The Caring Catalyst

Who Cares - What Matters

T H I N K I N G

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I was

T H I N K I N G. . .

You?

“IF YOU WAIT UNTIL YOU CAN DO EVERYTHING FOR EVERYBODY, INSTEAD OF SOMETHING FOR SOMEBODY, YOU’LL END UP DOING NOTHING FOR NOBODY.”

When I first saw this clip just filmed in New York City in February of this year, IT brought out the

C

in me…

Not my Compassion;

My Cynicism.

I immediately had flash backs of countless pieces of junk mail that I had received about how I could feed a hungry orphaned kid in a far away geographical place I can’t spell phonetically or begin to say, let alone place.

Or

The infomercials that wouldn’t tug but pillage my heart strings with kids who had flies all over them or maggots crawling out of their noses which were meant to implore I would send generously to alleviate this plight.

When I researched the video I was a little shocked to see that well over 22,0000

C H I L D R E N

are homeless in New York City alone.

Staggering
Bothersome
Alarming

all good adjectives and correct.

I guess, I just didn’t like it was a set up…

that it took well over two hours of NO ONE helping this kid who crawled in a not-so-well-insulated garbage bag to keep warm until a homeless man came over and offered more than his sympathetic compassion. He actually gave his coat and money for the freezing kid to eat.

M O R E. . .

He gave what so few of us

(AND I’M FIRST IN LINE)

Just the mere PRESENCE of himself–

which is always the most valuable thing we own and can ever give:

O U R S E L V E S !

I didn’t like that the film makers were a block away and came and not only praised the Homeless man

(Which was a powerful gift in itself)

but actually gave him well over $500 (perhaps a piece).

Here’s what I was THINKING:

IS THAT WHAT IT TAKES TO MOVE US?
IS THAT WHAT IT TAKES TO MOTIVATE US TO GIVE?
IS THAT WHAT IT TAKES TO BRING AWARENESS TO AN OBVIOUS TRAGIC SITUATION?
IS THAT WHAT IT TAKES TO SHOCK US TO ACTION?
IS THAT WHAT IT TAKES TO SHAME US?
IS THAT WHAT IT TAKES TO_______________________________________________?

Maybe that was the real purpose of the short 6 minute clip:

Not so much to make me Question

But to make me seek an ANSWER. . .

To actually make me feel disgust and then wrestle with why I actually FELT IT. . .

To T H I N K ?

You?

WHAT
DO
YOU
T H I N K ?

The Service Station

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Yeah, I was one of THOSE:

A Gas Station Attendant!

You’d have to Google or go to Wikipedia to even begin to understand what A Gas Station Attendant even

W A S

I worked my way through the last year of College and saved enough to begin my first year of Seminary.

It was waaaaaaaaaaay back in 1976

and I didn’t learn a thing about tires, oil changes, alternators, headlights, radiators or cars in general, but I did learn a lot about People and Service.

I was the guy that dropped everything he was doing to meet you at your barely rolled down window before the Service Station bell rang twice as you pulled up to the gas pump.

I would politely ask what type of gas you’d like, how much and if you would be so kind to allow me to check your oil, your tire pressure and clean your windshield.

I’d usually be treated just a little above whale dung–especially when it was in the dead of Winter.

…I learned a lot about People and a whole lot more about Service. . . .

The worse People would treat me was usually when I provided the most Service.

It really set me up for a life of service.

Givers are not Takers but Takers are!

I was making a whopping $75 a week and the best lesson I learned THEN

is the one I Teach, NOW:

NO ONE WILL EVER BE ABLE TO PAY YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO, BUT HOPEFULLY THEY’LL PAY YOU ENOUGH SO YOU CAN DO IT!

Anyone in any Service area, will never be paid for the SERVICE provided–EVER. . .

but most likely you’ll be compensated JUST ENOUGH to be able to continue to provide YOUR SERVICE.

I remember shoveling out the drive way of the service station before it was open and a grandmother and her two granddaughters pulled in with their radiator steaming. The hose had a hole; sprung a leak.

I poured hot chocolate from my thermos for the girls and grandma while I quickly replaced her hose and when she said she didn’t have any money to pay for the repair, I told her not to worry about it, paid for it out of my own pocket and wished them a good day with the advice to KEEP WARM and be safe.

It was near the end of my shift when I saw grandma’s car come into the lot, but this time grandpa was driving and he barely put the car in Park before he jumped out and started yelling me about how I had taken advantage of his wife, and put her and his two granddaughters at great risk for installing UN-named brand parts.

He didn’t want to hear that I never charged her and gave his granddaughters my hot chocolate. . . .

I learned a lot about People and a whole lot more about Service.

