Only those who have the patience to do simple things perfectly ever acquire the skill to do difficult things easily. – Schiller
Reyn at podium of the Gateway Chapel. Easter, 1953
The Lemurian Fellowship’s second president was Reynolds G. Dennis, affectionately known to his friends and coworkers as “Reyn.” He is an outstanding example to us in countless ways, notably through his guidance and direction of the Lemurian Crafts, which became nationally known and highly productive during the years of his leadership. Here are a few treasured recollections of this stalwart Lemurian as we acknowledge the anniversary of his birth this month. An Order member recalls:
“During one of my first visits to the Fellowship, I mentioned to Reyn that the heels of my jogging shoes were worn down. Reyn had just rewritten the lesson on Health, was very active in physical fitness, and inspired many Lemurian students to pursue a jogging program. I was one of those who followed his lead, and my shoes were showing the effects. He asked me to bring them with me when I joined the Fellowship staff for dinner the following evening.
“After dinner, he took my shoes, sat down at a table on which he had placed his repair materials, and quietly built back up the worn areas of my heels. He never had to search or ask for anything more than he already had at hand. The efficiency with which he accomplished this simple repair has stayed with me.”
A staff member remembers how Reyn tried to help him become more efficient and organized in approaching practical tasks. Preparing to tackle a leaking valve at the Fellowship’s well pump, he suggested they sit down and draw up a list of all they would need. This meant visualizing the job ahead, thinking through each step, and determining what tools they might require. When this was complete, they went to the shop, collected the needed tools, and the job itself went beautifully, with no need to backtrack. With Reyn’s keen observation and years of practical experience, it was as though he turned on a strong mental light, enabling him to see every step of a job before he actually got into it.
“Reflecting on these experiences,” one Order member says, “I am inspired to become a more efficient worker. Looking at my schedule, I try to envision what tools, implements, and processes may be required to get next job done. And if I am in the vicinity of those items, such as the Fellowship shop or the landscape room at Gateway, I take this item with me or bring it nearer to my next work area rather than having to return for it when I begin that task. This forward thinking can be as simple as putting a screwdriver in my pocket, or as involved as bringing the lawn mower to the area needing mowing later. The opportunities are limited only by our imaginations and the nature of the tasks.
“As I employ this forethought more regularly, the effort needed to get a day’s work done is reduced and that is in itself a real benefit,” he adds. “At my age, efficiency equals longevity!”
I agree that foresight and forethought are very important. When I had my business I would write on a piece of paper how many new clients I needed that month. I always met the number. But, sometimes overthinking or over-planning does not allow for the little miracles that can happen. I have a friend who has had an in-depth business plan for years with no results. Sometimes over-planning stumps the result. Keep in mind we must have a balance of logic and vision. We must allow for the unconscious messages and help to come thru as well. We must also take a moment to help others if we notice an opportunity. That quick moment can bring huge rewards for the plan we are embarking on. I always planned and had vision and my business flourished. I always had the time for those slight distractions that helped a client or caller enrich their lives. This was part of my plan as well. Never forget the true purpose that the virtues offer us. Efficiency is important. Perfection is important. Balance is the key!
I really enjoyed this story about Reyn and it reminded me of a brief encounter with him many decades ago. I was working in the “Long Shop” assembling some small wooden boxes when he passed by, noticed what I was doing, took a pencil and marked each corner of the box stating “I found this helpful,” turned and walked away. The markings helped me reassemble the box and to this day, I use this technique.
What sticks with me about this episode is not only the lifelong actual assistance in my Crafts’ work, but the simplicity of the advice. Not “you should do it this way” or “you may find this helps” but simply: “I found this helpful.” What an example of impersonal help. Reyn was efficient even with his advice.
Great comment on Reyn’s impersonal help on the marking technique, Rob. Interesting to me is that you showed me this when I had the opportunity to help you (probably watch more than help) with a cello box, and telling me you learned it from Reyn.
A very inspiring piece on Reyn! The descriptions of his methods of efficiency rang a bell with me. I was always one to picture the end result before the steps to get there. I thought the quicker you got on the job, the faster it would get done. I finally got tired of starting a job and then making several trips back for tools that were “suddenly” needed. It turns out that the time taken to think through a procedure and get ready before beginning it, is time not wasted.
Think you hit the nail on the head, Eric. It takes self-discipline (something Reyn had in abundance) to take time to plan when you’re itching to start the job. It’s not easy to take time to THINK when you would rather be DOING. But it pays off. Reyn won a race this way. It was a seniors’ run in Balboa Park here in San Diego. On practice runs, Reyn noticed that on one very steep part of the course, everyone got very tired and ran quite slowly afterward. So he WALKED up that steep part, then took off like a shot when he got to the top. He came in first in his age category!
I agree that foresight and forethought are very important. When I had my business I would write on a piece of paper how many new clients I needed that month. I always met the number. But, sometimes overthinking or over-planning does not allow for the little miracles that can happen. I have a friend who has had an in-depth business plan for years with no results. Sometimes over-planning stumps the result. Keep in mind we must have a balance of logic and vision. We must allow for the unconscious messages and help to come thru as well. We must also take a moment to help others if we notice an opportunity. That quick moment can bring huge rewards for the plan we are embarking on. I always planned and had vision and my business flourished. I always had the time for those slight distractions that helped a client or caller enrich their lives. This was part of my plan as well. Never forget the true purpose that the virtues offer us. Efficiency is important. Perfection is important. Balance is the key!
I really enjoyed this story about Reyn and it reminded me of a brief encounter with him many decades ago. I was working in the “Long Shop” assembling some small wooden boxes when he passed by, noticed what I was doing, took a pencil and marked each corner of the box stating “I found this helpful,” turned and walked away. The markings helped me reassemble the box and to this day, I use this technique.
What sticks with me about this episode is not only the lifelong actual assistance in my Crafts’ work, but the simplicity of the advice. Not “you should do it this way” or “you may find this helps” but simply: “I found this helpful.” What an example of impersonal help. Reyn was efficient even with his advice.
Great comment on Reyn’s impersonal help on the marking technique, Rob. Interesting to me is that you showed me this when I had the opportunity to help you (probably watch more than help) with a cello box, and telling me you learned it from Reyn.
A very inspiring piece on Reyn! The descriptions of his methods of efficiency rang a bell with me. I was always one to picture the end result before the steps to get there. I thought the quicker you got on the job, the faster it would get done. I finally got tired of starting a job and then making several trips back for tools that were “suddenly” needed. It turns out that the time taken to think through a procedure and get ready before beginning it, is time not wasted.
Think you hit the nail on the head, Eric. It takes self-discipline (something Reyn had in abundance) to take time to plan when you’re itching to start the job. It’s not easy to take time to THINK when you would rather be DOING. But it pays off. Reyn won a race this way. It was a seniors’ run in Balboa Park here in San Diego. On practice runs, Reyn noticed that on one very steep part of the course, everyone got very tired and ran quite slowly afterward. So he WALKED up that steep part, then took off like a shot when he got to the top. He came in first in his age category!