Wednesday, July 29, 1998
Wednesday, July 29, 1998
"For 'In him we live and move and have our being'; as even some of your own
poets have said, 'For we too are his offspring.'" (Acts 17:28
NRSV)
Max DePree is chairman and chief executive officer of Herman Miller, Inc., the furniture maker
which was named one of Fortune's ten best managed and most innovative companies. In his book,
LEADERSHIP IS AN ART, DePree writes about his ninety-six year old father who was the
founder of the company. Many years ago, when his father was still a young manager at the
factory, a millwright died. The millwright was a key person who oversaw the operation of the
factory. The entire activity of the operation depended on him. DePree's father was unsure of what
to do when the millwright died, but decided he should spend some time with the family. There
were a few moments of awkward conversation as his father tried to find the right words to say.
The widow asked if it would be all right if she read aloud some poetry. Naturally his father
agreed. When the widow returned she began reading selective pieces of beautiful poetry. When
she finished Max's father commented on how beautiful the poetry was and asked who wrote it.
The widow replied that her husband, the millwright was the poet.
"It is...sixty years since the millwright died," DePree writes, "and my father and many of us at
Herman Miller continue to wonder: Was he a poet who did a millwright's work, or was he a
millwright who wrote poetry?"
Do we allow the poetry of God's love to shine through us?
Prayer: Dear God, may I not just go through the motions of my daily routine, but may I
let the poetry of your being glisten through me. Amen.
Ronald Newhouse, Texas, USA