We Know When He Died

We Know When He Died


Yesterday Amy and I sat in the kitchen eating a quiet lunch of cheese and summer sausage. MacGyver lay on the floor with his chin resting on the windowsill. I motioned for Amy to look at him; at that very moment we heard a deep sound, the window actually moved and rattled, MacGyver jumped up. At that moment a man died, instantly. As a crow flies, we were about nine tenths of a mile from the crash.

We learned later, on TV news, that two drivers were apparently drag racing on one of Scottsdale's heavily used streets; police estimate they were, at least, moving at 70 miles per hour, side by side at the moment of impact with a car making a legal left turn. That car was torn into pieces, ejecting the driver, whose body was found almost 200 feet from point of impact. The other drivers were released from the hospital that evening, one with a broken arm, the other with minor bruises, and immediately arrested and jailed on second degree murder charges.

This morning we read the short article in the paper and learned that the deceased was a man Amy had worked with in the past: A man who had done much community service during his life.

I know this has nothing to do with selling, marketing, managing or operating a business, at least not on first thought, but maybe it does. It does because to succeed and be happy in these daily pursuits, we must have and execute personal responsibility. Everything we do, everyday, is done on the assumption that people around us will take personal responsibility in their work, their lives. These two drivers, one 42 the other 26, failed to do so in this instance.

The deceased had made that same left turn at least once a day for years. He undoubtedly looked and saw these oncoming cars, noted their distance and assumed they were driving at the 45 mph limit or perhaps 50 mph as every one does on that street. He "knew" he had ample had time to make the turn, he did not pause to judge their speed, realize it was not "normal" and how quickly they would be upon him. He took personal responsibility as he habitually did all his life. He was consistent in this and assumed those drivers were also. Their inconsistency in taking personal responsibility has destroyed their lives. The number of other drivers witnessing the crash and the physical evidence ensures they will spend many years in prison. The people that depend on them for comfort, love and sustenance, will have to rebuild their lives, also.

What a waste.

Please be consistent in taking personal responsibility in every part of your life, for your sake, for the sake of all who know, love and depend on you.

Wesley (Wes) Zimmerman