Leaving Your Mark

By Terry Laney
Who in leaving a lasting mark on the next generation? YOU are!

I just returned from the 40th anniversary reunion of Wofford College's undefeated 1970 football team, winning 20 games in a row over 2 years. Having never been to any kind of reunion before, I didn't know what to expect. There were 38 attendees and I was amazed to see and hear how each had moved from success to significance. "Of course, being a child football prodigy, I was the youngest by 10 years."

What struck me was although we had all gone our separate ways over the 40 years (with the exception of my roommate, Tom Bower, for my last 2 years of college, who also is the godfather to my daughter, Meredith), were the similarities in our drive towards service to others in our lives. Our former defensive backfield coach, Fisher DeBerry, (who coached football at the Air Force Academy for 23 years, and is the winningest service academy football coach in history, wrote a book titled "Power of Influence") was also in attendance.

Our 1970 team had no superstars, just a bunch of college kids, many of whom would not have been able to attend college without that all important scholarship. We had one teammate, another former roommate, Ed Wile, who boldly stated that he would have either been dead or in jail, if not for the scholarship he received to attend Wofford. As a side note, Ed was inducted into the Wofford Hall of Fame just three weeks ago.

I don't recall whose scholarship he attended under, but I do recall mine. While still in high school, I was awarded a full scholarship. During my high school senior year, I was hurt in our 3rd game of the season. I couldn't get out of bed the following Monday and had to be taken to the hospital where I spent the next 16 days having to learn to walk again. Not knowing if I would ever be able to play again, the scholarship was withdrawn. After high school graduation I attended a prep school for a semester to test my ability to play again, transferred to Wofford in time for spring practice and was awarded an "all books scholarship" for the coming year.

Ultimately, I was awarded a full scholarship funded by a former player at Wofford, a quarterback by the name of Charles Bradshaw. I didn't take the opportunity to know or even thank Charles Bradshaw 40 years ago; an opportunity missed. His scholarship left a lasting mark on me, bringing me to where I am today.
The similarities between my experience this past weekend and the experiences our Habitat families have as a result of our sponsors, donors, volunteers and staff are remarkable...they ALL leave a lasting mark on the next generation. Charles Bradshaw's favorite receiver at Wofford was a guy named Richardson. His first name is Jerry, he played for the Baltimore Colts after graduation and is now owner of the Carolina Panthers. Famous now, but not so famous then. Mr. Bradshaw, thank you for making a lasting mark on the next generation 40 years ago.

Coach Deberry spoke to us at dinner Friday night, talking about that team, so many years ago, which had such a profound influence on him. He went on to say you don't need to be a superstar, a celebrity or a household name to make a lasting mark on the next generation.

In Christian Partnership, Terry


ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Having been led to Habitat for Humanity through a family tragedy, Terry has been Executive Director at Our Towns Habitat for Humanity since 2002, serving as ReStore Manager for 19 months prior to that, and engaged as a volunteer since 1996.

Terry serves on the International Global Volunteer Mobilization Committee, Affiliate Enhancement Committee, and Mission Alignment Advisory Group with Habitat for Humanity International, and is also a member of the Subject Experience Team. He also is a member of the Board of Habitat for Humanity of North Carolina.

Originally from Va. Beach, his background includes teaching at SC School for the Deaf and Blind and 20 years in the restaurant business, serving as Director of Operations for all company-owned Pizza Hut restaurants in NC. A graduate of Wofford College in Spartanburg, with a BA in sociology, and many hours in education, history and religion, he is married to M.C., with two grown children and three grandchildren.

Our Towns Habitat for Humanity chosen as medium-sized Affiliate of the Year in 2008, not a cause to celebrate, but a calling to do more.

Terry can be reached at tlaney02@aol.com or www.ourtownshabitat.org

Quote of the day....

Let us not be content to wait and see what will happen, but give us the determination to make the right things happen.

~Horace Mann 

You reap what you sow....

from a facebook post. author not stated

Good morning said a woman as she walked up to the man sitting on the ground.

The man slowly looked up.

This was a woman clearly accustomed to the finer things of life. Her coat was new.. She looked like she had never missed a meal in her life.

His first thought was that she wanted to make fun of him, like so many others had done before.. "Leave me alone," he growled....

To his amazement, the woman continued standing.

She was smiling -- her even white teeth displayed in dazzling rows. "Are you hungry?" she asked.

"No," he answered sarcastically. "I've just come from dining with the president. Now go away."

The woman's smile became even broader. Suddenly the man felt a gentle hand under his arm.

"What are you doing, lady?" the man asked angrily. "I said to leave me alone.

Just then a policeman came up. "Is there any problem, ma'am?" he asked..

"No problem here, officer," the woman answered. "I'm just trying to get this man to his feet. Will you help me?"

The officer scratched his head. "That's old Jack. He's been a fixture around here for a couple of years. What do you want with him?"

"See that cafeteria over there?" she asked. "I'm going to get him something to eat and get him out of the cold for awhile."

