Seizing the Moment
As parents and grandparents we are sometimes tempted to convey biblical truths to our children via the "crisis lecture" method. We often wait until the child has done something wrong then use that incident to tell them all of the reasons why such behavior is unacceptable, sometimes using the Bible as our "chastening rod." Although it is certainly wise, at times, to refer to God's Word when correcting your child, times of heated crisis aren't always the most teachable times. It is usually best to wait until after tempers cool to lovingly share with a child why he is being punished and why Mom and Dad (and God) do not approve of such behavior. But some of the most teachable moments are those non-crisis times that life brings our way almost daily when our children are open to learning. It might be something as simple as pointing out to your child the majesty of God's creation while taking a walk in the woods or sharing a story from your childhood that illustrates a certain truth. When I was a child my father was always fond of sharing news stories with my sister and me, using them as springboards for discussion. Sharing bits of knowledge from science (without going overboard with a college level lecture) can be a fascinating way of teaching kids about the balance and design that point to a Creator who loves us. Themes played out on television programs can often offer opportunities for teaching children to be discerning about what they allow into their minds and alerting them to watch for the message being conveyed in nearly every form of programming. So keep your eyes open for teachable moments. The more you look for them the more you'll find. The more you use them the more you'll find yourself relying on everyday events to convey truths to your children instead of "crisis lecturing." Our friend Betty Shuck gave us some examples of people from history who failed to seize their moment and missed valuable opportunities. Here are a few. "I have traveled the length and breadth of this country and talked with the best people, and I can assure you that data processing is a fad that won't last out the year." "This 'telephone' has too many shortcomings to be seriously considered as a means of communication. The device is inherently of no value to us." "The wireless music box has no imaginable commercial value. Who would pay for a message sent to nobody in particular?" "The concept is interesting and well-formed, but in order to earn better than a 'C,' the idea must be feasible." "I'm just glad it'll be Clark Gable who's falling on his face, not Gary Cooper." "A cookie store is a bad idea. Besides, the market research reports say America likes crispy cookies, not soft and chewy cookies like you make." "So we went to Atari and said, 'Hey, we've got this amazing thing, even built with some of your parts, and what do you think about funding us? Or, we'll give it to you. We just want to do it. Pay our salary, we'll come work for you.' And they said, 'No.' So, then, we went to Hewlett-Packard, and they said, 'Hey, we don't need you. You haven't got through college yet.'" "Drill for oil? You mean drill into the ground to try and find oil? You're crazy." "Louis Pasteur's theory of germs is ridiculous fiction".
--The editor in charge of business books for Prentice Hall, 1957
--Western Union internal memo, 1876.
--David Sarnoff's associates in response to his urgings for investment in the radio in the 1920's.
--A Yale University management professor in response to Fred Smith's paper proposing reliable overnight delivery service. (Smith went on to found Federal Express Corp.)
--Gary Cooper on his decision not to take the leading role in Gone With The Wind.
--Response to Debbi Fields' idea of starting Mrs. Fields' Cookies.
--Apple Computer Inc. founder Steve Jobs on attempts to get Atari and H-P interested in his and Steve Wozniak's personal computer.
--Drillers whom Edwin L. Drake tried to enlist to his project to drill for oil in 1859.
--Pierre Pachet, Professor of Physiology at Toulouse, 1872