As one explores deeper into the past, one realizes how much information is available to re-discover.  Recalling the familiar saying of ‘learn by others experience’ begins to create a deeper sense of appreciation.  Thoughts realized by the self now were once realized by others ages ago.  Sure there are things, many things, which must be experienced and learned by each person.  However, there are some things which can be learned and understood by delving into wisdom shared from the past.  Taking advantage of this lost wisdom will help find a quicker return on investment for one’s own life.

The lost wisdom referred to above is not necessarily ‘lost’ in the sense of vanished, or completely gone.  It is wisdom which is forgotten or misplaced by the common observer.  The knowledge is there to be found for those who seek.  It could be said it is more of a hidden wisdom, than a lost wisdom.

In the book, The Fourth Part of the World by Toby Lester, he shares a paragraph written by Petrarch in the mid-fourteenth century.  Petrarch was gathering, organizing, mapping, and sharing the precise location of places described in long forgotten texts of the past.  He noticed contradictions from one text to another.  Petrarch related some of the reasons for these inconsistencies among the texts in his following words:

“Many things cause errors concerning the knowledge of places, among them: the inaccessibility of regions to men of our age; the change of names, the rarity and lack of clarity of authors, and sometimes the dissent among them; but above all the lack of intellectual curiosity and the laziness of those who care for nothing that isn’t right before their eyes.”

The care and time Petrarch took to research where, and what exactly, was being related in the ancient texts is admirable. Petrarch wanted to expand the vision of the world for all to marvel and understand. He felt the study into the history of a subject would need a full understanding of not only the subject matter but also of the relation to its place in the world.

Petrarch’s inclusion of ‘those who care for nothing that isn’t right before their eyes’ may have been referring to the lack of clarity for a location but it resonates a feeling often recognized today.  So many people do not search for the ‘unseen’.  The routines of life cause people to form a rut.  Following the same path back and forth will eventually wear a trench so deep that walls are created which a person can no longer look over without effort.  The vision of people becomes limited to their one own way.

The level land which once revealed paths every which way is forgotten or lost.  Many do not take time to realize or consider their own reasons for doing what they do.  Climbing out from the channel to new ground will expose new paths.  Just like Petrarch took time to re-discover, clarify, and understand the world around him, so can others. The loss of knowledge can be realized.  The search is real.  Peace can be found.

Anyone who ever watches a young child will recognize the overwhelming sense of exploration they instinctively possess.  The strong desire to discover, examine, and learn about the unfamiliar or unknown is easily noticed as they move from place to place.  It is this yearning which causes a child to grow in wisdom and understanding.  It is a gift of wonder. Without it, one has to consider what life would be like.   What would inspire or initiate discovery?

Francis Bacon is known for his famous quote of, “Wonder is the seed of knowledge.”  A seed is the beginning of growth. To gain wisdom and understanding, a person needs to question; to wonder.  Only with wondering about life, about self, about the Divine, can a person begin to grow.  The wonder craves to be nurtured by each person so knowledge will sprout.  As it expands, so does the awareness of the immense greatness to be found within the world.

We should all make every effort to stay like young children with their active questioning and searching.  To stop the wonder, is to stop the growth.  It takes work and determination.  In the Lost Keys of Freemasonry by Manly P. Hall, he states, “The world is a school.  We are here to learn, and our presence here proves our need of instruction.”  Our continuous wonder will lead us to a path of instruction.

By wonder, we experience, and with experience, we learn.  We will find the path if we keep the active wonder.  We will come out of the darkness and begin to see light.  Proverbs 4 begins by saying, “Listen, my sons, to a father’s instruction.”  As a person listens, he will hear within in his heart the Divine’s instructions.  Later, in Proverbs 4, it says, “Hold on to instruction, do not let it go” and 4:18 shares, “The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn.”   The light shines brighter as the path of instruction is recognized and found.

Hall also calls the world a prison with bars unknown.  Each person struggles to grow and reach or stretch beyond the limitations placed upon the self.  Like a seed first sprouting, a person will extend upward ever so slowly as the roots of learning and knowledge are gained.   With wonder as the seed of knowledge, a tree, full of life, will grow.

One of the greatest gifts given to each person is the strong instinctive sense of wonder.  The wonder and then search for answers is what gives a person self knowledge.  The gift is wonder.  The gift is the wanting, yearning, craving, desire, or need to know for ourselves and the world around us.  Knowing or exploring this life is the most precious and ‘wonder’ full wisdom a person can learn.   It is not merely given; it must be found and so it is earned.  It is a return on investment in wonder.

The following is a story by Loren Eiseley:

“Once upon a time, there was a wise man who used to go to the ocean to do his writing. He had a habit of walking on the beach before he began his work.

One day, as he was walking along the shore, he looked down the beach and saw a human figure moving like a dancer. He smiled to himself at the thought of someone who would dance to the day, and so, he walked faster to catch up.

