Time to say thanks

July 21, 1999

I had a good day today.

I stood up in front of between 100-200 people and spoke for an hour, the technology worked well, and even though I did not rehearse, they liked it. There are about 600 attendees here, each paying about a thousand dollars to attend, and they listened to me. Kept me for almost an hour afterwards, asking questions.

Tonight I want to share something I read this evening while sitting in a cafe on a Denver street:

If you have a friend worth loving,
Love him. Yes, and let him know
That you love him, ere life's evening
Tinge his brow with sunset glow.
Why should good words ne'er be said
Of a friend-till he is dead?

If you hear a song that thrills you
Sung by any child of song,
Praise it. Do not let the singer
Wait deserved praises long.
Why should one who thrills your heart
Lack the joy you may impart?

If you hear a prayer that moves you
By its humble pleading tone,
Join it. Do not let the seeker
Bow before his God alone.
Why should you not your brother share
The strength of "two or three" in prayer?

If you see hot tears falling
From a brother's weeping eyes,
Share them. And by kindly sharing
Own our kinship in the skies.
Why should any one be glad
When a brother's heart is sad?

If a silvery laugh goes rippling
Through the sunshine on his face,
Share it. 'Tis the wise man's saying:
For both grief and joy a place.
There's health and goodness in the mirth
In which an honest laugh has birth.

If your work is made more easy
By a friendly, helping hand,
Say so. Speak out brave and truly
Ere the darkness veil the land.
Should a brother workman dear
Falter for a word of cheer?

Scatter thus your seeds of kindness
All enriching as you go:
Leave them. Trust the Harvest Giver;
He will make each seed to grow.
So until the happy end
Your life shall never lack a friend.

Alexander MacLeod (1786-1869)

I want to say thank you to all the great people who I had the privilege of "meeting" through various methods on the world wide web. Some of you I have had the privilege to meet, whether at lunch, or in a flight in an antique airplane, or a conference in St. Louis. Even though I have never seen many of your faces, or heard your voices, I count you as friends.

Thanks for your kind words and encouragement.