The following piece was written for a book I’m writing. CONNECTIONS will take the reader through my lifetime experiences. Those messages and learning I’m committed to leave as a legacy. Beyond the material … focused on my most important things.

At the introduction of this book I mention “fireflies.” Quiet messages I get in early morning that spur me to write.

This morning? The word “Distribution” came to me. Then the word “Rain” Huh? Took me awhile to clear my eyes, focus on what these words meant. But I got it. Ha! Caught that “firefly!” Little fella thought he’d fly away.

Here goes …
Our journey through life sends us out to gather all the experiences we’ve enjoyed, been challenged by … mostly learned from. Events, travels … raising a family. We move through the years accumulating so much knowledge. Mentally, spiritually. Fueled, kept alive by all the memories.

 Ultimately, some of us move through later life saying, “Ok. Had some fun. Earned some money. I did well. That’s it. Look at all I’ve done. I’ve had a good life. Let’s just move on. I’ve produced all my life. It’s now my turn. My time to consume.”  This is how a lot of us see our later years.

But then there are … well, let me call them the teachers. The distributors.

Those who see themselves called to do more than just let their later years drift by. They see that something larger than themselves directs them along a different path. Bestowed by gifts of learnings, wisdom to be cherished. And above all … above all to be shared. Distributed to others. With love.

The picture I have? Good sized rain drops falling from the sky. Landing on the trees, all the flowers and plants. Essential for them to live, grow and flourish. Rain drops falling to feed. Giving life a color, a vibrancy we can be joyous about.

Raindrops build in the clouds. Then they fall to earth. Provide an irreplaceable nourishment to life on earth.

 Like rain drops from the sky. So too are the experiences, the learnings we are called to share. All the wisdom one accumulates during a lifetime needs to be distributed to others. Fed to those coming along behind us. With us. Help them grow, learn from what we know. Have experienced, in love during our lifetime.

Some examples … a solution to a problem that worked. A challenge with a relationship addressed successfully. A great sermon at church. A loss processed well. A great trip. A story that delivers clarity to a confusion. A book you read. A passage you’ve selected and shared from the Bible.
There are many more. But I hope you get my point. We are here to pass it on.

As adults we see wisdom. The knowledge and learnings we have gathered that we’re called to distribute to those traveling their own life path … just not as far along as we are.

I call this. The “distribution phase” of life.l We all experience stress in our lives. “I’m stressed! Ugh! What a pain. Can’t stand it!” Right?

I had lunch with a very learned friend of mine many years ago. Told him how stressed I was. Work, family, everything. I was so frustrated.  He said to me, “Bob, you know how you move a large mass?” I had no idea. “Friction” was his answer. “Friction?” He continued. “Know there is a fine line between stress and ‘constructive tension.’ Without friction … nothing moves. No tension, no growth. Embrace the tension as constructive. It’s there to help you grow. Not take you down. Put it in perspective.”

Wow! Not only have I stopped seeing myself a victim of stress. I was able to pass this concept of “constructive tension” on to countless others. My friend had passed on, “distributed” this wonderful perspective to me. I then passed it on.

Last week Nancy and I went to see Chris Botti, a maestro on the trumpet, perform with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. I wasn’t looking forward to it. We’d seen him six years ago. The first half hour that night was captivating. But Chris was on stage playing his trumpet for two hours. Too much of him for too long. Whew! At one point I was thinking of sending out to get him a respirator.

But last week turned out to be very different. He played his trumpet. Just as wonderfully as before. But this time he stepped back after playing for a short time, and welcomed four young, aspiring musicians to perform with him. Put them front stage.

They were absolutely amazing! I watched Chris beaming as he moved to the rear of the stage hearing them sing, play their instruments. He was distributing. Mentoring those following in his footsteps. So clear to me as I watched his face as they performed.

I think Chris Botti is living in his “distribution phase.”

 No surprise. This entire book is about my “rain.” Attempting to distribute learnings, experiences to you and others. In the hope a short cut or two, a piece of wisdom might hit you. Help you move a little further along your own path. I think of my five grandchildren. My two daughters. Those I’ve coached. Friends too. Hope they read some of my writings. Benefit from them. What about the material possessions I’ll leave to my family? Oh, I have some. I’ll “distribute” these to them too someday.
But my “distributions?” My true gifts to them will be the learnings, the experiences. All the wisdom filled stories that like raindrops falling from the sky will feed them. Help them learn and grow. Flourish. My “distributions”… my contributions. All in love.

I’m still learning so much today. Just more “rain” building in the clouds that I plan to distribute. Look forward to sharing them for my time left.

You too? Why not.
The Distribution Phase …

A signature part for sure of a life well lived.