The Coveted Commandment

Wayne Lewis discusses strategies and perspectives to revise the 10th Commandment. He looks to have released from the Biblical Vaults, the one and only, Coveted Commandment: Thou Shalt Build Wealth, in an effort to open wide the doors to prosperity for all. Consult your clergy, legal, or financial expert for relevant information before making investment decisions. Information revealed within this blog while deemed to be from reliable sources, is not guaranteed.

Showing posts with label Graduating Class of 2014. Show all posts

Friday, May 16, 2014

I HOPE YOU FAIL, AGAIN! (C) 2014 by Wayne Dan Lewis, Sr.

A Final Message to The Graduating Class of 2014

Rush Limbaugh: "I Hope He Fails!": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XuYjWbAU2eU [1]

As each of you prepare for the many great challenges that life will present to you, there is no doubt in my mind, that there are hundreds of people wishing you well, and for the moment, so am I. There are people, many of whom you may not know, hoping that you achieve the very best that life has to offer. But despite that, there is always someone who stands in the corner, kicking rocks, disgruntled at best, that you accomplished something, however great, however slight, and that regardless of what great things await you, that person, in the deepest recesses of their heart, hopes ------you------ fail!

Let, let’s just pause for a minute. Here you are, poised to achieve one of the greatest accomplishments in your life, and someone hopes that you fail to accomplish anything further. What is more disturbing is that this person, is someone whom you may admire, idolize, or at the very least, respect them for what they have accomplished in their lives. So why would they, in their infinite wisdom, hope you fail?

In my message to the graduating class of 2013,[2] I focused on the historical precedent of America’s methodology of turning its nose on those who rose up in history to achieve their rights. I talked about how America won her freedom from Great Britain ( I hope you fail); I spoke about how America fought against abolishing slavery (I hope you fail), and I spoke about women fighting for the right to vote (I hope you fail). But today, I want to speak to you not about just the past, where “I hope you fail” was all but the norm in America’s growth, but about the future of America, the future of the World, and of course, your role, as graduates of the Class of 2014. I want to prepare you for your exposure, and the potential that you will be told more times than you will be able to count: “I hope you fail!”

From today forward, you need to be very prepared for some very significant challenges ahead. There are things that you will see and be a part of that will force you to stop, right in your tracks. You will be going on about your business, not worried about a thing in the world, and suddenly, you will find yourself face to face with a set of circumstances that will call into play, your reason for being a graduate of the class of 2014. That set of circumstances will perhaps force you to take a stand for the betterment of your families, your communities, your state, your country, if not the world at large. How you will approach these circumstances will be a matter of your own decision. But in the end, you will be making a decision to go forward. You will encounter adversity, obstructionists, naysayers, controversy, even discontent. You may experience one, if not all of these circumstances from family and friends. And you may experience this kind of pushback from political leaders, and community leaders. But because those circumstances could be placed at your feet, or dumped into your lap, you will be able to call on your education, your parental upbringing, your life experiences, and all that is within you, to take on the challenge of the circumstances that will virtually have your name written aaaaallllll over it.

What all of this potentially means to each of you, as you prepare for the future, is that you will encounter people from all walks of life, who, with their own agendas, with their own sense of power, who will not be able to sign off on what it is you will want to set right. Your commitment to something greater than yourself, however noble, and seemingly beneficial, will encounter every brick wall, every roadblock, every broken damn there is, and on top of that, you may encounter any of these challenges from someone whom you would least expect the proverbiality of: “ I hope you fail.”

Nothing could be more crushing, than to hear from someone, whomever it maybe, whether you admire them, know them personally, or have a passing knowledge of them, that their position of authority, of leadership, assumes so much power, that even when something is for the good of all, that those in power work to ensure that it fails. You should never have to fear the wrath of power that hopes you fail in your mission for success.

