Training from a Tyrant

 I am a voracious reader.  As the author of well over 40 books, I’m embarrassed to admit that, when I could read print using my eyes as you are reading these words in a newspaper, magazine or online publication, I don’t know that I ever read a whole book cover to cover.  For the last 30 years as a blind person,  I have averaged completing a book each day thanks to high-speed, digital audio technology.  When you read more than 350 books a year, you have the privilege of studying people and subjects that you would ignore if you only read one or two books annually as the majority of people do.

 Recently, I undertook a study of Genghis Khan, the 12th century leader who conquered the majority of the known world at that time.  I will admit that before reading the details of his exploits, I thought Genghis Kahn was a ruthless tyrant and an evil dictator.  While there were certainly aspects of Genghis Kahn’s life and legacy that we would find to be deplorable and destructive, I have come to learn that—with the exception of a handful of people—Genghis Khan probably has had more to do with the way we live in the modern world than anyone else.

In addition to the obvious advances in weaponry and military tactics, Genghis Khan spread much of the knowledge and wisdom of his time throughout Asia, the Middle East, and Europe.  He had a great deal to do with promoting ideals of democracy, religious freedom, leadership, loyalty, and learning.

 Gandhi is noted for saying, “Everyone is my superior in that I can learn something from them.”  We have a tendency to want to boil down people’s lives into a brief statement so we can see them as either good or bad.  This kind of black-and-white thinking can be very destructive and can keep us from learning, growing, and becoming all that we can be.

 My late, great friend and mentor, legendary Coach John Wooden, often said, “There’s enough bad in the best of us and enough good in the worst of us that it doesn’t behoove any of us to judge anyone.”  While I believe we need to protect ourselves from dangerous people and destructive ideas, there is something we can learn and apply from almost anyone to make our lives better and improve the world around us.

  As you go through your day today, remember the life, lessons, and legacy of Genghis Khan.

 Today’s the day!