Robert J. Strock explores humility and the difference between knowing and believing. He's written over 50 books with 65 co-authors, emphasizing how openness to learning shapes both his work and his approach to faith.
Over 50 books.
Two solo books (one on golf).
About 65 co-authors.
I don't know if you realize how rare you are, that you really don't act like you know everything and that you do separate out your faith, your belief from your depth of knowing. And that you can play with Margie about knowing and that you play with yourself about that and how key that humility is in generating this sense of well being because you don't have to be right and you don't merge knowing and believing and how unifying of a spirit that is in the way you walk and talk.
Well, I appreciate that observation and you know, it's really interesting is that I am so excited about learning and if you think you know something, then you're not open to learning. And my mother used to say to me, why don't you write a book by yourself? See, and you know, I've written over 50 books and only two books by myself, one on golf. So many people helped me with my golf game, I didn't know who to write it with. And then my spiritual journey, because I am so excited about learning, you know, and so I said to my mom, I already know what I know, you know, I mean, I don't know how some of these people can write 300 page books about what they know without even a footnote or anything else. And my thing would really be limited, you know, that's why, you know, when people started attacking me because I was more inclusive than they said I should be as a Christian, you know, I mean, how can I endorse Deepak Chopra's, you know, seven spiritual laws? And how could I write a forward to Tony Robbins, you know, book? You know, those are New Agers and all. And I just kind of got the belief that if God knew who I was even before I was born and put me together like this, that I've always been an inclusive person, why would I suddenly, when I came to faith in Jesus and all, would I suddenly be asked to be exclusive? It just didn't seem to me to make sense, you know, because I would have put somebody else in the position I'm in to speak about Jesus being a great leadership role who maybe was more exclusive. And so it's an interesting thing in life, but right now I'm kind of pleased that I come down on that side of the game. So I appreciate your noticing that.
And I wonder whether you see that as being a uniting element for religions, for humanity, is to be able to recognize that you have your dear beliefs that you'll dedicate your whole life to, but you retain a certain humility of not knowing and that that allows you to respect and appreciate other people's beliefs and creates a certain tone that does come from you. But at least I feel now I'm asking a leading question, I feel that's a uniqueness in you that isn't normal.
That uniqueness has just created opportunity for me to meet and work and learn from just such a variety of people. Because when you say God, I got 65 co authors, I mean, how do you do that? Well, the way you do that is you're a person who wants to learn from the other person as much as you hope that they learn from you. And so I'm not pushing and shoving in that relationship, but it's a give and take, which has just been a wonderful gift. I just look back and go, wow, you know, what wonderful opportunity? So I just feel blessed that somehow I got wired that way and got parents that kind of showed me in that way. And then I think that's what Jesus said. Suffer the kids unto me, bring them all to me, and let's start on that relationship and then see where it goes.
Well, for me, it's disclosed one of the places that helps me understand why it's been so easy to be close to you. So I thank you for that.