Recently, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie (R), has come under fire with respect to an alleged bridge closure between New Jersey and New York, that impacted thousands of commuters for several days. Allegedly, as an attempt at retaliation against a political foe for not supporting him in his re-election for governor of New Jersey in 2013.[3] Governor Christie’s actions, if found to be true, suggests that Governor Christie’s administration wanted one of his opponents to fail. And to that end, if true, the chaos that ensued over the George Washington Bridge [4], indicates how those in power are able to use their power to retaliate, to stand in the way, or to prevent others from achieving success. Granted this is still under investigation. The jury is still out on this investigation, but if true, it would be indicative of what those in power can do to affect the lives of others, even those who are innocent bystanders.

Power is the key word here. And if this looks like a Republican-bashing opportunity, it isn’t. It is about power. It would be easy to make this about the Republicans, and take us off message, but it is about power, and when someone achieves a phenomenal amount of power, regardless of who it is, even if it President Barack Obama,[5] or former First Lady, and former Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton,[6] the power that envelopes anyone that gives them the confidence to thumb their noses at others who are in contention, is power that is tainted, and confidence that is being abusive.

This is to say that, conversely, as graduates of the Class of 2014, many of you will assume roles of extreme power. You will be called on to make decisions that will affect thousands of lives in your communities, your state, the nation and the world. Your power must not be the measure of your integrity. But your integrity must be measure of your power. At no point in time, in the future, whether you are working to make a change in the lives of thousands, the lives of hundreds, or just a few people, those whom you represent must never feel that your power gives you the audacity to hope that they fail. At no time in the future, should you feel so compelled, or so confident in your abilities, that you wish someone else to fall on their faces, so much so, that your confidence makes you forget how you reached your own ultimate goals. For in so doing, your legacy becomes a house of sticks, falling to the ground, into a pile of rubble.

As I concluded in 2013, I will conclude now, here in 2014. “I do hope that you fail.” My hopes for your failure, is an opportunity to turn a negative into a positive. Without a doubt, Rush Limbaugh,[7] Radio Talk Show extraordinaire, apparently had every intension of seeing President Obama fail. It was a negative comment, in my opinion, made to any President of the United States of America. But, here I come, hoping that you fail, too. But I want to make it a positive thing. By hoping that you each fail, I want each of you to take this opportunity to remember, that failure will be a natural part of everything that you do. Each failure will be a measure of how far you are willing to go, and how committed you are to achieving your dreams. But more specifically, here is how I hope you will fail:

I hope that you will fail to give into the difficulties that surround your pursuits;
I hope that you will fail to listen to those who tell you with certainty, that you can’t achieve your goals or dreams;
And, as you achieve your dreams of success, I hope that you will fail to be self-centered, conceded, condescending, or over confident, thereby forgetting all those who have helped you achieve your greatness;
I hope that you will fail to adopt the level of confidence that allows you to wish the worst on others, just so that they can’t compete with you on a level playing field; Last but not least,
I hope that you will fail to ever believe that you are so powerful, so good at what you do, that you can never be taken down by life’s greatest equalizer: Karma[8]

How people treat you is their karma; how you react is yours. Wayne Dyer [9]

To the Graduating Class of 2014, please accept my fondest wishes that you succeed in all that you do, and that regardless of your challenges, that you not allow someone to discourage you from your dreams, and that upon achieving your dreams, that you remain humble, grateful, and appreciative for all of the great things that life brings your way. Best wishes to you, the Graduating Class of 2014.

[1] "I Hope He Fails", Rush Limbaugh recording on Youtube.com- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XuYjWbAU2eU

[3] Governor Chris Christie’s “Bridgegate”: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/04/21/bridgegate-legal-fees_n_5186540.html

[4] George Washington Bridge Scandal- http://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/Timeline-George-Washington-Bridge-Scandal-Chris-Christie-Fort-Lee-Bridgegate-239431091.html

[5] President Barack Obama- http://www.history.com/topics/us-presidents/barack-obama

[6] Hillary Rodham Clinton- http://www.forbes.com/profile/hillary-clinton/

[7] Rush Limbaugh- http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/ (Not an endorsement)

[8] Karma- http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/karma

[9] Wayne Dyer on Karma- http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/w/waynedyer382838.html

Sunday, May 4, 2014

The Coveted Commandment: IN! © 2014 by Wayne Dan Lewis, Sr.

What Is Your Graduation Really About?

