THE TOTEM POLE OF EMOTIONS and ATTITUDES
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com Some fodder from Dr. Gary Brackett
TOTEM POLE:
a tall wooden pole that is carved and painted with symbols, figures, mask that represent family linage position or level.
The order of rank of importance? The lowest rank or less importance is placed at the bottom, each carving above is ranked more important...
Zechariah 4:10 For who hath despised the day of small things? for they shall rejoice, and shall see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel with those seven; they are the eyes of the LORD, which run to and fro through the whole earth.
OFTEN OUR WORK WILL BE DETERMINED BY THE TOOLS WE USE.
SEEMS MANY WANT TO DO THE MINIMUM AND EXPECT THE MAXIMUM POTENTIAL.
The more work you do
TOTEM POLE: order of rank. The lowest rank or importance is placed at the bottom, each carving above is ranked more important...
a tall wooden pole that is carved and painted with symbols, figures, mask that represent family linage position or level.
Proverbs 27:17 (KJV) Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.
LET US CONSIDER WHY PEOPLE GET STUCK AT THE BOTTOM OF THEIR TOOTEM POLES?
WE SEEM TO HAVE A LOST ART OF LISTENING UNDERSTANDING AND LISTENING...
James 1:19 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:
James 1:19 (MSG) Post this at all the intersections, dear friends: Lead with your ears, follow up with your tongue, and let anger straggle along in the rear.
HEAR ME? WE LIVE IN A DAY OF FROZEN COMMUNICATION LINES...
MANY SPEAK, FEW LISTEN...
What do you hear? When I taught school I would often include lesson about LISTENING SKILLS!
I would hand out a very difficult written test. I told the students several times: READ THE DIRECTIONS ON THE TEST and follow the directions.
I had someone hand out the test. Then I told the students one more time. Follow the directions. You may now begin. Almost immediately the complaining started? This is hard? We never studied much of this material? The test was hard.
The written directions on the test said: Do not say anything. Fold this paper in half, write your name on the outside and wait until everyone completes the test and you will receive 100%, A +.
The directions stated: IF YOU ANSWER ONE QUESTION YOU FAIL: F.
You would not believe all the raised hands about how hard this test was, complain, complain.
One, as each student brought the test to the desk I placed F on the paper...
THE DIRECTIONS WERE CLEARLY WRITTEN: ANSWER NO QUESTIONS. FOLD THE PAPER AND WRITE YOUR NAME ON IT.
GOOD LIFE IS ABOUT COMMUNICATION AND LISTENING...
Someone said: I AM AFRAID TO LISTEN? I might not like what I hear.
Me thinks the most dangerous relationship is where people refuse to understand and refuse to LISTEN and follow directions.
TO REALLY LISTEN AND COMMUNICATE REQUIRES MUCH MORE THAN HEARING FACTS... THERE IS BODY LANGUAGE, VOLUME, EMOTIONS. Did you know eyes can talk?
Life much more than just facts! GOOD COMMUNICATION INVOLVES THE HEART.
President Theodore Roosevelt was a man of action and good listener and he appreciated this
quality in others also. Once at a gala he became bored with the stiff mindless pleasantries. So he began to greet people with a smile, saying, I murdered your grandmother this morning,” Most people were so nervous about meeting him never really heard what they said. However, one diplomat did hear and responded, I am sure she had it coming!
The only way to live a good life and maintain good attitudes is to be a good listener.
DO WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT ATTITUDES AND CHOICES AND HOW OUR ATTITUDES, WORDS, BEHAVIOR, REACTIONS AND ACTIONS BECOME TOOLS TO SELF DESTRUCT OR BUILD STRONG FOUNDATIONS?
SOLOMON HAD A DIVINE VISITATION --- WHAT DO YOU WANT?
1 Kings 3:5 In Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night: and God said, Ask what I shall give thee.
WILL OUR ATTITUDES AND WORDS PLEASE GOD?
LET US AGREE WE NEED SOME GOOD TOOLS IN THE DAYS IN WHICH WE LIVE...
1 Kings 3:9 Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people? 10 And the speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing. 11 And God said unto him, Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thyself long life; neither hast asked riches for thyself, nor hast asked the life of thine enemies; but hast asked for thyself understanding to discern judgment; 12 Behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee.