As he got closer, he noticed that the figure was that of a young man, and that what he was doing was not dancing at all. The young man was reaching down to the shore, picking up small objects, and throwing them into the ocean.

He came closer still and called out “Good morning! May I ask what it is that you are doing?”

The young man paused, looked up, and replied “Throwing starfish into the ocean.”

“I must ask, then, why are you throwing starfish into the ocean?” asked the somewhat startled wise man.

To this, the young man replied, “The sun is up and the tide is going out. If I don’t throw them in, they’ll die.”

Upon hearing this, the wise man commented, “But, young man, do you not realize that there are miles and miles of beach and there are starfish all along every mile? You can’t possibly make a difference!”

At this, the young man bent down, picked up yet another starfish, and threw it into the ocean. As it met the water, he said, “It made a difference for that one.”

The above is a charming story which holds different levels of meaning for each person who takes time to read it.  It encourages a person to act even if the small action may seem useless in comparison to the whole scheme of life.

The power in the story comes to the person who realizes life is made up of many of the same small actions.  Little things done or not done may seem not to matter as a whole.  However, each action can be chosen to be beneficial or wasted.  Investing in each minute, or second, of the day will make a difference for ‘that one.’

A life spent with many small wasteful actions is a life which ends up being wasteful.  A life spent with many small beneficial actions is a life which adds up to be valuable.  Choosing how to invest a moment matters not only for ‘that one’ but for others as well and a life is made up of each one.

Enjoy and invest well always,

Within the history of Freemasonry is found the legend of the Lost Word. This allegorical tale shares a powerful story of how a Master Mason, Hiram Abiff, was murdered in an attempt by three ruffians to discover a secret word. Upon his death, though, the word was lost, and the search for the word remains to this day.

Allegory is defined as a symbolic work. A work in which the story is meant to represent other things. For those with the desire to seek, learn, and understand the deeper spiritual meaning behind those ‘other things’, a hidden wisdom can be discovered. In the case of the story of Hiram Abiff, this hidden wisdom refers to the discovery or the understanding of the Lost Word.

The search for the Lost Word can be pursued by anyone. A person does not have to belong to the official Masonic orders to seek the wisdom. It can be said everyone is a mason; a builder of self. Investing in the search for the Lost Word is seen by many to be a quest to know thyself and the Divine.  This return on investment is sure to be grand.

All of this may be strange to a new person. The methods of concealment or the feeling of secrecy behind these fanciful stories may raise suspicion or interest in one’s mind. This is possibly intentionally and rightfully so. Only through questioning or through one’s own search for meaning can the Lost Word be found. Could the stories be considered mere enticements then for those who are ready to search? Is it like, when the student is ready, the teacher appears?

When the spark has turned brighter, the search for understanding begins? What is this Word though? Where does a person begin? The familiar verse found within the Bible states, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” Is this the Word which is lost? How would that be found? How can one get to know God? Is there a God?

The above questions need to be asked before they can be answered. The quest for wisdom is one which patiently waits for all and only begins after wonder. They are not questions of any one religion. God is not a God of this or that religion. He is God to all. He is the Creator. Proverbs 4:7 states, “Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom. Though it cost you all you have, get understanding.”

The investment towards wisdom and understanding is one of life’s top priorities. This opinion is similarly stated by Socrates in his quote of, “The unexamined life is not worth living”. But where should a person start? Proverbs 1:7 may supply the answer with, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge.” The fear of the Lord does not imply to be frightful of God but to acknowledge his power and love.

Could the starting point be to acknowledge there is a Lost Word in the first place? As asked above, “Is there a God?” This question is not wrong to ask. It is a question which is in the heart of all of us. Only after seeking can anyone truly know God and as Proverbs 2 shares; “if you search for it like hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God.”

Enjoy and invest well always

Everyone knows that leaving a window open during the cold season is going to let the warmer air from inside the home escape into the cold. The wider the opening, the faster the heat goes. Anyone interested in saving money with heating costs quickly learns to close the windows!

A lot of money which was invested into creating heat for the warming of the house can be wasted by the mere breach of a small window. This loss of investment can be prevented by simply finding the open window and closing it. Maybe the window is in the basement of the home? Maybe it is on the first floor? Maybe it is at the way top, all the way in the corner of the home? Windows are everywhere, but if someone is interested in cutting costs, they won’t mind taking a walk around the home and closing the windows.

Windows can be a lot like habits. Not bad when used properly. But when one isn’t used properly it is going to cost a person. Taking a stroll through one’s own day may help identify some habits which, like the opened windows, may need closing or at least a little caulking applied around the edges for a better seal.