A Message to the Graduating Class of 2014

1. Quick! What did you have for breakfast this morning?

2. If I know something about many of us, perhaps some of us, we did not have breakfast this morning. Not a problem. Then, what was the first thing you that you had to eat today? Hopefully, by this time you have eaten something. Keep that in mind, as I ask you the next question.

3. What was the first form of communication you listened to today? Was it a radio? Was it your IPod? Or, was it your television? Whatever it was, please keep that mind as well as I ask you one other question.

4. Where did you graduate from high school?

5. Each question posed here was an effort to focus on the things and events that each of us are exposed to that goes not only into our bodies, but our minds as well. If you have eaten breakfast, you may have had hot or cold cereal, or pancakes and sausage. Or, maybe you had toast and coffee.

6. When you decide to turn on some form of information to get your day started, you may turn on the news, the weather, or sports, using the television, or radio. Perhaps, your first choice was to go on line and get the most up to date piece of information in order to get your day going.

7. Last, but not least, where did you graduate from high school, was my final introductory question. To that, I could say that you went to the same high school that your parents, brother or sister attended. Or, maybe you went to a high school back home, or across town. Some of you may have been home schooled. Wherever you went to school, the point is, some form of education played a role in helping you develop into the great person that you are, and that you will continue to be.

8. What Goes Into You?

9. Many of us are formed by so many challenging influences that occur throughout our lives. From breakfast, to supper, from what we listen to, to what we observe, something is being fed into us physically, or mentally. For the things that eventually go into who we are, we become the people that we are, and as is apparent by your status as graduates of 2014, what has gone into you, has produced this fond moment.

10. What Will Go Into You From This Point?

11. Surely, as you move from graduate into the world around you, the things that have brought you this far will continue to show themselves. They may result in you loosing long-time friends, and gaining new ones. What has gone into you prior to now, may show itself in terms of the jobs and the promotions that you are able to get, or not get. What is inside of you today, may determine who maybe the next city council member, the next governor, if not the next President of the United States. As those things that are currently inside of you show themselves in various ways, the process of inputting does not stop, as you well know.

12. From this point, you are subject to change up few things. As a new graduate, you may now change the kind of music that you listen to. You may now listen to news that you once rushed past on the radio dial. And look at you, shined shoes, sober, and eating a half a dozen a doughnuts. Some of these may not be relevant, but understand the analogy. From this point in your life, things are going to change. Many of the things that may have gone into you as you grew up, were things that you had to allow to go into who you are. Yes, you tolerated eating your “veggies” for mom. You tolerated going to bed by 10p.m. and, getting home by midnight, so as not break curfew. Those things were a part of what was programmed into you, and now, you are about to make a few changes, for the moment.

13. For the Moment

14. For the moment, you are going to go outside the lines. You are not going to eat your “veggies” and no one can make you. You are not going to go to the Catholic Church that you were raised in by your parents, but maybe to the Luthern Church where your “spoogie” goes to church. Add to your radicalism the idea that now, you are never going to set foot in another school again, as long as you live…for the moment.

15. Why do I say for the moment? I’m glad you asked. Without pointing out statistically my point, I want to focus on what it is like to be a parent. As parents, we invest in our children. As caring parents, we do everything legally, lawfully, and lovingly as possible to raise our children, particularly, in the eyes of God. We feed our children, clothe them, bathe them up, send them off to school and to church. While all of this seems simple enough, there are battles that parents are often subjected to, that most of us, who were children, are totally oblivious to going on. Many of us as kids may have no idea how tough it was to get us into the “right schools”. The “right schools” was matter of location, academic rating, racial make-up, or whether it was an all-boys, or all-girls schools. This was just one of the many important decisions made by your parents, that went into whom you would eventually become today.

16. As parents, another set of battles would be with us as kids. We would always fight with our parents on whether we could play with certain kids, or go to certain kids’ parties. For all we knew, all kids were our friends. Why would our parents not want us to go by Jerry’s house, or why wouldn’t our parents not want us to go to Mary’s house? We would one day learn that our parents feared for our well-being because Jerry and Mary’s parents home seemed to always have people at their house that were of a questionable nature to what our parents were willing to accept. It was our parent’s battle to win, for our benefit.

