Carving Kindness Into Your Life

SPECIAL NOTE:  I’m getting ready for my book signing tomorrow, Saturday, November 6, and wanted to invite you personally. See details at the bottom of this page.

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When I survey my life, I’ve had the privilege of having a few mentors shape me and guide my thinking. One in particular—my first boss out of college—Ron. I’ve mentioned him before. After graduating with a degree in marketing and advertising, Ron hired me as a wet-behind-the-ears creative writer in the marketing division of a leading Fortune 500 company.
 
During the interview process, it took less than an hour for me to discern what kind of man he was—a man of integrity, marked by humility.
 
When he hired me, I was young, naïve, and, well—a project. While I was short on experience, I was long on ambition—and somehow—he saw potential. Like any insightful mentor, Ron gave me eyes to see who I was—and what I could become. He wouldn’t have to teach me how to write, but he taught me the fundamentals of marketing, sales promotion, incentive travel, and trade show management. And he modeled something else. Think first, speak second. Cooler heads prevail. Gain knowledge, but desire wisdom.
 
Over the years, he taught me much about business, owning a home, and building a strong marriage. I would work for Ron for almost 15 years. During this time, I felt like he was not only preparing me for present opportunities—but future success. Yet one trait always rose to the surface: kindness.

 
“Kindness is a language which the
deaf can hear and the blind can see.”

I loved working for Ron and the company, but I left under my own power to chase a dream. A dream to start an advertising copywriting and executive speech-writing firm. After I printed new business cards, Ron gave me a gift. As an accomplished woodcarver, he had carved a foot-long pencil that was three inches thick. It rested on a stand he carved. He added a small slot to display my business cards. His thoughtfulness moved me.
 
Several years later, he took another block of wood and carved a feather of a red-tailed hawk. Every line in the feather was exquisitely depicted and he painstakingly painted it to look authentic. Why would he go to this much trouble—for me?
 
Recently, after I had launched my author website and branded my work, he called and asked if he could stop by. He had something for me. After he arrived and we talked for a while, I opened the gift. It was a remarkable carving of a lighthouse and seascape.
 
The carving was breathtaking. (See photo above.) On the face of the wood, he had carved a replica of a local lighthouse near my home. I was speechless. I held the piece in my hands, running my fingers over the surface.
 
“How long did it take you to carve this?”
 
“About twenty hours,” he said quietly, thinking nothing of it.
 
“Why would you spend that much time carving such a personalized gift for me?”
 
“I wanted to support your writing and your author branding on your new website,” he explained.
 
He even engraved a gold plate and mounted it on the carving. The inscription was taken directly from my website and read: “Shedding light to help you focus on the things that matter most.”
 
When I gaze upon these carvings, I recognize that throughout my career, Ron was carving me, too. I was a young, raw block of wood. He was carefully carving me into the marketing professional he knew I could be, sanding away the rough edges of my inexperience. He was shaping me into a strong husband, a future father, and the writer I needed to be in the present—and would need to be in the future—when I launched my business.
 
Today, as I step into my home office, I glance at the pencil business card holder, the intricate red-tailed hawk feather, and the spectacular lighthouse—and marvel at the thoughtfulness of each piece. And when I hold each gift, and reflect on the time invested—for me—I realize that Ron was not only carving art into wood, he was carving kindness into me.

 
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BOOK SIGNING EVENT TOMORROW
 
Tomorrow I will give the first 10 people who purchase a softcover copy of The Glimpse TWO FREE Ebook copies. The Glimpse makes a great CHRISTMAS GIFT for a friend or family member's Kindle or tablet.

Plus, you will receive a SIGNED copy of the novel and, at this event, it will be 20% OFF today's price on Amazon. And obviously, no shipping costs.
 
Here are the details:  

When: Saturday, November 6th from 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Where: ARISE Christian Book Store in Racine
4003 Durand Avenue, Suite 5A, Racine, WI 53405 (next to Piggly Wiggly)