Ian Fleming, the creator of James Bond, is oddly responsible for helping birth the most iconic rock band of all time, Led Zeppelin.

Allow me to explain.

When the very first James Bond film was being scored, Ian Fleming met with the proposed composer to discuss how the music should go. Fleming did not like that composer’s work and demanded that composer John Barry take his place. Barry was a respected motion picture music composer who would later co-compose the “James Bond Theme” song as well as 11 of the James Bond films’ theme songs, including “Goldfinger”. He also later composed the theme songs to Somewhere in Time, Born Free, Dances with Wolves, and Midnight Cowboy. He was such a prolific composer.

But it’s Goldfinger in particular that connects this story together.

British singer Shirley Bassey was chosen to join pre-selected studio “session” musicians and record the song – which she did in a relatively short period of time. As Bassey finished recording the Goldfinger song in studio it’s quoted by a then little-known session musician who was playing guitar directly in front of her, that she fell to the floor completely exhausted from holding the final note so long.

The studio “session” musician?

Jimmy Page, the soon-founder of the iconic rock and blues band, Led Zeppelin. Also present, and performing the bass, was John Paul Jones who joined Page when they formed Led Zeppelin, in response to being overworked as studio session musicians. (Vocalist Robert Plant and drummer John Bonham were also invited to join the fledgling band.)

Ian Fleming to John Barry to Shirley Bassey to Jimmy Page & John Paul Jones to Led Zeppelin.

Everything happens in the context of relationship.

My question to you involves whether or not you see the connectedness in your life right now.

We all face obstacles of NO and NOT YET that tend to make us think we’re alone and unable to accomplish a goal we’ve set for ourselves. But NO can be where things really start, if you’ll approach the goal from a different angle*.*

I ask you today to consider three points:

• Consider agreeing with me on the statement: “Everything happens in the context of relationship” just for the duration of this newsletter.
• Look at your current life and see what’s near you (and next to you) that may be a small thing, yet critically important to achieving the next step toward your goal.
• Finally, I’m requesting that you re-evaluate if the goal you are currently pursuing is even worth it.

Let’s begin with my request…

That you choose (just for the duration of this newsletter) to embrace the idea that everything happens as a result of relationship. Think about your own life. Who have you helped out of a rough situation, only to see them exceed and excel because you were involved in their lives? Did they ask you for help? Did they offer to pay you back? My guess is that, like most people who help others, you just did so because you could.

In my own life, I realized that in reading a part of the first book of the Bible, one scripture always pops out at me, “Let us make man in our image.” (Genesis 1:26) We exist because the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit work in the context of relationship with each other… and our lives are the result of that interconnectedness.

Here's another example:

I have a long-standing friend of 35+ years, Skip Hall, who was the Head Football Coach for Boise State University. He’s long been retired and recently suffered the deep loss of his wife Virginia, who passed away. We recently invited Skip to dinner and he shared with us stories of his work on behalf of others, even while he was grieving the recent death of his bride. Their six decades of marriage forged in Skip and Virginia the desire to help others. Susan and I were recipients of their kindness when, after the death of our oldest adult child, they arrived unannounced at our home and just sat with us, comforting us with their presence as we wept. Skip is still reaching out to help others. He has a weekly radio show, Game Plan for Life that I was recently a guest on, in studio. He mentors many men and has a wonderful relationship with the current Head Football Coach of Boise State University, Spencer Danielson.

At dinner, Skip shared with me the contents of a marvelous letter that he received on Father’s Day from someone whose life has been impacted by him. Later I read the full letter. Two lines in particular stood out: “I never really had a dad or a grandpa. Without knowing it you have been patching up the male shaped hole in my heart.”

Will something come back to Skip for his thoughtful gestures, while in the midst of his own grieving? It already has – he helped one person. Nothing else needs to be desired or expected. Skip was used by God to impact one other person’s life. And he has done much more over the years…

It was Mother Theresa who long ago said, “If you can’t feed 100 people, feed one person.” and “There are no great things, there are only small things done greatly.”

What’s in your hand?

You may recall from the animated film, Prince of Egypt, how Moses was told to pick up the staff and behold the wonders that were about to happen.

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What is it that you have in your possession – your skills, your passions, your abilities? What is at your fingertips? You can use them to help others.

Susan and I have a dear friend, Mac Mayer, who is the Executive Pastor at Life Church in Boise, ID where we live and attend his church. Mac was my business partner years ago when we helped ex-addicts and ex-inmates regain their lives, post-incarceration. Now, as a pastor, Mac authored “The Outreach Church – Growing Beyond the Walls”. His premise for small group get-togethers is simple: find a need and fill it. In essence, Life Church asks people, “What’s in your hand? Now go start a group of people interested in what you are passionate about.”

Currently there are over 30+ groups on just as many subjects and the list is growing. I have recently offered my coaching sessions to all those small group leaders, to help them better understand their goals and their people. That’s what’s in my hand.

What’s your ladder leaning against?

Bringing this topic in for a landing, demands that I ask you a hard question: Could the ladder you’re climbing up be leaning against the wrong building?

It’s a question worth considering, especially knowing how limited our time on Earth really is. Mike + The Mechanics captured this stubbornness of will plus the brokenness and sadness in their aged-song, “In the Living Years”. Listen in:

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In particular, pay attention to these lyrics:

Dislodge the ladder of your life and place it against the firm footing of things eternal, things that will last. It’s never too late; if there’s breath, there’s hope.

I’ll close with a dream I had many years ago. I was standing in front of two sets of large double doors, separated by about ten yards. They opened and closed automatically, resembling doors we would all experience at the exit point of airports. A person can exit through them, they just can’t return.

As I stood outside of the second set of doors, I could see my young son, Colin, through the glass, saddened and alone on the other side of the first set of doors. He was out of my reach. I was away from him and unable to stand with him. His profound sadness became my own. Then I jolted awake from my dream, telling Susan what I had just experienced – and telling her of my subsequent decision not to run again for U.S. Congress!

You see, I’d run for U.S. Congress six years prior, losing to the sitting Lt. Governor. He then spent his time as a congressman preparing to run for higher office, thus eventually giving up his seat in the House of Representatives. Word was out that the seat would be open and, by many observers and political commentators at the time, I was the logical person to run and win, in his absence. The night of my dream I went to bed metaphorically placing my ladder against the Capitol Building in Washington D.C. I awoke that next morning after the dream, shaken and fully cognizant that I would not lose my young son. I publicly announced I would not be a candidate for Congress. I endorsed a man named Bill Sali and he won the race, serving well in Congress. I served best as a father to his son.

Today, Colin’s and my relationship is anchored to the realities of commitment and love of the Lord, laughter, family, politics and business. He has three kiddos and we have a deep friendship as adults because everything happens in the context of relationship.

Look at what’s in your hand at this very minute and dislodge the ladder that’s leaning against the wrong building of your life.

John Barry would suggest you become “Dr. No”… and choose not to pursue foolish things. Led Zeppelin would tell you to “Ramble on”, Mac Mayer would tell you to “Just do it”, and my son, Colin Mansfield, would tell you, "Always put relationships first!"

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Den's Latest & Greatest

• You have GOT to watch the new film “Becoming Led Zeppelin”. It’s streaming now. I found it to be one of the most remarkable documentaries I have ever watched. Here’s the trailer:

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• Not YET a Zep fan? Visit one of John Barry’s favorite films for which he scored the music: “Somewhere in Time”. It is a Mansfield Family favorite for all my siblings!
• Smile with me as I look back on my love of music in the 1960’s and my band, Third Stone from the Sun, that I so enjoyed as we played so many of Led Zeppelin’s pieces.

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