17. Among the many things that our parents did for us, was set goals for us. Why would they do that? Why would our parents set goals for us? Because many of us had no clue about what life was all about. Many of us were content to just go through the motions of going to school, going to church, going to the parties, and learning things, that while we received a passing grade, had no idea of how important Algebra, Art, English, or History would be. We had no idea why it was necessary to study the Alamo, or the British Invasion of America. As far as were concerned, as kids, none of that would have a bearing on our lives, we just wanted to grow up, and get out of the house, into the big around us. For many of us, growing up, we were filled with tunnel-vision, looking neither left nor right. All we needed to do was graduate, and we would be free…. For the moment.

18. As graduates, you are about to be released to do all of the things that you had hoped to do, once you graduate from school or college. You will be adults. No one, theoretically, will be able to tell you what to do. For the moment.

19. Reality Check!

20. As parents, we would like to believe that what we have done for our kids is instill within the understanding of the world around them. And while many of our kids are great kids, filled with the brightest ideas, the one thing that we can’t instill in our kids is that everyone does not roll over and make room for them, just because they have a degree, or a diploma. Whatever we have done as parents, we haven’t failed, it’s just that when the gates are opened, and the day of our graduates are on their own, without having to adhere to all of the rules that have shaped their lives, a reality check occurs.

a. “I am on my own!” “I’m freeeeee!”

b. “Mom, can I can borrow the car?” “Dad, can you loan me a few dollars?”

21. While many parents will try to invoke parental control, believing that they should try to tweak their new graduate, the battle begins again. As new graduates, you are going to begin to learn everything about what has been instilled in you and why.

22. For example, it will still be important for you to go to bed by 10 p.m., if you want to be to work on time the next morning. As successful graduates, you will soon learn that the debts that you have acquired must be paid, by you, not your parents. Debts such as your rent, which can’t be over 5 days late without a late fee of 5%. Debts for all of those credit cards which appeared to be free, are coming due, and the life lessons begin.

23. What are you going to do in the meantime?

24. As you move from the moment of graduates, you may find yourselves confronting the community in which you decide to live. You may question why they allow loud music throughout the night? You may find yourselves confronting the laws that allow the speed limits that don’t control big trucks on your street. Eventually, you may find that some of the things that you are including in your lives, are some of the same things that you may recall your parents dealt with. And the weird thing could be, you are not even a parent, yet.

25. Fast-forward, and you may find that it is necessary to have a good breakfast. You may stop at the fast-food place occasionally, but eventually, you eventually decide to prepare food that you actually brought from the grocery. You may also decide to go back to the church that you grew up in. And remember when you promised to never set foot in a school again? But all of that may pale in comparison to the one thing that your parents instilled within you. They radicalized you. What is Parental Radicalization?

26. Parental Radicalization

27. Obviously when we use the word radical[1], we assume the worst. Of the many references there are to the definition, the one that applies in this case is as follows:

a. favoring extreme changes in existing views, habits, conditions or institutions;

28. How does this compare to what your parents have done for you? From the moment you were born, your parents were very often fighting institutions, or conditions that could have had the worst possible influences on you. They were questioning doctors, insurance companies and schools systems. They were fighting family members who wanted to see them raise you their way. Your parents were always on guard for those who seemed to know more than your parents on how they ought to raise you. Were your parents always right? Not necessarily, but that didn’t necessarily make them wrong as long as they loved and protected you from dangers, big and small. Your parents resisted the idea of allowing you to be raised below the standards that you were well suited for.

29. It was your parents who fought for you, as well as over you, to make sure that you were protected from strangers, politics, and institutions that were ready to inoculate you with influences that conflicted with their values. By your parents’ radical positions on how to not only raise you, but also instill in you how to fight and stand for yourself, you were radicalized. However slight they did it, you were also radicalized to stand and fight for others. You were radicalize to give to those less fortunate than yourself. You were radicalized to not to quit when things got hard. You were radicalized to think for yourself. Think about it. Have you not been at a point where you stood for something greater than yourself, because you believed that it was unfair? If you haven’t done so, don’t worry, it is still early. Your parents have already laid the groundwork for you to stand up not only for yourself, but for others as well. How did your parents radicalize you?