ARE WE SELF-FOCUSED AND SELF-LISTENERS?WE TEND TO LISTEN TO OUR OWN WORDS AND ATTITUDES? ARE WE SEEKING GOD WITH THE PROPER ATTITUDES AND MOTIVES?
Solomon is warning people about revenge and passion. In the heat of the moment do not QUIT your post of duty.
Ecclesiastes 10:10 (KJV) If the iron be blunt, and he do not whet the edge, then must he put to more strength: but wisdom is profitable to direct.
Ecclesiastes 10:10 (MSG) Remember: The duller the ax the harder the work; Use your head: The more brains, the less muscle.
Ecclesiastes 10:10 (NLT) Using a dull ax requires great strength, so sharpen the blade. That’s the value of wisdom; it helps you succeed.
Talk about attitudes? PRESIDENT THEODORE ROOSEVELT also stated:
THE MOST IMPORTANT SINGLE INGREDIENT IN THE FORMULA TO FINDING SUCCESS IS KNOWING HOW TO GET ALONG WITH PEOPLE!
A PERFECT HEART WITH A WILLING MIND!
1 Chronicles 28:9 And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the LORD searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever.
CAN YOU HEAR MY HEART? CAN YOU HEAR OTHERS' HEART? REAL LIFE CONSIST NOT IN THE ABUNDANCE OF THINGS... LISTEN TO OTHERS' HEART...
Luke 12:15 (KJV) And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.
Luke 12:15 (MSG) Speaking to the people, he went on, "Take care! Protect yourself against the least bit of greed. Life is not defined by what you have, even when you have a lot."
OFTEN LIFE HAS A MIRROR EFFECT ON ATTITUDES...
DO WE UNDERSTAND AS A FAITH FACT THAT WE CAN ALTER OUR LIFE BY ALTERING OUR WORDS/BEHAVIOR/ATTITUDES ON THE ALTAR?
YOU CAN NOT ALLOW YOUR PROBLEMS TO BECOME YOUR PROBLEM.
Obstacles are what you see when you lose sight of your goal...
Ask David what a big problem can achieve? Goliath was a promotion in attitudes...
I AM TOO OLD TO START AGAIN...
One December day in 1914 THOMAS EDISON'S LAB CAUGHT ON FIRE and burned to the ground. All his work and efforts were totally destroyed. Edison sent his children to get their mother. He said: WE WILLL NEVER SEE ANOTHER FIRE LIKE THIS IN OUR LIFE TIME.
TALK ABOUT ATTITUDE: THOMAS EDISON CRIED: I AM 67 YEARS OLD. MANY WOULD SAY I AM TO OLD. BUT HE SAID I AM NOT TOO OLD TO BEGIN AGAIN.
EDISON designed and re-built his lab and worked until he was 84 years old. He had 17 more good years
Most people credited Edison’s ability to creative genius. He credited it to hard work.
He stated Genius is 90% perspiration and 10% inspiration.
WE MUST NOT OVER-LOOK HOW IMPORTANT KEEP TO TRY TO UNDERSTAND EACH OTHER AND KEEP YOUR ATTITUDES AND EMOTIONS IN CHECK AND NEVER QUITTING.
Your attitudes are a personal choice...
WHAT ARE YOU LEAVING BEHIND? THE DASH? On the tombstone is a DOB and a DOD... it is how you spend your dash that matters.
LOOK IN A MIRROR, REFUSE TO ALLOW NEGATIVE THINKING PATTERNS TO DEFINE YOU... ACT BY FAITH, NOT REACT TO PROBLEMS... YOU ARE NOT JUNK!
YOU ARE NOT THE PROBLEM... YOU AND GOD'S WORD ARE THE SOLUTION...
I know you talk to yourself seeking an expert opinion...
CONCLUSION: SHARPEN YOUR BLADE... LISTEN TO OTHERS. TRY UNDERSTANDING. YOU CAN IF YOU THINK YOU CAN. Quit listening to FEAR, DOUBT, PAIN AND BITTERNESS.
Proverbs 23:7 (For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee.
YOU CANNOT ALLOW YOUR PROBLEMS TO BECOME YOUR PROBLEM. Did you know you cannot be a good football back and carry the ball if you cannot block for the team. TRY UNDERSTAND AND LISTENING. TRUST GOD! FAITH WORKS!
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
Thank you Dr. Gary Brackett for the trail to a truth.
