Who are we and where did we come from?
A few years ago I attended a convention in USA and a presenter struck a chord when he quoted “Our life is a Beautiful Sculpture…that begins as a lump of clay, But like that sculpture we will not become a Masterpiece…until shaped by hands along the way.” I believe we are who we are today because of the people who have shaped our lives.
A few years ago I attended a convention in USA and a presenter struck a chord when he quoted “Our life is a Beautiful Sculpture…that begins as a lump of clay, But like that sculpture we will not become a Masterpiece…until shaped by hands along the way.” I believe we are who we are today because of the people who have shaped our lives.
The poem introduced the concept of two kinds of people in our lives. Imagine a person standing on a balcony… leaning over to lift us up. That is a metaphor for someone who has encouraged us, helped us, motivated us, loved us, instructed us, or maybe just
sat and listened at a time when we needed that. A mother, father, brother or sister, friend, teacher, colleague in your office, author of a book or even a stranger. These are the Balcony people that lean down and pick us up, and there are also the basement people who pull us down, but we will not dwell on those as the thrust of our lives should be on the balcony people. Who have been your balcony people? Do they know what a difference they made? It only takes a moment to tell them, if it is possible. Who have you been a balcony person to?
Rotarians are by their nature more likely to be balcony people and do lift people up, individually and collectively. Being a balcony person is all about family – our immediate family and our world family – lifting each other to heights that could not have been achieved on our own.
A lot can be said about you and me.
Ask the people we know, what do they see?
Do we pull others down critically,
Do we pull others down critically,
Or do we lift them up to the balcony?
Our actions tell a lot about you and me.
Our actions tell a lot about you and me.
Ask those that care, what do they see?
Are we angry, jealous, resentful no less,
Or full of love touch and forgiveness?
Our legacy will tell a lot about you and me.
Ask those that remember, what did they see?
Were we an anchor… and now they are free,
Or are we still lifting up to the balcony?
Or are we still lifting up to the balcony?
See you on the balcony
Russell Good
Courtesy of Bulletin #45 from Eastern Hutt