30. To answer how your parents radicalize you, maybe easier for you to answer than myself. But I am going to guess that your parents may have radicalized you when they allowed the tooth fairy to put a dollar under your pillow. Your parents may have radicalized you when they allowed Santa Claus in to put your presents under the tree. Or, maybe, and this is just a guess, your parents radicalized you, graduates of 2014, when you they reminded you time and time again, of the value of education, even when you may have not seen the benefit of going to school, day in and day out. Your parental radicalization may have occurred when you were told to eat all of your “veggies” so you can be healthy. How you were radicalized may be less important than the fact that you were radicalize.

31. How will you know when your parents have successfully radicalized you?

32. First of all, I understand if you want to use a different term other than Parental Radicalization. But if you did, then you may fail to understand why your parents did all that they did to get you to this point in your life. You should embrace your parents’ unselfish attempt at preparing you to be the success that you have become. They instilled within you something as simple as to brush your teeth, and to wash behind your ears, because your smile and personal appearance are extremely important when meeting others and/or getting a job. They instilled within you a work ethic so that you could take care of yourself and your family. Your parents, like their parents, answered the call to be the best parents by being, in what appeared to be all the time, the worst parents. They did not allow you to always have your way. Their radicalization included punishing you because you either failed to understand, or refused to understand why it was wrong to steal, to lie, or to disrespect authority.

33. And speaking of authority, last but not least, inside of you, is the ability to challenge authority without being disrespectful. Inside of you is a radical enzyme, instilled by your parents. It is there in the event there is a time in your life, that something is not right, that you can articulate what the problem is, what the solution is, and what is the next plan of action. Today, you have within you the ability to not only be a great citizen, but a great person, via parental radicalization.

34. Inside of you, because of your parents’ radicalization process, passed on to them by their parents, you are prepared to be a well-balanced warrior for change. Because of your parents, you are prepared to be a team player for peace, for progress, and if necessary, for war.

35. Inside of you are all of the years your parents’ politics, music, their appreciation of sports, and how they handled many of the greatest challenges of their lives, all in an effort to bring you to this point in your life. So, I ask you, what is your graduation really about?

36. It is about everything that is inside of you, either put there, or allowed there by those who have loved you from the very beginning. Your graduation is about the parents who stood by you, stood for you, and stand for you now, as graduates of the class of 2014.

37. Out

38. Now, as you prepare to go out into the world, all of that which has been instilled into you has a chance to come out. The answer remains to be seen as to how all of those hours of you resisting your parents’ input, or maybe on those few occasions, working with your parents, to produce the wonderful person that you are today, what will come out of you? How radicalized are you?

39. As parents, we generally have an unwritten wish list. It quite extensive. But it bottoms out to these few simple things:

40. That you work hard, that you treat others as you wish to be treated, and that you always wear clean underwear. Okay, it is more complicated than that. Our wish list, as parents is that you remember all of the things that we taught you in order to become the best person that you can be. We as parents, wish you the very best that life has to offer, and may you always be successful in all that you do and pursue. That’s all we can ask, and can only hope that we did the very best job of instilling within you, our children, values, morals and respect not only for others, but for yourselves.

41. To the graduating class of 2014, it has been my pleasure to address you as you move on into your new lives, radicalized, instilled, and prepared for the best that life has to offer.

42. Disclaimer: Information shared on the Coveted Commandment blog is deemed to be from reliable sources, but not guaranteed. Consult with your respective professional for counseling. The Coveted Commandment Blog and the Coveted Commandment © 2014 by Wayne Dan Lewis Sr. If you are looking for a speaker for your group or meetings, please contact Wayne Lewis at wdlewis8088@gmail.com . Or, 512-786-7959

[1] Radical definition- http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/radical

Wednesday, April 16, 2014

THE FINAL ASSIGNMENT:

by Wayne Dan Lewis, Sr.

