Who Is Packing Your Parachute

“Great men are rarely isolated mountain peaks; they are the summits of ranges.”

— Thomas Wentworth Higginson

Do you ever take the time to think about the fast food attendant that takes your order or delivers your meal? What about the postal worker or UPS driver that sorts and delivers the packages for you to conduct your daily business? What about the truck driver who delivers fuel to the service station so that you can fill up your car and go about your daily chores. I expect that you, like me, give little, if any, thought about these individuals.

In the daily grind of life we often fail to recognize all of the good that is done on our behalf. I heard this story once that helps me remember all those individuals who are on “my team” and help me accomplish my tasks.

This story is about a jet fighter pilot in Vietnam by the name of Charles Plumb. Plumb had completed 75 combat missions when he was shot down, ejected and parachuted into enemy hands, afterwards he spent six years in a Vietnamese prison. Fortunately he survived and today shares with groups the many lessons he learned.

One day while eating at a restaurant with his wife a man came up and said, "You’re Plumb! You flew jet fighters in Vietnam from the aircraft carrier Kitty Hawk. You were shot down!"

"How in the world did you know that?" asked Plumb. "I packed your parachute," the man replied. Charles Plumb in surprise and gratitude had to catch his breath. 
The man then shook his hand and said, "I guess it worked!" Plumb assured him it had and said, "If your chute hadn't worked, I wouldn't be here today."
Charles Plumb is now a motivational speaker telling this story to hundreds. He always ask his audiences after telling it, "Who's packing your parachute?"
Charles Plumb is now a motivational speaker telling this story to hundreds. He always ask his audiences after telling it, "Who's packing your parachute?"

That night Plumb could not sleep. "I kept pondering what he might have looked like in a Navy uniform - a Dixie cup hat, a bib in the back, and bell bottom trousers”, he said. “I wonder how many times I might have seen him and not even said good morning, how are you or anything because, you see, I was a fighter pilot and he was just a sailor", recalled Plumb.

Plumb thought a lot about that man who had packed his parachute and the hours he spent at a wooden table at the bottom of the ship carefully packing his and others chutes. He held in his hands the chute; the fate of someone he didn’t even know. 

In our life many people have a hand in our parachutes. Are we taking the time to acknowledge them, thank them, reward them? It is very easy to overlook the work of the many people we come in contact with each day. When an athletic team has won a championship do you ever hear them thank the trainer, the cook, the bus driver? Do they take the time to reward them too? It takes a lot of people to create a championship team, just as it takes a lot of people to make us successful each day.

We often notice those who aid in helping us be late, miss an appointment or negatively affect the outcome of a deal we are working. What about those who help us get it right? The next time you have the opportunity, thank those who are doing a good job. Reward them. Let them know you notice and appreciate them. I know you will be glad you did and our community will be better off because of it.

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* This article was originally printed in the Sunday, February 23, 2014 issue

of The Chronicle's"Planting Seeds" column.

A Sticky Situation

“We can complain because rose bushes have thorns, or rejoice because thorn bushes have roses.”

— Abraham Lincoln

I hope you have recovered from the “Snowpocolypse of 2014”. I hope we won’t see any ice like that again for a long time, but I hear we do have some frigid temperatures forecast for next week, so restock and let’s get ready to hunker-down again!

While I don’t necessarily like the conditions under which it came, I did enjoy very much spending a couple of days at home with my family and getting to experience my boys’ first real snow days in their own home. (We were in Nashville a few years ago when Ethan got to experience his first snow.) I still don’t think our corgi understands or likes snow, at all.

Every time I hear ice and snow in the forecast I can’t help but think back to the Ice Storm of ’94 that I spent in the Delta. It was beautiful, treacherous, and fun all at the same time. Yes, it was fun for the obvious reasons that we were out of school, we got to head to the levee and slide down those steep hills (they aren't so abundant in the Delta you know), and that I got to throw snow and ice at my sister and didn't get in trouble – that much.

My fondest memories of that time are in regard to my family. We were without power for 14 days. That is an eternity to someone who, at the time, was used to having TV on all the time. We had no power, no TV, no refrigerator, no nothing (it seemed like). Luckily our house at that time was gas. We had a stove to cook on, a floor furnace and gas logs to heat the home, and a gas hot water heater. It was very primitive during that time but we all enjoyed each other as a family. The only form of communication we had was through the one country radio station that wasn't knocked out during the storm. I remember that once they ran out of music, they would play old TV theme songs, just for something different.

