put it into place immediately. Some science seems to indicate that initially using a physical calendar and pen lets your brain understand the connection you are making, and it is this conscious connection that makes your note more effective.

The real challenge comes next, and that is to remove or ignore all other events, issues, or demands for your time or attention that could knock you off your track. This is not to say, however, that there might not come along a much more urgent request from a superior. If this happens, you obviously must attend to it, and the request becomes your focus. However, what was left uncompleted before the new request must be put back on the top of the list as soon as your requested action is complete.

The Apostle Peter instructs us to prepare even our minds in Chapter 1 v...

Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy

Welcome to Day 160 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me.

This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom.

Life Is Like a Mouse

Thank you for joining us for our 7 days a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 160 of our Trek, and yesterday we looked at why life is like a storm. For the next three days, we are presenting a series of short wisdom stories. If you miss any days of our Wisdom-Trek, please go to Wisdom-Trek.com to listen to them and read the daily journal.

We are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina. This episode is being released on Saturday as Paula and I are returning from our 7-day podcasting cruise. After we disembark, we will be traveling to Ft. Myer, Florida, to visit Paula’s aunt for a few days. This week while we are out at sea I will have a series of podcasts covering short stories about wisdom without a lot of additional commentary. Once we get back from the cruise, we will remain at camp for a few days as we dive back into the commentary on the book of Proverbs.

Today we will hike on the Mouse Trail as we see that even the smallest act of kindness can have a huge impact.

Today’s story is...

Life Is Like a Mouse

There are times in life when we don't take action because we feel the act of kindness is too little or that it wouldn't make a difference. However, sometimes the smallest gesture can make a huge impact on someone's life.

The simplest of things may make the difference. A smile, a door being held open, a handwritten note, a kind word…The list can go on and on.

I was recently reading some of Aesop's fables and came across the story of The Lion and The Mouse. While this story has been around for a long time, it still has wisdom in its words. Below is the story.

One day a Lion was asleep when a little Mouse began running up and down his back. This soon wakened the Lion, who placed his huge paw upon him and opened his big jaws to swallow him.

"Please don't," cried the little Mouse. "Forgive me this time, I shall never forget it. Who knows but what I may be able to do you a turn some of these days?"

The Lion was so tickled at the idea of the Mouse being able to help him that he lifted up his paw and let him go.

Some time after the Lion was caught in a trap, he pulled with all his might, but the ropes were too strong. Just then the little Mouse happened to pass by, and seeing the sad plight in which the Lion was, went up to him, and with his sharp little teeth gnawed away the ropes, setting the Lion free.

"You once laughed at me," said the Mouse. You thought I was too little to do you a good turn. But see, you owe your life to a poor little mouse."

While you may think the story is far-fetched, the point I found in reading the story is not the size of the action that is important, but the difference that a small action made. Small acts of kindness make a difference in ways you may not realize!

Do you have opportunities to give small acts of kindness? Some people might think that they do not have a chance to show another person a small measure of kindness, but these opportunities are everywhere you go through the day. For example, if you ride on a bus, have you ever said good morning to the bus driver, or do you just ignore him or her and proceed to your seat? A simple good morning or good afternoon tells the person that you acknowledge them, and it is even an acknowledgment that can help to brighten a day.

If you drive a car anywhere, do you let someone enter into to traffic, or do you just keep driving inching along and ignoring the other driver?