No Parking

"Sometimes our lives have to be completely shaken up, changed, and rearranged to relocate us to the place we're meant to be."

Deep within us, we want more. We desire, dream and hope for it. We set goals and strive to reach them. We read books and hire personal trainers. 

Simultaneously, we want to be comfortable, and long for a secure and stable life. Once we reach certain goals, we tend to become complacent with accomplishments and plateau. The Law of Inertia starts to take over...

An object at rest stays at rest and an object in motion stays in motion with the same speed and in the same direction unless acted upon by an unbalanced force.

What has recently rearranged your life? Rather than something to be resisted or escaped, is it possible that it is a gift to get you where you are meant to be? 

Defining Moments

valor :  strength of mind or spirit that enables a person to encounter danger with firmness :  personal bravery

There are times in all of our lives when we are faced with challenges that exceed our natural ability to cope. Whether it be a sickness, accident, job loss, relationship failure or whatever... each of us is bound to encounter things that test the fortitude of our mind and spirit. 

It is here, "at the end of our rope" so to speak, that our beliefs & actions will weigh in tremendously on the persons we are and choose to be. 

Anyone can be good and kind in the best of situations. It is who we are in the worst of situations that may be the most defining of all. 

Lucky to be Loved

This week I have stumbled upon three pennies on the ground. I'm not superstitious; but hey - by the third one this morning, I did have to recognize it as a message trying to get through to me. What could that message be? 

Lucky to be Loved. 

 

That's right. My life is not happenstance or dependent on good luck. But it is filled with a great love.

 

As it says in Psalm 23:6, "Surely His goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life..." And as a good friend prayed this verse earlier in the week, I love his interpretation: 'That means it is chasing & hounding us down'.

 

I believe those three pennies were a simple reminder from Jesus. He is chasing me down, surprising me with his great love over and over again. 

 

Aren't we lucky to be loved?

 

 

The Path & the Process

How often do we want to be somewhere, but rebel against the process in getting there? 

It takes focus, diligence, patience, and planning to get anywhere significant. And oftentimes it's the process that makes us into the person that can handle what's ahead. 

Almost seems like the more I want something, the more emotional resistance arises to challenge me. I feel insecure. I am afraid it won't work and then what? Who do I think I am? I am immobilized by timidity. 

Truth is, where I want to go takes courage. It takes the process of getting there if I am going to be worth anything to those I lead and mentor. It takes everything working together to make me the kind of person I need to be to do the job well. A new level of understanding. What it means to engage in the process. To be afraid. To diminish the fears with careful planning. To take a step and let the next one rise up to meet me. 

Nope, not going to do it.

"I have yet to meet an executive, regardless of station or rank, who could not consign 25 percent of the demands on their time to the wastebasket without anyone noticing their disappearance." Peter Drucker

I like lists. I like to-do lists, collection lists, electronic lists, outlined lists, dated lists, tickler lists, and more! I am organized and love accomplishments and seeing things happen. What better way to do it than through a list?

What I've found is, there's one list I haven't completely mastered yet: my "Not to do" list. 

Oftentimes when we want something in our life or set a new goal, we simply "add" it into our already busy lives. Next, the focus becomes how do we balance it all & keep from becoming overwhelmed. 

Ask a gardener - how do you bring forth the most fruitfulness in a plant? Yes, water, light, soil and nutrients. Oh yes, and more important part: PRUNING. Removing the outgrowth, so a plant can better produce. 

Realizing my "Not to do" list is a critical part of growth and effectiveness is almost a relief. I think I'll go start on mine now. 

What needs to go on your "Not to do" list? 

Fishy livin'

Don't complain about the fishy smell if you are a fisherman. Or the choppy waves, the torn nets or all the competitors out there in the boats next to you. 

Every career has its pro's and con's, an up-side and a down-side. To fight against what is inherently part of a job and work environment is only going to raise your frustrations and make you toxic to be around. 

Always count the cost. Accept what you can and can't control. And then regularly remind yourself why it's right for you. 

And if you truly can't stand the smell of fish, do something else.

The Mordecai Effect

If you will be all you can be, the people around you will be empowered to be all they can be.

If you read the story of Esther in the Bible, you will come across an unsung hero in the story, Esther's uncle, Mordecai. 

Mordecai learned of King Xerxes' edict that was about to extinguish all Jewish people. He went to the gates of the palace where Esther was queen, and openly wept and mourned in sackcloth. Hearing of it, Esther quickly responds by sending out clothing for her uncle; which he refuses as he continues to fast and pray.

Via the palace messengers, Esther finds out about the edict and Mordecai pleads with her to visit the King on behalf of the Jewish people. Knowing that idea was a potential death sentence, Esther initially balked at it. 

Mordecai replied, "Who can say but that God has brought you into the palace for just such a time as this?"  

Esther went for it. She visited the King, saved the Jews, and became all she was meant to be. All this, because Mordecai was all he was meant to be. 

We all need a Mordecai in our lives. And we need to be a Mordecai to others around us. Only then, will we be all that we are truly meant to be.