When the Well Runs Dry

I learned by the example set by my father many years ago the meaning and process of work. Dad got up every morning before the crack of dawn, dressed himself in the kitchen so as not to wake my mom and headed off into the darkness to a GM foundry some thirty miles away. Usually, by three thirty in the afternoon or so he would return home, or because of overtime, we would not see him till later that night. And so this cycle repeated itself for decades until dad retired in 1992.

When I think about the choices I had to make at the end of high school, the last place I wanted to end up was in a dingy, dirty foundry where trading time for pay was an acceptable means to an end. With six kids to feed, clothe and send off to school every day, my dad had few other options but to sacrifice the best years of his life to a system that was known as “an honest living.” What I remember is that there were times I felt like I did not have a father because he missed so many of the events and special occasions in my life that were important. Not to sound like a bitter and resentful son, but somehow I knew deep down that there was a better way than being a slave to the time clock just to say at the end of the day that there was food on the table and the mortgage payment was up to date. There just had to be a better way than living life as though the well was running dry and the only system available was the “bucket brigade.”

When the well runs dry and the town needs water, where do people turn to meet their need? Traditional wisdom says that each man or woman picks up a bucket each day, makes their way to the river and brings back a portion of what is needed to fill the well. Day upon day, week upon week and year upon year this system is repeated and ingrained into the minds and generations of children who follow in the footsteps of their parents, until someone comes along who brings a whole new way to fill the well. In the spirit of innovation for which man is known for, this rare individual takes a long look at how things have been done and says to himself: “There must be a better way.”

The end result was probably one of the most significant feats of engineering and accomplishments of all time. The ancient Romans discovered that bringing water to the people through aqua ducts or pipelines was not only a more efficient way than simply hauling buckets, but it allowed for more time to come up with even more new ways of doing things. Now some built cities and towns closer to rivers or other bodies of water at the risk of flood and other perils that threatened life and property, but there remained those who thought in ways that accounted for such things and created lasting civilizations that thrive right up to the present day.

Our founding fathers were such innovators and thinkers who resolved to improve not only themselves, but the lives of others in their communities and nation as a whole. They refused to believe that life lived under royal decree was the best way to organize a nation. They saw freedom and liberty as a better way to encourage and inspire people to make a better life. They saw the need for laws and government as a means to organize society to protect people from tyranny and oppression, but not as a sole means to meet every need, but as a way to encourage individual responsibility and leadership at every level of society.

And so we return to the well once again to fill it with fresh ideas and an abundance of reliable information to feed the thirst of those who seek more time to spend with family and friends to build a greater sense of community and prosperity. This innovation throws out the time clock mentality of buckets and builds on the principle of pipelines where a continuous flow of water feeds the whole twenty four hours a day. If there were any gift a humble servant leader could give to others, it would be the gift of time, freedom and prosperity where families could thrive and communities come together. This is my hope through the LIFE Team approach and I invite all who have ever asked the question: “There must be a better way” to come aboard and take the wheel of change to new and brighter horizons.