"Are you crazy, lady?" the homeless man resisted. "I don't want to go in there!" Then he felt strong hands grab his other arm and lift him up. "Let me go, officer. I didn't do anything."

"This is a good deal for you, Jack" the officer answered. "Don't blow it.."

Finally, and with some difficulty, the woman and the police officer got Jack into the cafeteria and sat him at a table in a remote corner. It was the middle of the morning, so most of the breakfast crowd had already left and the lunch bunch had not yet arrived...

The manager strode across the cafeteria and stood by his table. "What's going on here, officer?" he asked. "What is all this, is this man in trouble?"

"This lady brought this man in here to be fed," the policeman answered.

"Not in here!" the manager replied angrily. "Having a person like that here is bad for business.."

Old Jack smiled a toothless grin. "See, lady. I told you so. Now if you'll let me go. I didn't want to come here in the first place."

The woman turned to the cafeteria manager and smiled....... "Sir, are you familiar with Eddy and Associates, the banking firm down the street?"

"Of course I am," the manager answered impatiently. "They hold their weekly meetings in one of my banquet rooms."

"And do you make a godly amount of money providing food at these weekly meetings?"

"What business is that of yours?"

I, sir, am Penelope Eddy, president and CEO of the company."

"Oh."

The woman smiled again. "I thought that might make a difference." She glanced at the cop who was busy stifling a giggle. "Would you like to join us in a cup of coffee and a meal, officer?"

"No thanks, ma'am," the officer replied. "I'm on duty."

"Then, perhaps, a cup of coffee to go?"

"Yes, ma’am. That would be very nice."

The cafeteria manager turned on his heel, "I'll get your coffee for you right away, officer."

The officer watched him walk away. "You certainly put him in his place," he said.

"That was not my intent. Believe it or not, I have a reason for all this."

She sat down at the table across from her amazed dinner guest. She stared at him intently.. "Jack, do you remember me?"

Old Jack searched her face with his old, rheumy eyes. "I think so -- I mean you do look familiar."

"I'm a little older perhaps," she said. "Maybe I've even filled out more than in my younger days when you worked here, and I came through that very door, cold and hungry."

"Ma'am?" the officer said questioningly. He couldn't believe that such a magnificently turned out  woman could ever have been hungry.

"I was just out of college," the woman began. "I had come to the city looking for a job, but I couldn't find anything. Finally I was down to my last few cents and had been kicked out of my apartment. I walked the streets for days. It was February and I was cold and nearly starving. I saw this place and walked in on the off chance that I could get something to eat."

Jack lit up with a smile. "Now I remember," he said.. "I was behind the serving counter. You came up and asked me if you could work for something to eat. I said that it was against company policy."

"I know," the woman continued. "Then you made me the biggest roast beef sandwich that I had ever seen, gave me a cup of coffee, and told me to go over to a corner table and enjoy it. I was afraid that you would get into trouble... Then, when I looked over and saw you put the price of my  food in the cash register, I knew then that everything would be all right."

"So you started your own business?" Old Jack said.

"I got a job that very afternoon. I worked my way up. Eventually I started my own business that, with the help of God, prospered." She opened her purse and pulled out a business card.. "When you are finished here, I want you to pay a visit to a Mr. Lyons...He's the personnel director of my company. I'll go talk to him now and I'm certain he'll find something for you to do around the office." She smiled. "I think he might even find the funds to give you a little advance so that you can buy some clothes and get a place to live until you get on your feet... If you ever need anything, my door is always opened to you."

There were tears in the old man's eyes. "How can I ever thank you?" he said.

"Don't thank me," the woman answered. "To God goes the glory. Thank Jesus...... He led me to you."

Outside the cafeteria, the officer and the woman paused at the entrance before going their separate ways....

"Thank you for all your help, officer," she said.

"On the contrary, Ms. Eddy," he answered. "Thank you. I saw a miracle today, something that I will never forget. And.. And thank you for the coffee."

God is going to shift things around for you today and let things work in your favor.

If you believe, send it.

If you don't believe, delete it.

God closes doors no man can open & God opens doors no man can close..

If you need God to open some doors for you...send this on.

THE JONES SYNDROME

By Miles Patrick Yohnke © 2011

Children within adult faces. Recently, as I was cycling to my destination I passed this park. As I went by I heard this male voice. A man was training his young dog. With a clear, strong, yet tender voice, he was teaching his dog to sit and the dog did. With his leash on they walked a few steps and repeated the process. He praised his dog and I could see that the dog was very happy.

The man was teaching the dog that it could be more. He taught the dog focus, discipline, and structure. What really struck me was that, he took the time. HE TOOK THE TIME. As I continued along my journey I reflected on what I had witnessed. Thinking how he took the time. He was there. He was getting the most out of that dog. How lucky that dog was.

How often do we take time to teach our own children? We constantly hear, "I'm so busy, I feel like I'm always running, I'm stressed." Our modern world is so inundated with marketing and advertising that has one goal and one goal only. That is to make a product so attractive that the consumer feels a need or desire to possess it in order to feel fulfilled or popular.

