Something to Think About – A Firm Foundation

Something to Think About – A Firm Foundation

Last month, I had the privilege of visiting some Army Engineers at several of their job sites during some Annual Training. After visiting almost every site on a daily basis, I came to the conclusion that it's amazing what a difference two weeks can make.

When these soldiers arrived at one site, there was nothing more than six telephone poles in an otherwise empty lot. As time went on, I begin to see progress starting to take place. At first, it was just a few boards here and there. Then, I saw a platform, and a landing, and then finally some steps. By the time these skillful young men and women were finished, that pile of lumber and power tools which stood before me on that first day had been transformed into a beautiful archery tower, complete with a roof, railings, and all of the bells and whistles.

Another one of their sites came with a giant slab of cement poured and ready for the “50 man classroom” which came to them as a kit. Although not every piece fit together like it should have, this group worked together to meet deadlines and to make sure that this project would stand the test of time.

What was the common link between these two job sites which allowed these projects to be quickly and safely completed? It was the foundation upon which they were built. Without a firm foundation, neither one of these groups would have finished their project, or if they did, the end result would not have met the appropriate standards.

The principle of having a firm foundation is nothing new, and, coincidentally, it can be applied throughout the rest of our lives as well. This principle is discussed in Matthew 7:24-27, which tells of two men. One of them built his house upon a firm foundation and saw it stand against the raging storm. The other one built it upon uncertain ground. He witnessed his own creation come crashing down around him.

Weather we are putting together a building, building a friendship, or starting a new positive habit in our lives to replace an old one, the foundation we lay in the beginning stages will be imperative to the end result.

Over two weeks I was with these soldiers, I witnessed progress both on the worksites and within the unit as well. As the physical walls went up on the projects, many hindering barriers came down. A good example of this is the crew which was putting together the archery tower. Its crew started off as two distinct shifts. As time went on, however, the first shift started staying later, and the second one began to arrive earlier.

By the time the tower was complete, these two groups had decided that they wanted nothing more than to put their own needs aside in order to help their fellow soldier. They realized that since they started with a good foundation and were working towards the same goals, the more they gave to this project… the more they received.

Make sure to build firm foundations in all aspects of your life so that you will stand firm when the storms of life come your way.

David H. Troyer

www.davidhtroyer.com

@DavidHTroyer

www.facebook.com/davidhtroyer

Something to Think About - A Time for Everything

Something to Think About - A Time for Everything

As the hands of the clock inevitably start off in the morning hours, the early time in our life is spent being transformed from a helpless infant to a child which can walk, talk, and perform other simple tasks.

As time goes on, we become teenager who is interested in not much more than getting a car, hanging out with our friends, and dating. Eventually, when it is time to settle down… we find that special someone who we want to spend the rest of our life with. As our biological clock continues to tick, we become more focused on the time for having children of our own, so that they can put us through everything we put our own parents through while we simultaneously attempt to balance our career and social activities in the process. Eventually, we spoil our grandchildren and retire. And then, just as most of us do on a daily basis now, we will most assuredly ask the question, “Where has the day gone?”

Those of us who are old enough… or who have ever listened to our parents’ record collection… may remember a song which I find very applicable. It called Turn! Turn! Turn! (or “To Everything There is a Season”) And was performed by the Byrds on their 1965 Album by the same name.

Part of the lyrics read, “To everything (turn, turn, turn) There is a season (turn, turn, turn)
And a time to every purpose, under heaven A time to be born, a time to die...” By far, the most unique thing about this song is the fact that every word of it, save for the occasional “Turn! Turn! Turn!” is taken straight out of the book of Ecclesiastes chapter three. I love this passage of the Scriptures, mostly because it was written several thousand years ago, it still rings with a truth which is often reiterated even to this day.

We all know that if we want to progress to the next stage in our life, we must spend at least 13 years in school. Yet we also realize that while we are there, especially during the high school years, that time can be divided up. There is a time to study and a time for sports and a time for dating and a time to just go out and have some good, clean fun.

We also know that when we hit the career stage, we can divide that up as well. The first thing we learn is that there is a time at which we must arrive to work, and if we don’t, we’ll be looking for a new place to work. After we figure out that minor little detail, we later realize that there is a time to work late and a time to leave early. A time to keep quiet and a time to tell the boss that you are the best thing to ever happen to the company so that you can get the promotion you have always wanted.

No matter what stage in life we are currently in, or how much time we have left. We need to do two things. First of all, we need to make sure that we have taken the time to know for sure where we are going once this life is over. This is the most important thing we can ever do in our lives!

Second, We should remember what the Bible tells us in Ecclesiastes 3:4… there is “ A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;” Not a single one of us lives long enough to dwell on the past, or the negative parts of the stages yet to come. We should simply realize that all of life has ups and downs and use the time we have to focus on the positive.  

David H. Troyer

www.davidhtroyer.com

www.amazon.com/author/davidhtroyer

@DavidHTroyer

Something to Think About - Every Person Matters

Every Person Matters

There is an old expression that holds a lot of truth in today’s world. It says, “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure.” This expression becomes evident when one visits a yard sale, searches various online auction websites, or visits a thrift shop.

These places are a proverbial gold mine for some and a dumping ground of unwanted items for others. The person who has a yard sale and sells that box of old baseball cards which has been collecting dust in the attic along with a bunch of other old junk for the past 20 years may be happy because he is uncluttering his life. The person who decided to buy them just for kicks to see if there were any “good ones in there” is even happier when the latest edition of the Beckett Baseball card guide tells him that he can retire early.

The same thing is true of an individual. Sometimes, as human beings, we are just a bit like those baseball cards. Sometimes we’ve been collecting dust for a while, or perhaps we just seem like we’re always in the way. If we ever start to feel this way, or if we know of anyone else who does. It is important to remember two things.

First, no matter who we are in this world, our lives affect the lives of others, and the most ironic thing about this life is that we may never know which lives those are until we pass from here into eternity. You may have a profound impact on anyone from a coworker to the young lady who delivers your favorite drink at the local coffee shop you visit every morning. Just the fact that you are there to provide some consistency to their otherwise chaotic life and ever-changing life may bring them the hope that they need to make it through another day.

The poem, “No Man is an Island,” which was written by John Donne during the 1600’s, reminds us of this truth. Every human life is connected in some way. We all have something to offer those around us and it is sad when individuals fail to recognize this. Unfortunately, sometimes, instead of seeing the potential and value they have as a person, some have considered the option of suicide, not realizing how many people around them will be left with feelings of guilt because they did not see it coming. Although the person who considers this action may feel that they are relieving a burden from both themselves as well as their loved ones, some surviving family members and friends have spent the rest of their life anguished with guilt because of it. Donne summarized this sentiment very well when he said, “Any man's death diminishes me, Because I am involved in mankind, And therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; It tolls for thee.”

The second thing to remember is that while we are all loved, respected, and valued by other human beings, the love that God has towards us is infinitely greater. He loved all of mankind so much that He sent his only begotten son so that whosoever believeth in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life. This is the simple truth found in John 3:16. Just a short time ago, we celebrated Easter to commemorate the payment which Christ made on the cross for our sins. All we have to do is accept it. As we go throughout our daily lives, we should try to remember that we matter to those around us, and make it a point to be certain that those around us know that they matter to us as well. Just knowing that their life matters to another single human being on this earth may be all it takes to bring someone, who believes they have no other options, back from the edge and put them on the road to recovery. And remember that if someone is beyond the help that you are able to give them, there is always somewhere else to get them the help they need. 

David H. Troyer

www.davidhtroyer.com

www.amazon.com/author/davidhtroyer

@DavidHTroyer