“A great man is one sentence” – Clare Boothe Luce

This past week, something quite unusual happened. I call this kind of thing an “attention grabber.”

In his follow up email sent to the Founding Fathers tribe members on Feb 15, Steve Connell wrote:

In the Founding Fathers Tribe right now we are looking at the things we can do together to help each other grow businesses that embody a true Kingdom Culture based on Kingdom Economic Principles and sound management thinking and practices.

One of the things that came up when we were discussing Lynne’s plan was the idea of Purpose, Vision, and Mission. If these are from God and clearly stated, then every plan and activity has focus. If we each know these things about each other, then it is possible to speak into each other as peers, pray and intercede, seek Words of Knowledge and prophecy, offer advice and counsel. It’s also possible to look out for meaningful connections and introductions etc and not just “spray and pray”.

Ultimately this is about how open and vulnerable we are prepared to be in the tribe, and its this that we are exploring at the moment. So while the format was a bit clunky on Wednesday you can see the direction we are attempting to head.

On the question of purpose, here is a segment from Daniel H Pink’s book “Drive” in which he examines human motivation. This section struck me and got me thinking. I hope it gets you all doing the same.

In 1962, Clare Boothe Luce, one of the first women to serve in the US Congress, offered some advice to President John F Kennedy. “A great man”‘ she told him “is one sentence”. Abraham Lincoln’s sentence was: ‘He preserved the Union and freed the slaves”. Franklin Roosevelt’s was “He lifted us out of the great depression and helped us win a world war”. Luce feared that Kennedy’s attention was so splintered among different priorities that his sentence risked becoming a muddled paragraph. You don’t have to be a President of the United States or of your local gardening club to learn from this tale. One way to orient your life towards a greater purpose is to think about your sentence. Maybe it’s “He raised four kids who became happy healthy adults. Or “She invented a device that made peoples’ lives easier” Or ” He cared for every person who walked into his office regardless of whether that person could pay” Or ‘She taught two generations of children how to read”.

As you contemplate your purpose begin with the big question “What’s your sentence?“

As I thought about what I want my legacy to be, here is what I came up with for my sentence:

“He empowered millions of people’s dreams!”

Now here’s where it gets interesting. During my weekly coaching meeting with my son Robbie on Feb 21, I was prompted to read part of Steve’s email to Robbie. After I did that, Robbie told me he is currently reading Drive by Daniel Pink.

Immediately, I knew this was to be the topic for this week’s Sunday Inspiration.

So this week I challenge you to contemplate your purpose and write down what comes to mind to the big question “What’s your sentence?”

 
More Blessings

1) Deep Dark Secret – by Kelita Haverland (Official Music Video) from “Heart of a Woman”
Kelita Live!

2) Your True Identity Revealed [Spiritual Foundations Podcast #005]
Taking Back Tomorrow: Reclaiming the Life God Intended You To Have

3) Truckers Against Trafficking Training Video

4) Today’s Word is TIME by Dr. John Maxwell

5) What do you want me to know today Father?

Blessings to know your purpose clearly and to live that with passion!