Orange Nuggets – Rev Run Wisdom
11 May
Run DMC, Beastie Boys and Peter Gabriel were regulars on the mix tape back in the day. Breakin’ was one of my faves on the screen, I won my Youth Ministry Talent Show dancing the SuperBowl Shuffle, I owned a few pairs of parachute pants and Reebok hitops were the shoes of choice. And between you and me… I really thought I was cool.
But that was then… and this is now.
Yet day 2 of the Orange Conference 2010 a flash from my past walked onto the stage. And I was right back in Jr High wishing I had my Run DMC album in hand ready for an autograph.
I’m a Rev Run fan. My friend, Chris Spradlin, told me about this show, Run’s House, a few years ago. It was funny to see this former 80′s rap star as a father raising a family. There are many things about the show that are tough for me to relate to. It baffles me to see how others with such wealth can live. But then I think someone living in poverty somewhere might say the same of me. What I love about Rev Run is the audience he draws and how he uses his influence to cause people to think. When you watch his show you see a guy that is pretty practical and straight foward with his kids. I respect the way he leads his kids to stand on their own in a very public life.
Rev refers to Twitter as his pulpit. Interesting… smart. He uses his pulpit with wisdom.
The exchange between Rev Run and Reggie Joiner was entertaining. Mostly because of the dramatic dynamics sitting just across the table from each other. Two men from two completely different worlds. Yet both with a desire to see families grow together rather than apart.
In fact, Rev published a book recently called Take Back Your Family. I’ve added this to my 2010 reading list.
Here are a few nuggets I scribbled down as Rev talked about his latest project.
You can’t have kids and expect them to walk without your help.
…when it’s all said and done, you are going to be the biggest influence in your child’s life. Don’t squander that power.
Why focus on your marriage? If the two top players on the team are not in the game then the team falls apart.
It was a great session. No doubt the book will be even more fun to read. Thank you, Run… for the flashback, the memories and the wisdom.