A Message to the Graduating Class of 2014

1. Good day to the Graduating Class of 2014! I hope that as your graduation day approaches, you are each reasonably prepared for the many challenges ahead. I realize that you can’t be fully prepared, because we just don’t know what life will throw our way on any given day. I do hope that as you graduate, that you will embrace the outstanding accomplishments that you are making, and that you will use the gifts and tools that you have gained over your successful lives, to really make some great strides, for yourselves, family, professionally, and for your communities. Why do I place this challenge at your feet? Because, the world is waiting for you, and you are a very important component to the growth and development of the next generation to come. Please, don’t let us down.

2. My message, as I have prepared it for you, is entitled: The Final Assignment: Preparing for Your Defining Moment. If you have had an opportunity prior to today, I had left word for you to take an opportunity to see a wonderful family movie, entitled: The Bee Movie[1]. If you have not had that opportunity, please, at your earliest convenience, do so. Of course, if you haven’t seen the movie, then that would theoretically make my message here today, null and void. But, knowing that I was asking a lot, I prepared my message for the worst case scenario: you didn’t have a chance to see the movie.

3. I would like to thank my daughter, Jaymee and my grandson, Doo (Josh, Jr) as we affectionately call him, for the inspiration for this message. I and his Mimi have spent a number of enjoyable moments watching this movie, even as we tried during his younger years, to get him to watch other movies. It was one of his favoritest (sp) movies, and we watched it, and watched it, and, watched it. We have no regrets here. It is just one of many enjoyable moments we have been blessed to enjoy, and love having the little fellow in our lives. We are indeed grateful to be his loving grand-parents.

4. The Bee Movie[2]

5. So, with the time that I have, I will give you a blow-by-blow, minute-by-minute account of the life of the main character of this animated movie. Okay, maybe not a blow-by-blow account, but at least a snapshot of what the main character experienced at about the same time that you are in your lives right now. Our main character, Barry Bee Benson, a bee, along with one of his millions of cousins, Adam, were graduating, he was faced the opportunity of a lifetime, to work in the sole industry of bee manufacturing.

6. What Barry soon finds out, and perhaps too late, is that despite his having completed school, he had limited opportunities, as he saw them. Your results may vary from Barry’s, but it is important that we focus on what Barry was facing as he was prepared to go out into the world.

7. For Barry Bee Benson, it was a critical time in his life. He had to decide whether to work in the factory doing the same job that his father, and his father before him, had done for millions of “bee years”. To add to his dilemma, as Barry saw it, his father and mother were pressing him to work in the factory because it was a “good job”. Barry’s cousin, Adam, was not only excited about the prospect of working in the factory, but was adamant about Barry staying the course, of those who had gone on before them.

8. But Barry the bee saw another opportunity to be something that wasn’t presented to him. He saw, the Pollen Jocks! Pollen Jocks were guys who, as Adam pointed out, “were bred for those jobs”, and Barry, according to Adam, would not be able to fulfill those responsibilities. Eventually, Barry would become a Pollen Jock, but it would come at a cost to him. You see, what we discovered about Barry is the same thing that we have to discover about ourselves. And that is, that no matter what job we ultimately find ourselves in, or no matter whether we may have a high school diploma, a PhD., a BS, or JD behind our names, the real concern we have to have is: have we really been prepared for the challenges that life has to throw at us? Have we really been prepared for any number of circumstances that tests as to whom we ultimately become? In other words, have we really been prepared for our defining moments?

9. Despite Barry’s discovery of becoming a Pollen Jock, a job he loved doing, he discovered something else. He discovered that the honey that he and his family of bees had produced for millions of years was being stolen, by humans, no less. For Barry, it would have done him well to just go along, do his job, and say nothing. After all, he had the perfect job, and as we also discovered, he may had a little sweetie on the side, Vanessa, a human (Talking to humans was a violation of Bee Law #1- No Talking to Humans)[3]. Barry had it made, so to speak. But his discovery of what he thought was not right, in that humans were stealing honey to put into their coffee, in their food, and marketing it as though it was rightfully theirs, caused Barry to rethink his priorities. And, as we would soon find out, Barry would take on the humans, in court, to stop them from stealing honey from the entire Bee population.

