Recently I read the book by David Brooks, The Second Mountain. During his explanation of what the Second Mountain. Generally speaking, he says this mountain is all about RELATIONSHIPS! Early in the book he writes, “… it’s worth remembering that the concept of altruism was invented only in the eighteenth century. Once people decided that human nature is essentially egoist and selfish, then it was necessary to invent a word for when people weren’t driven by selfish desires. But before that, what we call altruism—living for relationships—was just how people lived. It wasn’t heroic or special.”

Altruism did not exist until the 18^th century – let that sink for just a minute!

Without the word before the 18^th century people were generous, kind, and selfless.

Let’s role clock of time backwards and review a time before Instagram selfies. Before celebrity culture. Before the “hyper-individualistic” mentality. During our current pattern of “Social Distancing”, let’s put others first – #AltruisticLife

Shepherds Advantage provides Servant Leadership that helps people close the gap between where they are and where they want to be. Shepherds Advantage closes that gap by providing Leadership Development, Key Note Speaking, and Executive Coaching. Shepherdsadvantage@gmail.com

One’s Good For Time The Other’s Good For People

This is a distinction that is made in Stephen Covey’s book, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. He tells us that we can be “efficient” with time and tasks but that we need to focus on being “EFFECTIVE” with people. Covey goes to state, “While you can think in terms of efficiency in dealing with time, a principle-centered person thinks in terms of effectiveness in dealing with people.”

It is possible to be efficient with our relationships and yet be totally ineffective at the same time. Let’s face the facts, relationships can be messy and yes, they require us to be “FULLY PRESENT” – body, mind, spirit to make this relationship effective.

Now that we are experiencing a national quarantine, instead of scrolling our technology, use it to stay connected in effective ways. For example, my wife and I are using ZOOM to tele-talk with our children and grand-children.

This is a great time to establish new relationship habits.

Shepherds Advantage provides Servant Leadership that helps people close the gap between where they are and where they want to be. Shepherds Advantage closes that gap by providing Leadership Development, Key Note Speaking, and Executive Coaching. Shepherdsadvantage@gmail.com

During this Covid-19 national quarantine have you got up a few mornings in a fog of stress, unable to focus because you are pulled in multiple directions? The stress of work, unsolved issues at home, unanswered emails, sickness, tiredness, financial pressure, and so many other things that are happening to us currently. These pressures can leave us feeling emotionally flat and unable to focus in the morning. This stress you are feeling today may seem like it is a modern dilemma, but I want to offer an ancient solution.

Literally for thousands of years, Jewish believers have spoken a prayer the minute they wake up that focuses their attention on God rather than the things of the world. This prayer comes directly from Deuteronomy 6:4-9; ⁴ “Hear, O Israel: ^dThe Lord our God, the Lord is one.^{2 5} You ^eshall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. ⁶ And ^fthese words that I command you today shall be on your heart. ^7 gYou shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. ^8 hYou shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. ^9 iYou shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.

Shema is the Hebrew word that means to hear and obey. 

When God says Shema, He is giving us an invitation to listen, respond, appreciate, understand, act.

What do you hear God saying? Leave a comment below and let us encourage one another with the voice of God inside of us during this national quarantine.

Shepherds Advantage provides Servant Leadership that helps people close the gap between where they are and where they want to be. Shepherds Advantage closes that gap by providing Leadership Development, Key Note Speaking, and Executive Coaching. Shepherdsadvantage@gmail.com

In the last article I discussed the Periodic Table of Elements and the Hebrew Language. In this article I want to further unpack the idea that connections with other people preserve our sense of virtue and worthiness.

Notice in Genesis 2:18 that God declared, ”…it is not good for man to be alone.” This declaration was not just about the prospects of matrimony. It is about how lonely and miserable it would be if you were in fact the last person on earth. Living alone (as in zero human interactions) can be quite miserable.

Do not miss the fact God delayed the creation of woman until Adam named the animals of creation. Realizing there are zero mistakes made on God’s part of the creation narrative. Therefore, Adam’s naming of the animals is significant. We are left to conclude that Adam named these animals based upon what he saw and upon what he is not. Humans are created more by what we are rather than what we are not.

Consider Adam’s naming of Woman – “Esha”. The rough translation is woman or wife. It would appear as if God asked the question, “Why did you give this name?” in Genesis 2:23. The English translation states, “…because she was taken out of man.” Because language matters notice the Hebrew word for man in this verse changes from a’dam previously now to isch. The implication of this word shift on the part of Adam is he understands his authentic identity to be connected to Esha. This is more than an acquaintance it is a deep spiritual soul level connection.

KEY TAKE-AWAY: Connecting with other people by making commitments to serve with other people, establishing obligations with other people, we are able to discover our true identity. It is difficult to truly know who we are alone. Our connections, our relationships are what shapes us!

Leave a comment below and share what you are doing to stay connected during this quarantine.

Share this post on your social platform to encourage others

Shepherds Advantage provides Servant Leadership that helps people close the gap between where they are and where they want to be. Shepherds Advantage closes that gap by providing Leadership Development, Key Note Speaking, and Executive Coaching. Shepherdsadvantage@gmail.com