[Grovenet] A Lesson On Living

[Ron D'Eau Claire]

Having been a commercial radiotelegraph operator and Ham, I tend to notice
things relating to that field. Here's an old story about a young man trying
to prove himself back when the clack of telegraph sounders was the high-tech
"internet" of the day. It's message is as true today as it was then.

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A young man applied for a job as a telegraph operator. He answered an ad in
the newspaper and went to the telegraph office to await an interview. Though
he knew Morse Code and was otherwise qualified, seven other applicants were
also waiting in the large, noisy office.

He saw customers coming and going and heard a telegraph clacking away in the
background. He also noticed a sign on the receptionist's counter instructing
applicants to fill out a form and wait to be summoned to an inner office for
an interview. He filled out the form and sat down to wait. 

After a few minutes, the young man stood up, crossed the room to the door of
the inner office, and walked right in. Naturally the other applicants perked
up, wondering why he had been so bold. They talked among themselves and
finally determined that, since nobody had been summoned to interview yet, he
would likely be reprimanded for not following instructions and possibly
disqualified for the job.

Within a few minutes the young man emerged from the inner office escorted by
the interviewer who announced to the other applicants, "Thank you all very
much for coming, but the job has just been filled."

They were all confused. One man spoke up: "Wait a minute -- I don't
understand. We've been waiting longer than he and we never even got a chance
to be interviewed."

The employer smiled, "All the time you've been sitting here, the telegraph
has been ticking out the following message: 'If you understand this, then
come right in. The job is yours.'"

The young man knew a valuable life-lesson that most people miss: Wherever
You Are, Be There. If you're there physically, also be there emotionally. Be
there mentally. Be there attentively. Be there as fully as you can.

It's about being present and fully alive in the moment. Wherever you are, be
there. Give your full attention to others (is there really a better gift?).
Give yourself fully to the task at hand or to the  present moment. When
you're completely present, you'll make the most  of every minute. And
minutes lived fully add up to a life lived  magnificently.

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Ron D'Eau Claire