10. What Will Be Your Defining Moment?

11. I will stop here on the Bee Movie, in hopes that you will, if you haven’t already done so, share this delightful and thought-provoking animation with your families. But I also want to ask you, as graduates, to relate to Barry Bee Benson,[4] just for a few moments.

12. As you prepare for your graduation, many of you may already know what it is you will be doing over the next 5, 10 or 20+ years. Some of you will be going on to higher education. For some of you, this is the end of the road, you have careers lined up, and you will be settling into life as you would have it. If not any of these, please consult with a career counselor, or someone whom you believe can provide you with a great piece of information and direction on how to acquire, or obtain a great rewarding career. But whether or not you are prepared for a job, or going off to higher education, the relevance to Barry B. Benson here is that whatever position in life that you are successful in achieving, you will still have to be prepared for your defining moment.

13. For many of you, preparing to receive your respective degrees, diplomas, or Certificates of Achievements, this may be your perceived defining moment. While I applaud you if that is the case, I will dare to caution you, that it is not. Your defining moment, as I have learned over the years, is not one moment in and of itself, but a collection of life affirming , and in some cases, life altering activities, that you will have faced. Moments, that if you are not at your best, those activities will catch you at the worst possible time. They maybe the kind of activities, that at first glace, may appear to be insignificant. But know that in the total scheme of things, that that per-chance moment maybe the very measure of who you are, for some time to come.

14. How you may react to those off the cuff moments, could very well determine how you live out the rest of your life. So, it will be important for each of you to always be ready to act accordingly. Meaning, that today’s defining moment, your graduation, is the tip of the iceberg, and when all is said and done, the true person that you are has yet to be revealed. Therefore, your final assignment, if you decide to accept it, as did Barry B. Benson in the Bee Movie, is to be at your best, at any given time.

15. Real-World Defining Moments

16. As we all know, life is filled with real-world defining moments as well. If we go back to our history classes, we can rattle off any number of names of world leaders, politicians, public servants and everyday ordinary people, who, when faced with life’s unexpected challenges, stepped up, and took on those challenges, making the world a better place for their efforts. Even if their efforts may have resulted in their unlikely demise.

17. Real-world moments for many of us are too frequent, and in some cases, deadly. But they don’t have to be. We can still look at history and see how people who are with us today, have taken on life’s challenges, and in so doing, may have met their ultimate defining moment. For example, how will history decide on our Governor of Louisiana, Bobby Jindal and his refusal to accept the US Supreme Court’s decision on the Affordable Care Act of 2012?[5] Conversely, how will history reflect on our President of the United States, Barack Obama in his status as the first president to get legislation past enacting the Affordable Care Act of 2012?[6] Will history indicate that this one piece of legislation defined both of these leaders?

18. Additionally, how will history reflect on the men and women whose lives were either lost, or greatly changed on September 11, 2001? Those who were in the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001 when terrorists crashed two planes into the Twin Towers, as well Flight 93 that crashed into a vacant field in Pennsylvania where passengers were reported to have forced the plane down to save others from harm in the Washington, D.C. area, as well as those lives lost and impacted when a fourth plane crashed into the Pentagon? And how about the men and women who responded to these incidents? Was it not their defining moments, as they themselves put their lives at risk, in order to save the lives of others? [7]

19. Real-world defining moments presents us with heroes, as well as those who fail to make good decisions. While many of us are poised to achieve great things in our lives, the media, nor history will need to be there to record our greatest defining moment. We dare not choose to live so that our efforts are recorded for posterity, but instead, just for the betterment of mankind.

20. If we need a real-world defining moment, reflect if you will, on Chelsney Burnett “Scully” Sullenberger, Captain, Retired, U.S. Air Force. [8] Or, as you may know him as he has been affectionately referred to as ,“Captain Scully”. His real-world defining moment occurred on January 19, 2009. As an airline pilot for US Airways Flight 1549, Captain Scully was piloting an airliner out of New York’s LaGuardia Airport, when a flock of geese struck both engines of his plane. Forced to make an emergency landing, he and his co-pilot, took constructive maneuvers that allowed the plane to emergency land in the Hudson River. Lives lost: zero; Injuries: Zero to minor. From that moment on, Captain Scully would receive notoriety from all over the world as the first pilot to safely land an airliner in water and not loose a single passenger.[9]

