Latest / Minnesota Masonic Histories and Mysteries / Episode 49. 18:53 Working Tools Series - "Leading by Action"

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Episode 49. 18:53 Working Tools Series - "Leading by Action" · Minnesota Masonic Histories and Mysteries

• 0:00
  Welcome back to another episode of Minnesota Masonic Histories and Mysteries.
• 0:04
  I'm Reed Endersby and I serve as a regional director for Minnesota Masonic Charities and the Grand Lodge of Minnesota.
• 0:10
  We appreciate you checking out this podcast and are excited to share the addition of occasional shorter episodes as this one will be.
• 0:18
  We are launching what will be known as the 1853 working tools series, which will delve into a variety of subject matter, both Masonic and non Masonic.
• 0:28
  Education, history, revisiting compelling anecdotes about Freemasonry in Minnesota.
• 0:34
  And in the future, welcoming guest hosts for these shorter episodes, which will be no longer than 18 minutes and 53 seconds.
• 0:42
  These shorter episodes will alternate between the weeks in which we do have longer, full episodes and in studio guests.
• 0:49
  With that, welcome to the first episode of the 1853 Working Tools series.
• 0:54
  Today we are going to look back at John D.
• 0:57
  Rockefeller, the founder of Standard Oil, and who was once the richest man in the world.
• 1:03
  Rockefeller was the world's first billionaire and amassed a net worth of at least 1 billion by 1916.
• 1:11
  When he died, his net worth was estimated to be approximately 340 billion in today's dollars.
• 1:19
  By 25, he had one of the largest oil refineries in the United States.
• 1:25
  He was 31 when he became the world's largest oil refiner.
• 1:29
  At 50, he was America's richest man.
• 1:32
  As a young man, every action, attitude, and connection he had was hyper focused and crafted to establish his wealth.
• 1:42
  But by the age of 53, he fell ill.
• 1:45
  His entire body became wracked with pain.
• 1:48
  And And he lost all his hair.
• 1:50
  In total anguish, one of the world's richest men could buy anything he wanted, but could only eat soup and crackers.
• 1:58
  According to an associate, quote, he couldn't sleep, wouldn't smile, and nothing in life meant anything to him, unquote.
• 2:07
  His personal, highly trained physicians indicated that he would die within the year.
• 2:13
  That year passed painfully and slowly.
• 2:16
  As he approached death, he awoke one morning with the faint understanding that he would not be able to bring any of his fortune with him to the next world.
• 2:26
  Rockefeller, the man who could dominate the commercial world, suddenly realized he had no control over his personal life.
• 2:34
  He informed his solicitors, accountants, and management that he intended to devote his assets to hospitals.
• 2:41
  research and charity work.
• 2:43
  John D., Rockefeller started the foundation.
• 2:46
  The Rockefeller foundation financed penicillin research in 1941.
• 2:51
  but arguably, the most astounding aspect of Rockefeller's narrative is that when he began to give back a fraction of all he had gained, His body's chemistry changed dramatically, and he recovered.
• 3:05
  He was expected to die at the age of 53, but he survived to reach 98 years old.
• 3:12
  Rockefeller learned gratitude and returned the great bulk of his money.
• 3:16
  This made him whole.
• 3:18
  It's one thing to be healed, it is another to become fit.
• 3:22
  Before he died, he wrote in his diary, quote, God taught me that everything belongs to Him, and I am merely a conduit to carry out His will.
• 3:32
  My life has been one long happy holiday since then, full of work and play.
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  I let go of my worries along the road, and God was wonderful to me every day.
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  Unquote.
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  What a remarkable story.
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  And let's be honest, very few people will ever see that kind of money in their lifetime.
• 3:53
  Even if lightning were to strike with a long shot powerball win.
• 3:57
  The takeaway is a challenge for all of us to re examine what we do have to give to others.
• 4:03
  Friendship.
• 4:04
  Kindness.
• 4:05
  Love.
• 4:07
  A check in to ask, how are you doing?
• 4:10
  last week I saw a great quote from author James Clear in which he said, quote, being kind to others is mostly about your actions.
• 4:24
  Self awareness can be a gift we not only give to others, but to ourselves.
• 4:29
  We, as Masons, are known for the tenets of our profession.
• 4:33
  In modern terms, our core values.
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  Brotherly love, which translates into meaningful friendship, relief, or providing resources to those in need, and truth, truth with ourselves and others.
• 4:47
  Are these just words we say in passing, or are we doing the work, making genuine efforts that indicate our commitment to these goals and standards?
• 4:58
  Perhaps you work in a corporate setting where the core values of your company are prominently displayed on the wall of a common area for all to see.
• 5:06
  Unfortunately, that's usually where it stops.
• 5:10
  We stop and point at that list of core values and proclaim, I support this, and feel as though that's all we have to do.
• 5:18
  Simply align ourselves on what is determined to be the correct side, and we lazily stop there.
• 5:25
  This is an ongoing challenge across the board.
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  Companies, houses of worship, fraternal organizations.
• 5:32
  We draft a set of guidelines, core values, various commitments to people, and basically stop there.
• 5:39
  Recently, I heard a compelling podcast in which the host referred to that as being nothing more than quote, ideological hand waving unquote, which is the easiest thing to get away with.
• 5:50
  Posting the core values on the wall, or in a Masonic setting, reiterating the tenets of our profession in word only, does not get the job done.
• 6:00
  There has to be a real indication of commitment, from each and every one of us, doing the work, being the change, living these things out.
• 6:10
  In other words, talking less and doing more.
• 6:15
  Freemasonry sends forth no missionaries.
• 6:19
  It's progress as a force of nature that stems from the age old desire to unite in a bond of friendship for our mutual welfare and happiness.
• 6:29
  Thanks for listening to the first episode of the 1853 Working Tool Series.
• 6:34
  This has been Minnesota Masonic Histories and Mysteries.