Chasing After Wind
By Scott Kriner, Green Metal Consulting
My vacations are often associated with something I can relate to in the metal construction industry. Last month my family spent time in central California to enjoy Yosemite and Sequoia National Parks. In fact, we saw many metal roofs on residential and commercial buildings, including on our condominium that week. I was looking for a story line in the construction styles all around us. But this vacation was different. Once we got to the National Parks, the spectacular scenery, crisp cool air, and sparkling clear water in the rivers and waterfalls quickly put some things into perspective.
The Good Book contains a verse that “all the deeds that are done under the sun are vanity and a chasing after wind.” Standing in awe of the natural beauty all around us caused me to pause and think about what is most important in our lives. I felt completely insignificant while standing at the base of General Sherman which is the largest tree in the world with a 109 foot circumference. Suddenly I realized that the time and energy spent promoting the features and benefits of metal in construction was a trivial “chasing after wind.”
So the vacation turned into a time for cherishing family time and improving our health. We did plenty of hiking, took long walks, and made time to enjoy the pool, tennis courts and golf courses in the area. Part of the healthy lifestyle we were enjoying involved frequent visits to the fitness center at the condo clubhouse. One morning as my wife and I entered the fitness room, a gentleman got to the sole exercise bike before my wife did. She settled for the treadmill that morning. But I watched the gentleman “exercising” on the bike. He grabbed one handle with one hand, but the other hand was preoccupied with a Blackberry. I watched as he peddled for 30 seconds while reading emails, only to stop peddling from time to time to lean forward intensely to read more messages and respond to them. Over the course of 30 minutes, I would estimate that he peddled and actually exercised on that bike for less than 5 minutes. I could only surmise that he had promised his wife that he would not check emails while on vacation, and then found sanctuary in the fitness room.
That incident made me reflect on the rat race in which we all compete. We’ve all seen the father of a family in a Disney theme park talking on the cell phone while waiting in line. I’m sure we’ve all experienced the joy of listening to travelers in airport restrooms who are so important they must converse with colleagues even when nature calls. And I know we’ve all seen the travelers who need to check messages the instant the airplane lands on the runway. Sound familiar?
What is so important that we can’t truly enjoy a vacation without dreading what’s piling up in our offices while we’re away? Whatever happened to actually missing a call and having to get back to people? Instead our society seems to feel that they must be tethered to one another 24/7 so that we don’t miss anything. Are we all so important that we must be “on call” at all times? Or are we really just chasing after wind?
Our nation’s economy is not healthy and needs to improve. As businesses get stronger and healthier, our economy will rebound. Perhaps our lifestyles are not as healthy as they need to be either. Is it time to slow down, simplify, and actually smell the coffee instead of gulping it down as quickly as possible? Many often say that they have no time to do what is best for them. But maybe we need to make time for what is most important to us.
With or without each of us working 60 hours or more a week, there is no doubt that the construction industry will come back strong and sustain itself through the future. Ask yourself, “What else could be more important?”
Scott Kriner, MCA's Technical Director, is the president and founder of Green Metal Consulting Inc. He is a LEED Accredited Professional who began his career in the metal construction industry in 1981. His company is a member of the U.S. Green Building Council, the California Association of Building Energy Consultants and the Residential Energy Services Network (RESNET). Scott can be reached by email at skriner1@verizon.net, or by phone at (610) 966-2430. You can also visit him on the web at www.greenmetalconsulting.com.
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