How can I be helpful?

Posted Feb 1st, 2010

This phrase has been my personal tagline for more than 25 years.  With it I’ve had fun, experienced sadness, been asked to do some really awkward things and frankly I’ve been flat out embarrassed.  Still I don’t intend to change it because it is who I am.

Helpful is an attitude as much as it is an action statement.

Some people have read this and responded, “Simple, give me a million dollars.”  Others, after reflecting upon it and the experience of spending time with me have opened up and expressed real concern.

As a man, my basic construct is to fix things.  Most men want to fix things.  It’s what we do.  However, there are a few of us that listen . . . really well.  Often times, people just want to be in the presence of someone that will deliberately listen to them, who they are and what they need.  Here’s the interesting part, they’re not even expecting you to fix it!

My whole life has been spent looking for solutions to others problems.  As I grow older, my concerns are focused on the needs of nations and their people.  My view is from a much higher elevation and as a result, I’m able to see things quite differently than most.  Does that make me better?  No, it enables me to come up with broader solutions that have the ability to impact many more lives.

Everyone feels as though they’re here for some purpose.  It took me a long time to realize exactly what that is for me.  Now that I know, it seems there just aren’t enough hours in the day.  I’m energized by it and can’t wait to apply it.

How can YOU be helpful?  Can you help your family, your neighbors, your community, your organization, your Church, Synagogue or Mosque?  How can you help those around you?  Any thoughts?

I’d love to have some feedback on this topic.