As much fun as I remember, I am sure at the time, things weren't so fun. I am sure we got on each other’s nerves. I am sure we bothered each other. And, I am sure at some point we never wanted to see each other again.

Its funny how even the people we love the most get on our nerves and seem to throw off OUR plans and ways of doing things. Sometimes our family’s differences s aren't the only ones that get on our nerves. Some times it’s our co-workers. Other times it may be our teammates. Perhaps still it is a social group or civic club that ruffles our feathers. I heard this great story that illustrates my point and I’d like to share it with you. It goes something like this:

It was the coldest winter ever in January that year. Many animals were dying. There was a group of porcupines that realized their situation was not so good. So they decided to huddle together. By grouping together they would be covered, protected, and their warmth would spread to one another. But huddling together caused a curious problem. The quills of each porcupine began to wound the one next to them.

After awhile it was decided that it would be better to distance themselves from one another. However, it was too cold and one by one they began to die alone and frozen. So the remaining team of porcupines made a choice; either they accept the quills of their companions or succumb to death. 

Wisely they each made the decision to huddle back together. Though it wasn't easy, they learned to make it work and meet their goal to survive the winter in warmth. 

No team is perfect; no family is either. We all have our differences and our own expectations that we bring with us. Sometimes we get on each other’s nerves and sometimes we let others differences effect our performance. Truly successful teams understand these differences, but they also embrace, admire, and celebrate the strengths of their team members.

Just as the story and quote above stated, let’s not die alone in the cold because we could not accept other’s differences; let’s celebrate the beautiful roses and forget the thorns. Problems will arise. It won’t be easy to get around them sometimes, but if we look for the good in each other and celebrate the good and positive things happening all around us, your teams and our community will be better off because of it!

I hope you stay warm as the harsh winter gives way to the beauty of spring, but I also hope you can celebrate the beauty all around you during this time of year. You will never have this time in your life again, so live it to its fullest. I know you will be glad you did.

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* This article was originally printed in the Sunday, February 2, 2014 issue

of The Chronicle's"Planting Seeds" column.

The Second Mouse

“Think like a man of action, act like a man of thought.”

— Henri Bergson

Ever since I was a boy I remember my parents and grandparents telling me, “The early bird gets the worm”. It wasn't until I was in college that I heard the second part of that saying. An alternate version of this statement and one that I am often reminded of states, “It may be true that the early bird gets the worm, but it is also just as well that the second mouse gets the cheese”.

When I was a boy, and still sometimes today, my parents would often scold me for “thinking too much” and not doing enough (or as often was the case, not doing whatever chore they had asked on their set time frame . Many times, it wasn't that I wasn't moved to action or wanting and willing to complete the task, but rather than just “check the box” that the task was completed and done, I wanted to do it right, I wanted to do it better, and I wanted there to be a significant purpose for doing said task. - It was often hard for me to find a meaningful purpose to folding my clothes and cleaning my room, but as I soon found out, losing my driving privileges was a great motivator!

There is a lot to be said for being quick to action. You certainly want to be reactive to issues as they arise and sometimes it is best to go ahead and just get done those chores that we don’t want to do, such as the laundry and housework.  But, there is also a time when being quick to action just might put you in a worse situation. I am reminded of a story I once heard of a Fox and a Goat.

“One day a fox fell into a deep well and could find no means of escape.  A goat, overcome with thirst, came to the same well, and seeing the fox, inquired if the water was good.  Concealing his sad plight under a merry guise, the fox indulged in a lavish praise of the water, saying it was excellent beyond measure, and encouraging him to descend.  The goat, mindful only of his thirst, thoughtlessly jumped down, but just as he drank, the fox informed him of the difficulty they were both in and suggested a scheme for their common escape.  ‘If,’ said he, ‘you will place your forefeet upon the wall and bend your head, I will run up your back and escape, and will help you out afterwards.’  The goat readily assented and the fox leaped upon his back.  Steadying himself with the goat's horns, he safely reached the mouth of the well and made off as fast as he could.  When the goat chastised him for breaking his promise, he turned around and cried out, ‘you foolish old fellow! If you had as many brains in your head as you have hairs in your beard, you would never have gone down before you had inspected the way up, nor have exposed yourself to dangers from which you had no means of escape.’”

Sometimes it is better to think before we act. Sometimes it is better to act before we think too much. The difficult part is knowing when is the right time to take an extra moment and plot your exit strategy before you begin.

I hope that as you begin your new year you have had some time over the holiday to think through the past year. What were those times you might have reacted to quickly? What were those times that you weren't quick enough to action? Can you learn from the actions of your past to improve your future?