21. How About You?

22. Many of us will perhaps go our whole life and never have to face a challenge of the various magnitudes described in these real-world instances. But it is not impossible. As Captain Scully was once quoted as saying in an interview with Talk Show hostess, Katie Couric[10]:

23. "One way of looking at this might be that for 42 years, I've been making small, regular deposits in this bank of experience, education and training. And on January 15 (2009) the balance was sufficient so that I could make a very large withdrawal."[11]

24. Obviously, the story with Captain Scully and Barry the Bee are never to be compared. Animation vs. Real World. But for some of us, either may work. But, I am sure that the real-world will have a greater impact, as it speaks volumes to each of us. Captain Scully’s experience, education, and training, as he indicated, was constantly being deposited throughout his life. One day at a time. One challenge at a time. He was building towards an (unknown) moment, he apparently could never have imagined. It seemed that despite his experiences as a former U.S. Air Force pilot, it would have appeared that he had faced his greatest defining moment fighting for his country. When, on January 15, 2009, a challenge of significant proportions, presented itself to him and the crew on his plane. He was the captain, and all depended on him to make the very best decision, based on his approach to all of his life’s challenges up to that moment. How about you?[12]

25. Are you doing as Captain Scully suggested? Are you willing to deposit into life’s bank your experiences, education and training to prepare for your defining moment? Obviously, we don’t know when that moment will be, but preparation is the key. Even though many of you will be out of the classroom, you will still face tests and challenges in your life. For all that you know, you could be tested on the streets of New Orleans; you could be tested on the streets of Chicago, or, you could be tested on the streets of Patterson, LA (my hometown). You could be tested driving your car, riding on the bus, or even while you are alone on a busy corner in New York.

26. The tests that you will each face, will be to determine if you are who say that you want to be. The tests that you will face, will challenge each of you to prove, that you are either the dishonest, underhanded, sneaky, backstabbing, low-down good-for-nothing rogue that you present to others, or, that you are the trust-worthy, honest, roll-up your sleeve, let’s handle this, above-board person that you want others believe you to be. So, here is your final assignment:

27. Your Final Assignment

28. You final assignment, and I hope you will decide to accept it, is to determine how all that you have done up to this moment in your life, will help you to be the very best person that you can be. Obviously, I am going out on a limb here, believing that each of you, pursuing your respective degrees, diplomas or some level of recognition and achievement, are out to make the world a better place to live. If not, hang around, you may still benefit.

29. Your final assignment will consist of living each day to its fullest. With the life that many of you will be living, you will have no shortage of opportunities to do so. For each day that you are able to rise and face the day in front of you, be prepared to demonstrate what makes you the very best possible person to make a difference in the world in which we live. Live your life as though you will be graded. And please, don’t live just enough to get by. But instead, live each day as though it is your last, and best. In so doing, prepare for your finest hour.

30. How Will You Be Graded on This Assignment?

31. I call this your Final Assignment, because you will not come back here for your grades, or an evaluation. Your final assignment will carry you through the rest tof your life. You will know how you will be graded because of how you will choose to live your life. You will know all of the in’s and out’s of life. You will know right from wrong. You will know ethical behavior, honesty and integrity. Keeping terms such as these as a part of who you intend to be, will make sure that your final assignment will assure you of a passing grade. And if you do as admirable a job as I know that each of you are capable of doing, you will always be on the honor roll of life. You will always be that person whom others can call on, and know that they are getting one of the world’s finest individuals that life has ever produced. Your grade, will always be a passing one, because you are committed to being the very best at who you are, and nothing less.

32. To all of you, the Graduating Class of 2014, I encourage each of you to prepare for your defining moment, as I wish you the very best that life has to offer, and always, continued success.

33. Disclaimer: All information is deemed to be from reliable sources but not guaranteed. No information should be considered as legal counseling or any other relationship not so designated as of this posting. The Coveted Commandment Blog and The Coveted Commandment are copyrighted by Wayne Dan Lewis, Sr. © 2014.