It wasn’t the next day or the next. . .

I was shoveling out the lot before the Station opened again, and I noticed “THE CAR” coming into the lot.

Grandma was driving.

She got out of the car with a brand new thermos filled with her HOME MADE Hot Chocolate and a warm ham and cheese sandwich and even warmer chocolate chip cookies.

“You’re a nice boy who deserves nice things.”

It was one of the nicest THANK YOU, I’M SORRY I’ve ever experienced.

I learned a lot about People and a whole lot more about Service.

Wouldn’t it be great if we still had Service Stations?

No. . .

Not the kind that serves gas, checks oil, tire pressure, radiator levels or washes windshields. . .

Not the kind that trades radiator hoses for warm sandwiches, cookies and homemade hot chocolate. . .

Not the kind that swaps merchandise for money. . .

. . .the kind that doesn’t count a cost before it delivers. . .
. . .the kind that doesn’t pay you adequately for what you deserve only what you can’t help doing anyway. . .
. . .the kind that the World needs and seldom gets enough. . .
. . .the kind that’ll get your treated a half-inch above whale dung. . .
. . .the kind that’ll make you feel better than any paycheck or hefty bank account. . .

. . .the kind that you’ll learn about People and a whole lot more about Service. . .
. . .the kind that you’ll Teach, Pass on as you first learned it, most likely the hard way. . .

DING
DING

Excuse me, time to go provide some

SERVICE!

GIFT

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Buddy, can you spare a dime?

How about seven minutes?

GIFT

is a short film that has a profound, heart-touching message about the importance of GIVING, and the true value of wealth. It’s a beautiful deperiction of how we deeply touch others when we SELFLESSLY give our time, love and kindness.

GIFT

is about a boy who grew up not liking his father because he believed he was poor, unintelligent and unsuccessful, but his father had a secret. It was only until after his father’s death he discovers the true reach of his father’s generosity towards others and the joy and laughter he brought to others. He finally understands his father’s message to him as a boy, that

“BEING RICH IS NOT ABOUT HOW MUCH YOU HAVE, BUT HOW MUCH YOU GIVE”

I’ve watched the film several times and used it in a couple of presentations I’ve given, and plan to use it in some upcoming ones in March.

It doesn’t matter how many times I watch it.

I tear up

I gulp a little harder

I hear two words that just keep resounding louder and louder above the soft soundtrack. . .

I’M

A S H A M E D.

I’m filthy, stinking rich. . .

and aim to become just a little richer than any calculations could ever compute

. . .and even richer, still, tomorrow.

Here’s my invitation:

JOIN ME!

Let There Be Peace On Earth

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IT never fails…especially when I hear a group of kids sing IT. . .

LET THERE BE PEACE ON EARTH…AND LET IT BEGIN WITH ME!

Uhhh, yeah. . .I tear up. . .

A L W A Y S !

The song was written in 1955 by Jill Jackson Miller and Sy Miller. Jackson, who had been suicidal after the failure of a marriage, later said that she wrote the song after finding what she called the “LIFE SAVING JOY OF GOD’S PEACE AND UNCONDITIONAL LOVE.”

The story goes that on a Summer evening in 1955, a group of some 180 teenagers of all races and religions were meeting at a workshop high in the California mountains. Locking arms, they formed a circle and sang a song of Peace. They felt that singing the song, with its simple basic sentiment–LET THERE BE PEACE ON EARTH AND LET IT BEGIN WITH ME,” helped to create a climate for the World Peace and understanding.

When they came down from the mountain, these inspired young people brought the song with the and started sharing it. . .and IT began

It traveled the World in a very fast pace (AS GOOD THINGS REALLY HAVE BEEN KNOWN TO DO). Soon the song was being shared in all fifty states–at school graduations, PTA Meetings, at Christmas and Easter Gatherings and as a part of the celebration of Brotherhood Week. It became the Theme for Veteran’s Day, Human Rights Day and U.N. Day. American Legion, the B’nai B’rith, the Kiwanis Clubs and CORE.

IT traveled the World.

IT was being sung by big name artists.

IT was winning awards.

The simple thought, LET THERE BE PEACE ON EARTH AND LET IT BEGIN WITH ME, first born on a mountain top in the voices of youth, continues to travel HEART to HEART–gathering people everywhere who wish to become a note in a song of understanding and peace–for for ALL People Everywhere.

It matters not how you hear it. . .

It matters not how you sing it. . .

It matters not how you harmonize. . .

It matters. . .

HOW YOU SHARE IT. . .

How Your Peace becomes Another’s,

For a Moment and then another one until EACH Knows IT

EVERY SECOND. . .