As we lead into the New Year with our minds clear and our goals set, let’s take time to pause for half a second before we begin to make sure our actions are oriented to meaningful outcomes, but let’s never be led to not take action because we were trying to over think the solution.

I know that 2014 is going to be a great year for Jones County and I know it will be the result of our mindful and driven community leaders. I hope you are a part of it because I know that if you are, our community will be so much better because you are. Happy New Year everyone!

* This article was originally printed in the Sunday, January 12, 2014 issue
of The Chronicle's"Planting Seeds" column.

Merry Xmas!

“Christmas is not an external event at all, but a piece of one's home that is carried in one's heart.”

— Freya Stark

I’ve never been the greatest of scholars. In school my grades were horrible. I couldn't regurgitate dates and information as well as the other students. The things that stuck in my head were the useless little facts that made up, as Paul Harvey used to call it, “The rest of the story”.

I often thought my “claim to fame” would come when I made it to the final round of Jeopardy or some other game show of useless information. Even today the things that fascinate me are the back stories and “extras” from shows on the History Channel, Discovery or some of the other educational based stations.

I particularly like these shows around this time of year. I often am curious how we have come about doing things today the way we do them. CHRISTmas is no different. It really is a very strange and peculiar holiday if you think about it.

It is chock full of unique and strange customs; evergreen trees inside, decorations and ornaments, mistletoe, carols, yule logs, FRUIT CAKE and a whole host of other unique and strange customs. Not to mention, our greetings around the holidays are very strange.

Did you know that for many years people would exclaim Happy CHRISTmas rather than Merry CHRISTmas? Did you know that Xmas, while many think it is an attempt to remove Jesus from the holidays, is not actually a slam on religion, but dates back to the earliest days of the Christian church?

Many today think it is a ploy by a secular society in magazines, newspapers and store advertisements to shorten the word because of ad space or to be sensitive to the non-believers so that they can drive up sales to a larger audience – to all that I say bah humbug, but I do embrace what CHRISTmas and Xmas stand for – inclusion, sharing and love for your fellow man.

According to “Stories behind the Great Traditions of Christmas” by Ace Collins, “Many of the Gentiles who became the initial followers of Christ were Greek. The Greek for Christ’s name is Xristos (pronounced Christos). While it is well known that a fish was often used as a symbol to denote churches and Christian gathering places during the ancient days of the church, many Greeks also used the letter X (pronounced Chi) as their symbol of faith. This X marked the places where they worshiped. Therefore, the use of the letter X for Christ is one of the oldest traditions of the Christian faith – one of the first concrete symbols that signified the gospel message for people of all races and backgrounds… It also spoke volumes about the nature of Christianity – that all were welcome to become part of the family of God.”

CHRISTmas, whether celebrated as CHRISTmas, Xmas, Hanukah, the Winter Solstice, or the Festivus for the rest of us, is about a time of being with friends and family, sharing, loving, giving and enjoying the company and the compassion of others. I hope your holiday is surrounded by too many friends and family to count. I hope your cup is overflowing and you have a moment this CHRISTmas season to reflect on all the wonderful opportunities you have been afforded this year.

We have so many things to be thankful for in Jones County. Our economy is strong and people are working. People are shopping locally and tourists are frequenting our towns and attractions. Take some time this holiday season to extend some hospitality to a stranger. It may be someone from across the state, or it might even just be your next door neighbor, whoever it may be, let them know of all the great things we have to offer in Jones County. I know you will be glad you did and our community just might grow a little because you did!

From my family to yours and from all of us at the EDA and Chamber, Merry CHRISTmas and have a safe and Happy New Year! 2014 is going to be great for us in Jones County! I can’t wait to get started!

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* This article was originally printed in the Sunday, December 29, 2013 issue
of The Chronicle's"Planting Seeds" column.

The Gingerbread Boy

“If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world.”

— J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit

One of the most enjoyable things about being the husband of a teacher is helping your wife with her craft projects and preparations for her students. Sometimes the payoff can be truly enjoyable – especially around the holidays. No, I’m not talking about seeing the smiles on all the faces of the little children in her class; I’m talking about the cookies and goodies she makes for them. I get all the “crispy” ones or the ones that “just didn’t turn out right”.

One of my favorite lessons that she used to teach was called “The Story of the Gingerbread Boy”. The story is basically about a teacher baking gingerbread cookies, the cookie does not want to be baked, so he runs away and the rest is about his adventures.

Each year the teacher asks friends and relatives of the students from around the country to send postcards of where they have “seen the gingerbread boy”. The teacher uses the postcards as a way of teaching geography and other interesting lessons in a fun and whimsical way.

