Spring reminds all of us of the circle of life.
It’s easiest to see in nature. The birds building their nests. The tulips soaring out of the ground. The new fawn walking for the first time.
From the Wolf River Eagle web cam
to the Sturgeon run cams set up in Wisconsin.
All the new growth, the new life in our fields and forests, it’s a great reminder of God’s plan for all of life. The circle of new beginnings.
But Spring also shows us the not so obvious.
Youth baseball is being played all around the country as we speak. The children, our future, our simbas, all have grown a year older, stronger, quicker, and smarter.
Last night I saw a little of the circle of life. My 10 year old godson who I am blessed to coach hit a grand slam his 2nd time up. I believe it was his first home run ever. The joy in his eyes… it’s a moment I will never forget. My own 9 year old son, who last year had two hits the entire year, he an actual rocket launched liner to the outfield last night. When he got back to the dugout he was so intensely proud of what he accomplished. Another circle of life moment.
Spring is the time we witness the circle of life in many businesses too… if we are looking for it, including where I work Drexel Building Supply. We have some great young talent that is the future of our company. Just out of high school or college, these individuals arrive to us not much different then a new born baby; they are a blank slate that we have a chance to write on. They will be the ones that will lead and inspire and use our core values to take our company to next heights. These people will be the ones that deal with our customers long after I am gone. They are our Simbas. They will make mistakes, but that is all part of it. We will lead and guide them like Rafiki and Mustafa in the Lion King. Both with class and as a mentor and friend. We will show them that is all part of what we do. And then it will be up to them. But it is up to us to make sure we have given them the kingdom and all the knowledge we have to share.
The circle of life. A powerful force.
Ecclesiastes 9:4-12
4 But for him who is joined to all the living there is hope, for a living dog is better than a dead lion.
5 For the living know that they will die;
But the dead know nothing,
And they have no more reward,
For the memory of them is forgotten.
6 Also their love, their hatred, and their envy have now perished;
Nevermore will they have a share
In anything done under the sun.
7 Go, eat your bread with joy,
And drink your wine with a merry heart;
For God has already accepted your works.
8 Let your garments always be white,
And let your head lack no oil.
9 Live joyfully with the wife whom you love all the days of your vain life which He has given you under the sun, all your days of vanity; for that is your portion in life, and in the labor which you perform under the sun.
10 Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might; for there is no work or device or knowledge or wisdom in the grave where you are going.
11 I returned and saw under the sun that—
The race is not to the swift,
Nor the battle to the strong,
Nor bread to the wise,
Nor riches to men of understanding,
Nor favor to men of skill;
But time and chance happen to them all.
12 For man also does not know his time:
Like fish taken in a cruel net,
Like birds caught in a snare,
So the sons of men are snared in an evil time,
When it falls suddenly upon them.
– – Joel Fleischman. Joel is the president and solution provider for Drexel Building Supply. (drexelteam.com). You can follow him on twitter: @JoelmFleischman. He has provided solutions for builders and their clients since 1996 and a whole bunch of other stuff that you probably don’t care about.
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