OF EVERY LIFE!

BE the SPLASH that begins the endless Ripple of Peace. . .

LET IT BEGIN WITH YOU–

right where you dwell. . .

but never where you STAY!

When Competition, Isn’t….

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Does it ever end well. . .?

An older Pizza Hut Delivery man comes marching into McDonald’s at one of their most busiest times, right at lunch hour.

You could see that both of the Drive-Thru Lanes were packed and there were three lines of hungry people, four or five deep waiting to place their orders.

This Pizza Hut Delivery Guy wasn’t about to wait in line. As soon as he got to the center of store, he started, very loudly yelling, “WHERE’S THE MANAGER? I WANT TO SPEAK TO THE MANGER, NOW!” The loud

N O W

Almost sounded like an angry dog before he was ready to sink his teeth into any soft flesh available.

Everyone stood there stunned. It got very quiet.

No cash registers were ringing.

No orders were being taken.

No one was moving.

No one expected a good outcome.

Would you?

Does a scene set up like this ever end up well?

Their was hushed mumbling and then yelling for “RON” (Oh the Irony–RON–Seriously? A distant relative of THE RONALD McDONALD?)

to get out to the front.

Uh-oh. . .there he was. RON, a young manager in a not-so-white-stained-barely-tucked-in-shirt with a black wrinkled tie, and dirty eye-glasses that were somewhat askew.

SHOW TIME:

“You the manager,” the Pizza Hut Delivery man more accused than asked?

“Yes sir, my name is Ron. How may I be of help?”

“Well I came here to get something straight,” he started out, not in any low tone manner.

EVERYONE WAS WATCHING THIS…MUST SEE REALITY. . . .

“My mother was in here the other day,” the Pizza Hut man continued, “and she kinda got stuck over there in that booth. She’s having trouble getting around and she said everyone was laughing and no one was out here helping her. . . ,”

“Sir,” Ron butted in to begin defending himself, but Pizza Man was having none of it.

He put his hand up in front of Ron’s face as he continued.

“Hold on there, Son. She said everyone was laughing and snickering and talking about her and no one was doing a thing and then you came out and brought her a coffee and a glass of water and you helped her out.”

This went

H A L L M A R K

quicker than you could say: M c P I Z Z A. . . .

And then, then came the McPLAUSE and rightfully so.

Pizza Man pulled a steaming, hot pizza from his delivery bag as he said, “Here, Ron, it ain’t much but a man who does good deserves good.”

And with that he hands him over a Pizza–SPECIAL DELIVERY–as it were.”

People applauded and cheered. A few whistled.

They shook hands and then hugged.

I WANTED TO KNOW. . .to HEAR what Pizza Man told Ron McDonald Manager as they hugged there for a moment.

Quite a moment. . .still is.

When the Competition, ISN’T. . .the most amazing things happen.

Triple A is the Perfect Gift

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W A I T. . .

Is this Black Wednesday?

As of the actual writing of THIS Post, Christmas is only 43 days away. . .

As of the actual writing of THIS Post, Hanukkah is only 35 days away. . .

As of the actual writing of THIS Post, Kwanzaa is only 44 days away. . .

Pssssst: I’ve got the best Gift for any one of those events. . .

or all the days between NOW, THEN, FOLLOWING

and all of the days in between:

THE TRIPLE A MEMBERSHIP!

That’s right, rub your eyes, scratch your head wonder out loud. . .

But the TRIPLE A MEMBERSHIP is the best gifts going away and if truly bought—

THE MOST EXPENSIVE. . .

THE MOST COVETED. . . .

In fact, you should never AGAIN, leave home without it—

A
vailability

A
ccesibility

A
ccountability

It’s entirely, WHOLE-listically, COMPLETE

with successful Trip Ticks to anywhere, anytime, anyplace. . .

GOOD TO GO,

and better. . .

Get SOMEONE Else “T H E R E” as well.

Full of Discounts,

Short Cuts,

Saving SEVERE

Time. . .Money. . .Aggravation.

Seriously, it’s the best gift you CAN BE. . .

It’s the best Gift you can give Another. . .

Gift-Wrapping Optional. . .

Benefits: Innumerable!

Psssssst. . .No thanks necessary but always welcomed: chuck@thecaringcatalyst.com

HAPPY

H O L I

D A Y S

(LIFE TIME GUARANTEE INCLUDED)

UN-LEGISLATABLE

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Wouldn’t it be great if LAWS weren’t the only thing that could actually be legislated?

Wait. . .?

Are laws actually legislated?

Is Love?

Is Compassion?

Is Justice?

Is Hope?

Is Faith?

Is Caring?

Is Forgiveness?

Is Empathy?