My favorite part is when the story ends with every one getting fresh gingerbread cookies and milk!

They still teach this lesson every year at Rebekah’s first school, Presbyterian Day School in Cleveland, MS. I have a cousin with a son in Mrs. Berryhill's first grade class, so as a way to help; I sent this poem about Jones County. I hope you like it.

To: Mrs. Berryhill's first grade class:

I saw the Gingerbread Boy in Laurel, MS just today;

He was hoping on an Amtrak and rushing away!

From New Orleans to Chicago or points in between,
oh, there are so many sites that have yet to be seen!

He came here on a whim to have a look around; 
once he got here he could not believe all that he found.

The Lauren Rogers Museum of Art, the first in the State,
Landrum’s Country Homestead and Village, the hospitality was great!

The Veterans Museum, Deason Home and Space Tag too,
He never thought in Jones County there would be so much to do!

He spent time at Laurel High School “Between the Bricks”; 
He ventured down to Jones County Junior College where he learned some new tricks!

There were so many places that he wanted to explore,
Sanderson Farms, Masonite, and to hear those GE Aviation engines roar!

The parks, historic homes, Sportsplex, and natatorium,
He didn’t realize in little Jones County, Mississippi there would be so much for him!

“I must come back”, I heard him say, 
as the train whistle blew and prepared to rush him away.

I called out to him as we waved farewell, 
“next time you travel down Interstate 59 just give me a yell!”

“I’ll take you around, and show you much more, 
our industry, our history, our heritage – there’s lots to adore!”

“You have only scratched the surface on this quick little trip,
Please come back to join us the next time you’re in South Mississip’”

We are happy to welcome you and any who are willing, 
‘cause as we like to say, “Jones County, Now this is living!”

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I hope you’ve gotten to spend some time with family and friends over this Thanksgiving holiday. Right now is the most wonderful part of the year. I love Thanksgiving and CHRISTmas time when friends and family, loved ones and neighbors can all come together to be thankful for all the things in their lives. We have a lot to be thankful for in Jones County. Take some time to share the things you are thankful for with others. I know that if you do, you will be glad you did and our community will be better off because of it! Happy Thanksgiving and Merry CHRISTmas to you all!

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* This article was originally printed in the Sunday, December 1, 2013 issue of The Chronicle's"Planting Seeds" column.

Christmas in Dixie

“The holiest of all holidays are those, Kept by ourselves in silence and apart; The secret anniversaries of the heart, When the full river of feeling overflows; The happy days unclouded to their close; The sudden joys that out of darkness start, As flames from ashes; swift desires that dart, Like swallows singing down each wind that blows!”

— Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Holidays

Some dictionaries define a Christmas carol as “a song or hymn whose lyrics are on the theme of Christmas or the winter season in general, and which are traditionally sung in the period immediately surrounding the holiday.”

Please note the words “traditionally” and “immediately surrounding”. This is certainly not the case at our house. Christmas music has been playing in our home since mid October. Pretty much any time the temperature dips below seventy degrees for two consecutive days, my wife kicks on the Christmas music. And, if we are no where near the holidays she may turn it on just to put herself in a good mood. She has gotten Ethan in this tradition as he asks to play “his Christmas music” every morning on the way to school.

When we were dating in college I would never understand this phenomenon. I would come in from working out in the hot Delta sun in July and August and Rebekah would be playing Jingle Bells in her dorm room. Ever since we have been married, we stock up on “the smell of Christmas” candles and potpourri to use year round. I used to think she was nuts. (From time to time, I still question her sanity - but mostly for putting up with me.)

The more I age and am away from friends and family that I was once close to or saw daily, I understand it more and more. The "holidays", whether they be Christmas, Thanksgiving, Halloween, the 4th of July, Veterans Day or a host of other days throughout the year are not about the events, the presents, decorations or any of the other things that distract us. Those holidays that mean so much to us are usually about the people. They are about the relationships and the love and experiences shared between family and friends.

When I think of some of my favorite memories of holidays, I usually can't describe them without telling you about the people and what they mean to me. Music, smells, a certain decoration – all of these triggers bring back memories of great times with family and friends.

Many people may think you’re weird, or as we say politely in the South, “eccentric” for rocking out to your Andy Williams Christmas Special in the car wash line, but I’d tell you to go ahead and do what brings joy to your life! Give those that scoff a “bless your heart” and sing loud and proud. Enjoy the memories of good times.

I’m no scientist, but I think it is good we do things that help us remember those special times and events in our lives where we were surrounded by friends and loved ones, some who have gone on before us and others who are just across the globe and we don’t get to see that often any more.

