[Nfbk] "Like a Turtle on a Fence"

[cindy smith]

I love reading the things you send, Joey.  Thank you.

Cindy Smith


On Oct 21, 2011, at 9:29 PM, Joey Couch wrote:

> "Like a Turtle on a Fence"
>
> The late Alex Haley, author of the novel Roots, kept on the wall of
> his office a picture of a turtle sitting on a fence post. To him, the
> image held a powerful lesson. He explained, “If you see a turtle on
> top of a fence post, you know he had some help.” Haley continued, “Any
> time I start thinking, ‘Wow, isn’t this marvelous what I’ve done!’ I
> look at that picture and remember how this turtle—me—got up on that
> post.”1
>
> What Haley understood is that no one gets anywhere without a
> boost—without the help, attention, love, and encouragement of others.
> In a word, he understood humility, the forgotten virtue of our time.
>
> We live in an increasingly aggressive, self-centered society where so
> many are rushing to make a statement about their successes, to be
> noticed and acknowledged as significant and indispensable. Some
> justify such behavior under the false pretense of healthy self-esteem
> and high self-confidence. In contrast, humility is cast as weakness.
>
> Meanwhile, truly great men and women all around us quietly demonstrate
> that quite the opposite is true. They seem to draw strength not from
> popularity and praise but from humility and service. They allow others
> to be in the limelight. Their interest in others is sincere. They ask
> questions and then seriously consider the answers. They share credit
> for successes, standing with others, not above them. They give
> willingly, even anonymously, and their humility puts others at ease.
> Isn’t this the kind of person we seek as a friend—a person with a
> sense of self but not selfishness?
>
> Imagine a community—or better yet, a world—where selflessness and
> humility are valued. Humility is strength. It is quiet but not
> speechless. It is certain but not superior. It respects the dignity,
> talents, and opinions of others. And it recognizes that, in a sense,
> we are all turtles sitting on a fence.
>
>
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> 1. In Stephen R. Covey, Everyday Greatness (2006), 162.
>
>
> --  
> Joey Couch
> phone 606-216-8033.
> email ki4vjd at gmail.com
> twitter.
> http://www.twitter.com/ki4vjd
> facebook.
> http://www.facebook.com/ki4vjd
>
> _______________________________________________
> Nfbk mailing list
> Nfbk at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfbk_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info  
> for Nfbk:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfbk_nfbnet.org/cindy.smith8109%40aol.com