Take for instance the person who stops for a coffee at Starbucks every morning. They could make coffee at home, pour it in a travel mug, and save both time and money. Is this a window which needs closing? It may if that person is struggling to pay monthly bills or is saving for an extravagant vacation. For another person it may not; but it should always be remembered that any little expense during the day can lead to great costs over time.

In any home there are all types of windows. And as mentioned above they can be found anywhere. Expenses happen at anytime and anywhere too. It is up to the person to discover these possible cracks or loose seals. Heat (and money) can escape out the tiniest of holes. Finding these gaps will help a person keep more heat into their home or money into his or her pocket and save costs. Saving costs ultimately leads to a better return on investment.

The cost may not always be monetary. A loss could also be found by realizing time being spent on something could be better spent doing something else. The investment of time is one of the most valuable and one of the most costly to lose. A person will invest well in doing a thorough study of the house and closing windows with time being lost through them.

Everyone needs leisure time. A wonderful quote by Benjamin Franklin in his Way to Wealth essay states “Employ thy time well if thou meanest to gain leisure.” The time which is spent in wastefulness is what a person needs to identify not the time which is employed wisely. It is different for each person and can only be found by the person looking for it.

Strolling through a day looking carefully at all windows may yield decisions to close some windows and seal some more tightly. A person who finds even the slightest gap will for sure see a better return on investment in days to come. It may even lead to finding an open door!

Enjoy and invest well always,

Socrates is known for saying “The unexamined life is not worth living.” Socrates was a great Greek philosopher who believed the value of life was realized best or only when a person searched for better understanding or meaning and purpose in their own life. It is reasonable to say then that in order to realize the best return on investment of living life; a person should take time to examine it.

To examine a life is to question life’s priorities or to ask oneself, “What do I want from my life? What do I want from this investment?” Since the word invest can be defined as to commit or spend something in order to receive a future advantage or benefit and since every person spends time living life striving to receive some kind of future advantage or benefit, it is essential to try and understand exactly what kind of benefit they are investing for.

Most people may say I invest my time working in order to receive the return of money. However, the answer must be examined deeper. Surface skimming is not enough. Is it money they are really wanting? If they were to receive ten million dollars with the condition that none of the money would be spent, would they be satisfied? No. It is not money they are working for.  It is how the money can be used or invested again that a person is wanting.

The answer to how does one want to spend a dollar, ten dollars, a thousand dollars, or ten million dollars is only one of the many questions which needs answered by each individual person. This one question is a mere example of how examining one’s life must be deeply considered. Mencius, a Chinese philosopher from around 300 BC said,

“To follow a path all one’s life without knowing where it leads, such is the behavior of the multitude.”

It is true life can continue without ever specifically answering the question of ‘What are my goals or Where am I going?’ But if a person takes time to examine one’s life then they will be on a path which will have a greater return on investment.

If a stranger came up to another and said, ‘give me one thousand dollars?’ what do you think they would say? Would they blindly give their money away? They should at least ask, ‘what do you want it for?’ But people without realizing it are blinding giving away something more valuable than money every minute of the day. They are giving away time without ever asking themselves, ‘What am I spending this for?’

Wisdom from the past is bountiful. It is there for each person to search, gather, and utilize. Questioning and discovering or deciding life’s priorities will give a person a life with the best return on investment. Socrates realized it thousands of years ago when he said, “the unexamined life is not worth living.” It would be a path to only a dead end.

Enjoy and invest well always

It has been said (and many times proven) money can’t buy complete happiness; only money can’t buy complete happiness.  There does need to be a balance in life.  Investing in life only for financial gains will leave a person unbalanced.  A person needs to invest in self; financially, spiritually and mentally.  He needs to invest in family and others around him.  He needs to invest in balancing the return on investments.

Investing in learning and growing as person is considered one of the greatest investments a person could make.  It is one which will help provide understanding for balancing life.  The return, although not measured in dollars or cents, will be one which is considered priceless.  It will then be reinvested in ways which were not present before.  The returns will be great.

Written in 1897 is a book entitled The Investment of Influence by Newell Dwight Hillis.  In the book he says, “As a lump of clay is lifted to the wheel by the potter’s hand and under gentle pressure takes on the lines of a beautiful cup or vase, so man sets forth a mere mind.” So to then, under gentle pressure, care, and cultivation, the mind of man will then be able to hold, pour out, and be filled again.

The investment gained, held within the mind, will then be able to pour out in many ways; financially, emotionally and spiritually, and be able to receive those in return again.

The statement from the book informs the reader to invest in self and a return on investment will be realized.  Unless a person is willing to become more or set forth their mind, they will not be able to pour out more.  A person cannot give what they don’t have.

Not depending on a person’s beliefs, a truth is ‘reap what you sow’.  And not to be taken negatively as it is often done today but to be thought about positively.  Only by planting the seed can the vine grow to then provide more.  If the seeds were never planted than more could not be received.  A planter will reap what they sow.