Is Sympathy?

Is Belief?

Is Giving?

Is Joy?

Is Happiness?

Is Presence?

We can’t can we?

We can’t ever legislate what we need the most. . .

But, we can share it!

Get convicted doing the right thing–better still. . .

Become W A N T E D with a high price on your head. . .

A Fugitive on the run–

For being a REPEAT OFFENDER!

Would You?

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Would you?

We play THOSE kind of games at parties or sometimes around a dining room table after dessert and during the second cup of coffee.

We ask, “WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF YOU FOUND OUT THAT YOU ONLY HAD SIX MONTHS TO LIVE?”

Travel?

Sell everything you have and make sure that others benefit from the proceeds?

Go on a mega vacation?

Go on a huge ‘GOOD-BYE TOUR?’

Take things into your own hands and commit suicide?

Fight it with exotic experimental interventions/drugs?

Forget it with all kinds of alcohol and recreational drugs?

Would you go public with it, like the Illinois TV Anchorman, Dave Benton?

Would you go through the litany of: WHY ME. . .HOW COME. . .WHAT FOR?

Would you believe in God, in the Great Forever?

Would you stop exercising and eat whatever you want?

Would you max out your credit cards?

Would you do something totally outrageously dangerous?

Would you go out and have as many illicit affairs as possible in a six month period?

Would you commit a crime or murder someone?

Would you retire or continue to work?

Would you tell everyone, no one or some Ones?

Would you live as you have always lived?

Would you try to get in touch with folks to make amends?

Would you. . . ?

What would you do if you knew you only had six months to live?

Pssssst: Who says you even have that much time left?

While you might indeed have more than six months to live, this

IS NOT

a Document that insures you have time to read it again or share it.

This is a powerful reminder, hopefully, to let you know:

6 Seconds
6 Minutes
6 Hours
6 Days
6 Weeks
6 Months
6 Years
60 Years. . .

it’s all but a blink of the eye.

The life you have left is a Gift!

Cherish it.

Enjoy it.

L I V E I T to the fullest, no interruptions, commercial breaks, exceptions or excuses.

Do what Matters

Now!

McBrought It

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I’m impatient.

That’s a huge McUnderstatement.

Would you like a McClassic Example?

So very crowded was the line inside of McDonald’s that I went back outside, got in my car and got in the drive-thru line.

It was also a dramatic illustration of just how competitive I am, even with myself. My personal-no-one-even-noticed-Game was to get in my car, go through the drive-thru, get my order, park my car and get back into McDonald’s and eat my sausage egg McMuffin without the last person in line inside the store getting their order.

Little did I know that there was another game about to take place. . .

One with a couple of Winners.

I first heard her voice when I came up to the speaker to place my order.

Before she ever asked me for my order, she asked me this:

“Good morning. Are you having a good day?”

I told her I was having an awesome day and asked her how she was doing?

She told me, “Most Excellent.”

“Now what can I get for you to make the day better,” she asked?

I placed my order and was a little intrigued to find who this Order-Taking Wizard was.

She was young, and had a smile on her face that filled the window.

She told me what I owed her and as I handed her the money, I told her I owed her much more than that.

“How is it that you are TAKING orders but GIVING so much more than what you could put in a bag?”

She laughed and said, “I’ve never heard it put THAT way before.”

I thanked her for making my morning and she thanked me for coming through her line and told me it was good to see me.

I gave her my standard reply to that comment: “IT’S BETTER TO BE SEEN THAN VIEWED”

She laughed and that when I said, “Hey, thanks for bringing it. . .you McBROGHT IT!”

She yelled as I drifted away, “Thanks, you McBrought it, too!”

I hurried and parked my car and went back into McDonald’s to read the papered news and eat my Sausage Egg McMuffin.

Oh yeah, I was smiling big because I had beaten the people who were still in line waiting for their orders.

I WON!

…and then, and then I realized, I ready had W O N. . . .

When was the last time Some One McBrought if for you?

When was the last time you McBrought if for Some One Else?

Let the Game begin. . .

McBring It!

W I N

Yesterday’s News, Tomorrow

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It’s almost been a month. . .

If you think that news travels fast, time makes you forget THAT news flies even faster, doesn’t it?

It’s been just about a month since Robin Williams died.

There’s been many stories written, many movies highlighted and seen, many once-upon-a time’s and remember-when’s reflected upon.

Care for one more?

I don’t think I’ll ever be able to hear the name of ROBIN WILLIAMS or see another one of his movies without thinking about this. . . .

The story goes that whenever Robin was to be hired or considered for a role he would submit a “RIDER.”

[Read more…]

Professional Speaker, Author, Assurance Man