Few things in life are as important as being surrounded by family and friends. Each day we have new opportunities to create memories that will last a lifetime, but we also have an opportunity to create those memories for others. As we head into the holidays, surround yourself with good friends, good food and good times. Be there for others when they need someone to make memories with. Laugh, love and enjoy these times, because there is no time like the present to make a memory!

I know that if you put forth the effort, you will be rewarded with many years of happy memories and our community would be better off for it!

One easy way to make more time for friends and family is to stop running all over the place to find that “perfect” gift. Get off the computer, put down the catalog, grab some friends and hit the streets of your hometown. Make some memories by shopping locally this holiday season. We’ve got some great shops and local artisans here in Jones County. Come see what we have to offer. But don’t forget about that special meal. Many of our restaurants and local cooks offer holiday specials. Be sure to check those out too! I’m sure you will be glad you did.

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* This article was originally printed in the Sunday, November 10, 2013 issue
of The Chronicle's "Planting Seeds" column.

It Concerns Us All

“Happiness is not a brilliant climax to years of grim struggle and anxiety. It is a long succession of little decisions simply to be happy in the moment.” 

~ J. Donald Walters

Do you ever get frustrated when people just can’t see all the stress you are under? Do you ever feel alienated because “they just don’t get it”? What about looking at this coin from the other side; do your friends and co-workers sometimes come to you with their problems? You’d like to help them out, but it just doesn’t concern you. Maybe you just don’t want to get involved. Perhaps you don’t want to cross a boundary. Maybe, just maybe, we don’t understand that our failures to get involved in other’s problems can come back to bite us in the end.


I heard this great story the other day that illustrates just why you might want to think a little harder about getting involved with someone when they turn to you with a concern or look to you for advice in a troubling time. Perhaps, being involved just may be the thing you both need and it might lead to positive outcome for the both of you. Here’s the story…


“One sunny morning something caught the mouse’s eye through a crack in the wall. It was a package the farmer’s wife was opening. The mouse wondered what kind of delicious food it might contain or what wonderful treasures might be inside. But, to his surprise it wasn’t food at all. Instead it was a mousetrap!


As the mouse scurried out to the yard he shouted a loud warning to all, ‘Watch out for the mousetrap in the house! Watch out for the mousetrap in the house!’


The chicken raised his head and said, ‘I can tell my friend that this causes you great worry, but it is of no worry to me. Please don’t bother me with it!’


The mouse then turned to the pig who said, ‘I’m Sorry Mr. Mouse, it has no consequence to me either.’


The mouse then turned to the bull who said, ‘Sounds like you have a real problem friend, but it really doesn’t concern me… sorry, but I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers.’


The mouse went back to the house to face the inevitable, alone. He felt down and dejected.


That night the sound of the trap was heard throughout the house – Snap! The farmer’s wife rushed to see what was caught, but couldn’t see in the darkness that it was a venomous snake and she was bitten!


After rushing his wife to the hospital, the farmer returned home with her. She had quite a fever. The farmer knew the best way to treat her fever was with chicken soup so he took his hatchet to the farmyard to get the main ingredient.


In the coming days, the wife grew sicker by the day and friends visited her around the clock. The farmer felt he had to feed them for being there for him and his wife in their time of need, so he slaughtered the pig.


Unfortunately the farmer’s wife didn’t get better and eventually died. There were many, many people who came to pay their final respects. The farmer had the cow butchered so he could feed them all after the service. “


Each animal on the farm cared for the mouse. But, in his time of need, none were concerned with the mouse’s predicament. As such, we as friends, family, coworkers and team members don’t always put each other’s needs and worries at the top of our lists. We may listen and show concern, but never really get to the heart of the other person’s anxiety. Sometimes, what doesn’t concern you, comes back to bite you in a big way.


I encourage you to be intimately involved with those you work with, associate with and socialize with. It’s not always fun. It’s certainly not easy and sometimes you have to share a few tears with them, but in the end, you both will be better off for it.


Mississippi is known as one of the most generous compassionate states. We prove that time and time again when a crisis endangers our livelihoods. Years ago, in one of Marshall Ramsey’s cartoons, he captured it this way, “Mississippi: When things get bad, we get good”.


Let’s not wait until things get bad. Let’s all strive to make sure our relationships are “good” so that when things get bad, we can be even greater! I know that if we do, our community will be better off for it!

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* This article was originally printed in the Sunday, October 27, 2013 issue
 of The Chronicle's "Planting Seeds" column.