Nature has proven this in so many ways.  The give and take and return can be noticed if sought for.  Some examples found within the wise old book mentioned above are as follows:

• Give thy body food and thy body will give thee mental strength.
• Give thy brain sleep and rest and thy brain will give thy thought nimbleness
• Give thy mind to books and libraries and the literature and lore of the ages will give thee the wisdom of sage and seer.

Give and receive.  Invest and return.  If an investor gives ‘good things’ then the return will be ‘good things.’  Sure not every monetary investment returns a positive percentage in terms of dollars.  However, knowledge and experience were given in return, if recognized.  At the time those may not be what an investor had hoped for, but with the right attitude, those can be reinvested and bring even greater returns in the future.

Investing will always give something in return.  If received with wisdom the returns will always turn positive.

Enjoy and invest well always

‘King Me’ is a phrase associated with the game of checkers but when someone makes a great return on investment they too should say ‘King Me.’

When a player in the game of checkers moves his piece across the board and into the last row (into his opponent’s first row), he will be crowned and his piece becomes a King.  Players are always happy and quick to say, “King me!”  And rightfully so.  The player carefully planned, dodged obstacles, jumped over hurdles, took opportunities, and successfully reached part of their goal.

Sure, the game isn’t over, but the player deserves a reward for his latest effort.  The same is true for investors of all types.  Realizing a return on investment or ROI is an accomplishment no matter how small.  It is interesting or at least coincidental that ROI is a word for King.  So when one happens, one is King automatically.  ROI.

Of course, like in the game of checkers, there are other goals to attain.  Is investing ever over?  When one investment is completed opportunity for others are waiting.  More Kings or ROI’s can continue to be achieved.  And sorry, but it should be said, like the game of checkers the more kings a person has the better.

Better for what?  Well that depends on exactly what a person is investing in.  If a person has received a ROI with a monetary investment than that person may be able to give more to one of his favorite charities or take some extra time off to be with his family.  If a person was investing in himself then the return on investment is not only great for himself but for all who surrounds him.

The challenges investors face or the opportunities investors take in order to create a ROI for themselves and for others needs to be acknowledged.  Although checkers is a game, picturing a checkered board and moving across it, can illustrate real life.  It’s not always easy.

Investors begin with the objective to move forward.  They take time to think and plan before they move or invest their money or whatever they are investing with and they know to be aware of obstacles which may arise.  With commitment and persistence, an investor will realize a ROI.  Once they reached their goal and at the end of their turn, they can say, “King Me!” and be crowned.

Whether it is monetary or not, an investor should be proud to wear his crown and the freedom gained in mobility (yes, like checkers) is one of the benefits of realizing a great ROI.  Life is full of games.  Checkers is only one of them.

Enjoy and invest well always

Return on Investment or ROI is a term usually applied towards a financial measurement. The ROI is given as a percentage and offers a quick comparison with other investments. The percentage is easily calculated by subtracting Costs from the Gains and dividing that value by the Costs. The following is an example of exactly how a ROI is found.

ROI= Gains-Costs/Costs. If a person had gains of $150 dollars and the costs were $100 dollars then the ROI=150-100/100. His return on investment would be considered 50 percent. In terms of money the investor made 50 dollars.

The ROI is a more important and accurate comparison measure of investments then when a person is speaking in only dollar amounts made from an investment. When someone else is known to have made 200 dollars in an investment, it is easy at first glance to assume he made the better investment. He made 4X as much in dollar terms compared to the above example. However, if he had Gains and Costs of 1000 and 800 dollars respectively, then his ROI was only 25 percent. Who made more when comparing it this way?

If the second investor would have invested his 800 dollars in the first investor’s investment, then he would have realized a 400 dollar gain instead of only his 200 dollar gain. The investment in the first example has the better ROI.

Likewise investing doesn’t always have to be about money. The word invest can be defined as “to spend or commit ‘something’ in order to receive a future advantage or benefit.” The ‘something’ could be a person’s time or other resources. What is considered a better ROI when speaking of spending or committing someone’s time?

Included in an essay entitled The Way to Wealth written by Benjamin Franklin is a quote which says, “Lost time is never found again.” Time is being continuously spent by each person every minute, hour, day, year and so on. What return is being gained? What are the costs? These questions can be the most important questions for any person to ask themselves. Finding the answers and making any desired changes could dramatically alter that person’s life.

The popular “Time is money” quote can be better understood when thinking about ROI in this way. Investing time and receiving a gain on that time can be realized in many different ways. Sure it is true better time management will provide financial gains but it doesn’t always have to come down to cold hard cash.

Once a person begins to understand the investment of time and the gains which can be made from it, their whole perspective of life may change. Taking time or investing time in understanding better ways to utilize one’s time will offer gains, advantages, or benefits for a person which they will not regret.

Enjoy and invest well always