Books

A resolution on its way to resolution

Happy Martin Luther King, Jr. Day to all.  Perhaps the gift I could have received on this holiday was the opportunity to spend time with my son and read a good book.  Dear Reader, don’t think for one minute that I’m not busy, because I am very busy with our impending move back to the United States.  However, I’m happy to report that I’ve read more books in 2007 than I did during all of 2006.  In 2006, I managed to finish one novel, "Eragon."  Today I finished my second book of the year.  The first was "America (The Book)," a satirical masterpiece by Comedy Central’s Jon Stewart.  The second was "Chasing Daylight," a book by Eugene O’Kelly, former Chief Executive Officer of KPMG, the international accounting firm.  "Chasing Daylight" is O’Kelly’s memoir.  He wrote it after he was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer and given just three-to-six months to live.  The memoir is touching, thoughtful, and a provocative guidebook on dying written to appeal to "Type A," business types.  The book carries a strong, yet simple message–slow down and enjoy the Perfect Moments in life.  In layman’s terms, stop and smell the roses.  You don’t know what you’re missing.

 
I had started reading both books last year, and this year I set out to finish them.  Instead of reading a business magazine as I usually do to fill time gaps, I decided to take time out of my busy schedule to read something more meaningful.  While the value of "America (The Book)" is debatable–it’s valuable to those who are political junkies like me who savor satire–"Chasing Daylight" was definitely a worthwhile read.  It was short, as was the time leading up to Mr. O’Kelly’s death; short enough to read in one sitting or one plane right.  It’s the perfect book for the busy business executive who needs to be reminded to take time to enjoy life.
 
So what will I read now, other than the Bible?  (I didn’t include Bible reading in my list, because that is an ongoing endeavor that never ends.)  Well, I’m planning to tackle "The Honorary Consul," by Graham Greene, a classic suspense novel set in provincial Argentina and Paraguay.  It will be a good read.  At 281 pages, it should be an easy read to devour on a plane ride–if I make the time and effort to read it.

Right now

Right now
Someone is waking up
Someone is sleeping
Someone is having a baby
Someone passes away
Someone finds love
 
Right now
Ice floats in the ocean
Insects are a nuisance
Plants sustain life
Grass is turning green
Snow falls on the ground
 
Right now
Evil is transpiring
A good deed is done
An act of violent committed
A life is saved
A tear is shed
 
Right now
Money is transferred
A job has been lost
A shanty roof is patched
Dessert is eaten
Butter is churned
 
Right now
What you are doing
May be the same as some
Different than others
Exciting to you but not all
Transpiring yet still

The factory worker in the corner office

There once was a factory worker who labored in obscurity on the assembly line.  Shoulder to shoulder with the other factory workers, he worked.  And he worked.  And he worked some more.  He made widgets well enough, yet so did all the other factory workers.  I am part of a team, and we all work together to get the job done, he said to himself.  And then he worked some more.  You’re too important to the operation, the manager told the factory worker whenever he needed some time away from the assembly line.  You must take your vacation when we want you to, because you’re too important to this factory, they said.  The job must get done.  Don’t be sick, they told him, because it burdens the other factory workers who must get the job done.  Someone has to do your job, and it must be you.  Minimize your breaks, because you will be noticed if you’re gone.  And as the factory worker labored in obscurity and got the job done, they left him alone.  There he remained in obscurity along with all of the other factory workers.  But the job got done.
 
One day, the factory worker got lost on his way back from break.  He somehow wandered into a corner office he had never seen before.  It was a place with walls and a door.  There he saw a man with his head in his hands, looking forlorn.  What’s wrong?  Asked the factory worker.  I can’t figure this out, said the man.  I’m much too busy to do this.  Would you do it for me?  The factory worker was worried.  He did not know what to do, and he worried what his manager might say.  This was not his job.  His job was waiting for him to be done. 
 
The factory worker took the assignment and worked on it.  He worked, and he worried.  He worked some more.  Finally, he finished the assignment and gave it back to the man.  The man poured over it and smiled.  Yes, you have finished it.  This will change our entire company by streamlining our operation, the man said.  You have done a great job.  The factory worker responded in dismay, Sir, this is not my job.  I am just a factory worker.  I have another job to do.  The man replied, Nonsense.  I’m head of this company, and you’ve done a great job for this company.  You are more than a factory worker.  I will make sure the manager hears how good a job you have done.  The factory worker was worried.  Please sir, don’t do that.  My job is still waiting to be done.  I must go now.  The man looked puzzled and said finally, As you wish.  Thank you for your help with this job.  And the factory worker returned to the assembly line and began working again.  And the manager noticed.