Living Beyond the Grave!

Like many people, I was shocked to hear the tragic news of Dr. Myles Munroe’s death. His plane crashed Sunday evening in the Bahamas, killing him, his wife and the seven other people on board. He was only 60 years old.

If you are not familiar with Dr. Munroe, he was a pastor, motivational speaker and prolific author with numerous best sellers under his belt. Dr. Munroe authored 69 books covering topics from transformational leadership, personal development, spiritual growth, purpose, marriage and relationships. 

The first book I ever read by Dr. Munroe, more than 20 years ago, was entitled, Understanding Your Potential. I would name it among the top 10-15 books that have helped mold me into the person that I am today. I even incorporate several of the principles from this book in my current presentations for youth.

Monday, I watched a video of a message that Dr. Munroe delivered earlier this year and I found his message to be just as powerful in 2014 as it was when I read my first book written by him, 20 years ago. Dr. Munroe asked a question during this message that convicted me = “If you died today, what would happen to all of the knowledge you have?”

I was convicted because I knew that I did not have a good answer to the above question. I was embarrassed to admit that if I died today, I would take much of my knowledge to the grave with me. I have not done the work to capture/document that knowledge so the impact of it can be felt even after I’m gone.

Sitting on a Gold Mine!

I often say that I feel like I am sitting on a gold mine. I have so much insight into the hearts and minds of teenagers that comes from the 12+ years of classroom discussions and 10,000+ letters that they have written me.   

You know how to relate to us teens. You understood how we think, making it much easier to listen to you.  I wish more people like you understood the relationship process with us teens. You understand every aspect about us. ~High School Student

I do not take it lightly nor do I take it for granted that God has gifted me to be able to understand and relate to teens in a way that allows them to receive and positively respond to my message.  Yet, I have not documented that insight for others to glean.  The question is “why?”

Ironically, my friend, Carol, and I were working on my business model a few days before Dr. Munroe died, and she asked me what my ultimate objective was:  “Is your objective to create a model that is focused on you or one that lives on after you?”  She said that the answer to that question, would determine what goes into the model.  I told her that my objective was the latter; yet, I realized I was not fully operating that way.

Knowledge Worth Preserving!

My “To Do List” is so overwhelming due to my grueling speaking schedule that I often struggle to complete many of the projects that I’ve started. It is even more difficult to find time to do anything that would impact not just this generation of teens on a larger scale, but also generations to come.   This MUST change!

When I’ve spoken to others about what they were doing to preserve their knowledge, I discovered that many were just like me.  Some were too busy to carve out time to do this while others sadly had never even thought about it.  They either never considered that they were knowledgeable enough on a subject to preserve it, or they didn’t think their knowledge was important enough to be preserved. 

If you are thinking this way, I say to you “Don’t procrastinate and don't underestimate how much someone else can benefit from the knowledge you have.” 

I have a friend who fondly recalls the “best carrot cake she’s ever tasted” that her family made for years.  In fact, she even baked the cake herself many times using the same handwritten recipe that was borrowed from a family friend.  Somehow the handwritten recipe got misplaced.  Around the same time, the family friend passed away and the recipe was lost forever because it had not been preserved.  Whether you own a business, teach or bake, the knowledge you have is worthy of being preserved.

ALL good things should NOT come to an end.

The truth is none of us knows when our time here on earth will end.

“Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.” James 4:14

Dr. Munroe’s question certainly added some urgency to my need to establish processes/systems and create products that will continue to inspire teens to dream bigger dreams, make better decisions and walk into their destinies well beyond my time here on earth.

Questions: 

What about you? What can you do to ensure that you live beyond the grave?

Think about it, what information do you have that could benefit those you leave behind?  In what ways have you or will you pass it on? 

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