Children and teens need to understand the powerful attraction that marketing can create. They have to learn to differentiate between what they truly need and what they want. We need to teach our children that advertising exists so people can make money. And because of that, advertisers use powerful methods to convince consumers to buy their products. We need to teach our children how media need paid advertising to stay on the air or to continue publishing. 

We need to show how advertising can make people want something even if they don't really need it. We should discuss this when we or our loved ones are confronted by advertising whether on television, radio, in newspapers, magazines, or billboards.

We should discuss how advertising tries to make you feel better about yourself if you buy a certain product, or convince you that other people will like you better or think you're "cool". We should explain that shopping should not be seen as a fun pastime, but rather something people do to buy items they need. Explain the differences between need and want.

Help your children observe how many times a day families are exposed to advertising. For example, there are ads on the sides of buses, in arenas, on radio and television, on billboards, at the movies and on the Internet. That when a television station or radio station tells you to tweak them or post to their Facebook site, that they are only doing so to create 'traffic hits' to their own site to help increase their revenue for future ads from other companies. Show that advertising tries to create an image of what a person should be or should look like, yet often this image does not reflect reality.

Here is the alarming thing. Do we know the difference? We go back to "I'm so busy, I feel like I'm always running, I'm stressed." Most couples both work full-time these days (divorce rate is soaring to an all-time high; tag-team parenting). They are overwhelmed. Overwhelmed for the most part to pay their mortgage. Pay for the 'stuff' in their house. Pay for their vehicles. Pay for their clothes (look popular). For the most part, We don't understand the values underlined. We are just children within adult faces!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Here Globally recognized and award-nominated engineer, producer, writer, poet and founder and C.E.O. of 5 Star Productions, Miles Patrick Yohnke brings many years of experience to the music industry; including many awards in sales and marketing. If you are looking at developing your career, Yohnke offers consulting in person, by phone or via email. For more info, please contact him miles@5-starproductions.com.

Quote of the day...

Don't be upset by the results you didn't get

with the work you didn't do.

Quote of the day....

Progress is impossible without change, and those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything.

~ George Bernard Shaw

THE SOLDIER

Author Unknown

John Blanchard stood up from the bench, straightened his Army uniform, and studied the crowd of people making their way through Grand Central Station. He looked for the girl whose heart he knew, but whose face he didn't, the girl with the rose. His interest in her had begun thirteen months before in a Florida library. Taking a book off the shelf he found himself intrigued, not with the words of the book, but with the notes penciled in the margin. The soft handwriting reflected a thoughtful soul and insightful mind.

In front of the book, he discovered the previous owner's name, Miss Hollis Maynell. With time and effort he located her address. She lived in New York City. He wrote her a letter introducing himself and inviting her to correspond. The next day he was shipped overseas for service in World War II

During the next year and one-month the two grew to know each other through the mail. Each letter was a seed falling on a fertile heart. A Romance was budding. Blanchard requested a photograph, but she refused. She felt that if he really cared, it wouldn't matter what she looked like.

When the day finally came for him to return from Europe, they scheduled their first meeting - 7:00 pm at Grand Central Station in New York.

"You'll recognize me, " she wrote, "by the red rose I'll be wearing on my lapel." So at 7:00 he was in the station looking for a girl whose heart he loved, but whose face he'd never seen.

I'll let Mr. Blanchard tell you what happened: A young women was coming toward me, her figure long and slim. Her blonde hair lay back in curls from her delicate ears; her eyes were blue as flowers. Her lips and chin had a gentle firmness, and in her pale green suit she was like springtime come alive. I started toward her, entirely forgetting to notice that she was not wearing a rose. As I moved, a small, provocative smile curved her lips. "Going my way, sailor?" she murmured. Almost uncontrollably I made one step closer to her, and then I saw Hollis Maynell. She was standing almost directly behind the girl. A woman well past 40, she had graying hair tucked under a worn hat. She was more than plump, her thick-ankled feet thrust into low-heeled shoes. The girl in the green suit was walking quickly away. I felt as though I split in two, so keen was my desire to follow her, and yet so deep was my longing for the women whose spirit had truly companioned me and upheld my own

And there she stood. Her pale, plump face was gentle and sensible; her gray eyes had a warm and kindly twinkle. I did not hesitate. My fingers gripped the small worn blue leather copy of the book that was something precious, something perhaps even better than love, a friendship for which I had been and must ever be grateful.

I squared my shoulders and saluted and held out the book to the women, even though while I spoke I felt choked by the bitterness of my disappointment. "I'm Lieutenant John Blanchard, and you must be Miss Maynell. I am so glad you could meet me; may I take you to dinner?"

The women's face broadened into a tolerant smile. "I don't know what this is about, son," she answered, "but the young lady in the green suit who just went by, she begged me to wear this rose on my coat. And she said if you were to ask me out to dinner, I should go and tell you that she is waiting for you in the big restaurant across the street. She said it was some kind of test!"

It's not difficult to understand and admire Miss Maynell's wisdom. The true nature of a heart is seen in its response to the unattractive. "Tell me whom you love," Houssaye wrote, "And I will tell you who you are."