The Rabbits, the Fence, and the Farmer

There once was a farmer. The farmer had a garden. The garden had carrots. There was a mess of rabbits that lived outside the fence. Unfortunately, the farmer was a little lazy and he did not do a very good job maintaining the fence.

One day the rabbits got through the fence and began to eat up the carrots. They were very happy because there were not as many carrots outside the fence.

The farmer got angry, very angry. He got his neighbors together and asked them to help eradicate the rabbits.

But what was the problem? Was the problem the rabbits or the farmer? The rabbits were doing what rabbits naturally do. They try to survive by seeking out food that nourishes them. They live within their conditions. The farmer had the responsibility for the fence. It was his job to keep the rabbits from doing what they naturally do.

Similarly, who is the problem in the immigration situation? It seems that the US government failed for decades to pass the immigration reform to properly manage the border.  In the past four years, Biden ignored the border and Trump torpedoed the only legislation that was trying to help. Should we be surprised when the people outside the fence trying to survive try to get into the garden? Should we violate the human rights of the people that came in because we did not have a secure yet reasonable border? Or should the government take the responsibility for creating a situation that favored illegal immigration? In the United States we created a problem and are blaming the wrong people, it's the Farmers not the rabbits. Please don't hate on the rabbits.

Me, Myself, and Bob by Phil Vischer

I picked up this book because I listen to the holy post podcast and I have come to like Phil and the teams insights and because I loved veggie tales videos when my kids were growing up. Notice I did not say I was happy they loved the videos. I loved to have an excuse to watch them for my own entertainment. I knew big idea had gone bankrupt and there a story; I did not know how I would see my own story reflected back to me in those pages. It was weird. No, it was absolutely freaky. If you read this book and divide all the financial numbers by 1000, you know my story. I had considered writing my story one day, but maybe I will just hand out this book instead. 

• Phil talked about trying so hard, sacrificing so much, and working such long hours "knowing" that he was doing Gods work and it had to all pay off. He naively believed that God would surely step in and save Big Idea in the end, in His own timing (always on time, never late! we are taught!)
• Phil discussed how the business rose to a place of prosperity and acclamation only to crash under its own weight. 
• Phil talked about the incongruity of simultaneously thinking he was not good enough while also thinking he had the Midas touch. 
• Phil talked about trying so hard to preserve the company and help his people and yet, not only was his skill questioned, but his character as well, when the company imploaded. 
• Phil talked about hiring smarter people for lots of money that did not end up bringing the ROI he expected. 
• Phil talked about having too large a vision and pushing growth too fast. 

I could relate so exactly with all these problems. It was shocking to see myself though I felt better that I was not the only one that failed so badly. If you every failed in business (almost everyone in business) and you are a Christian you will find this book intriguing!

 

I Don't Wanna be a Yellow Snowflake

I float slowly from the sky

Will I land in a yard

And be a snowball hitting hard

Will I land in the street

And black and nasty I will be

Will I land on a hill

And give rides that thrill

Will I land in the grass

And become a snowman with a big...

Oh no, by a dog I will go

And become yellow snow