Understanding Your Opponents

Yesterday was Selection Sunday for the NCAA basketball tournament. In anticipation, teams & their fans sat on the edge of their seats for the announcement of their 'seeds' and where they would be placed in the brackets. Soon after the rejoicing or groaning that followed the announcement, one of the very first questions that was asked to players & coaches is: "How will you prepare to play..... fill in the blank of the first opponent they will face.... in the tourney?"

Why is this?

Because part of playing the game well requires not only understanding how to maximize your strengths as team; but also how to shut down your opponent. A strong offense AND defense is required to come out on top.

How about you? How well do you know your opponents? 

Living our best life certainly includes the ability to move forward and build on our strengths. It also includes a healthy awareness of the barriers and pitfalls that can sabotage our progress. 

One of my opponents is doubt. 

It rarely shows up head on; often sweeping in from the sidelines with an extra question or suggestion. Seems harmless enough and at times even bears the disguise of wisdom or humility. 

So it begins, but soon one thought can lead to the next and I have second guessed myself right into my opponent's hand. If not aware, I can then be swept into one of two potential states: inactivity or over-activity. Neither are effective, as they both lack the faith to simply take the next step. 

Understanding the way my opponent moves has enabled me to overcome it, rather than having it overcome me. I have learned that rarely do we have 100% of what we need or feel we need to make our decisions. It's okay to make the best decision I can for today with the knowledge I have. I can bear the tension of risk and reward and the unknown all a little better. 

Do I win every time doubt opposes me? No. But as long as I stay in the game & face it head on, I know I'll will win in the end. See there? Looks like I am already beginning to dominate that old opponent of doubt. 

Here's to understanding our opponents so that we can overcome them; because living in sync with our best lives is no game we want to lose. Have a great week!  

Uncharted Territory

There are many times in life we find ourselves in uncharted territory. Sometimes it is a new opportunity that provides an exciting adventure and other times a wilderness that seems overgrown with challenges. Often these uncharted places are a combination of both.

These last few weeks I have cried tears and rejoiced with joy. I have shared moments that have become 100 times richer in the presence of friends. There remain more questions than answers; but an eternal hope anchors my heart. It is the beauty of living life.

In one of these moments, just a few days ago, I had the blessing of sharing life and praying with a young group of girls. We prayed about sleepovers and grandparents and struggles at home. As I shared my prayer request in simple terms, a surprised 8 year old observed... "So, adults can still get scared?"

Yes. They can.

And the prayers of an 8 year old can also bring peace and courage in the wilderness.

Today, I am praying for you. Because I can bet you are in some type of uncharted territory in your life and wondering about the way forward. May you find lasting peace & joy in the one who is guiding you through. He's crazy about you and He will get you through.

I'm just as happy with little as with much, with much as with little. I've found the recipe for being happy whether full or hungry, hands full or hands empty. Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it through anything in the One who makes me who I am. Philippians 4:12 -13, The Message

Life is Fragile

On my mantle, there is an obituary I wish wasn't there. It is in memory of a young 14 year old girl, a classmate of my daughter who committed suicide last Monday after school. My heart breaks as I think about how broken her heart must have been that led her to take her own life.

As much as we wish we could bring Grace back and have some type of do-over to this story; we can't. I hate the finality of it. The battle of the the unanswerable questions rage in our mind. The what if's, the how come's, the why's.

And we stop and we grieve. We comfort the tears of one another with the love in our hearts. We hug and sit in silence. We tell stories and look at old photos.

Life is fragile and resilient all at the same time.

These are defining moments in our lives, and how we walk through them make a difference. We can embrace the 'unsettling' and find greater means of comfort and hope or we deny and fight it and become numb or hardened to the pain. No one likes to hurt, but sometimes hurting is where the healing begins.

Living your best life doesn't mean everyday is rosey, but it does give you the capacity to walk through the hard times with faith, hope, and purpose.

I pray Grace's death would make my life purpose hold just a little bit stronger, and my desire to make a difference in the lives of others compel me to see the hurting people around me each day. May it do the same for you.

Giving of Yourself

The Eternal’s purposes will last to the end of time; the thoughts of His heart will awaken and stir all generations. Psalm 33:11

My church observes the Lenten season each year with what is called a Leap of Faith. Although unique, it does hold to some of the traditional aspects of Lent, including fasting. It is suggested that we prayerfully consider what we might remove from our lives in order to make space for more of Jesus and His purposes in our lives. 

Each year, I pray and ask God to help me see what to fast. In the past, I've fasted food in a variety of ways, worry, and sleep. This year, I couldn't seem to get clear direction on what to fast. Nothing in specific was standing out to me, so for this first week I've abstained from a few natural pleasures and distractions and intentionally spent a few extra minutes each day to build my relationship with the Lord. 

Today, I happened to come across Pope Francis' message for Lent. What stood out to me was his concern about the condition of our hearts being thoughtless and cold, giving way to what he calls a "globalization of indifference". He reminded me of the purpose in Lent & making space in our hearts for Jesus, which is TO BE LIKE JESUS and give ourselves to the people around us. 

As Pope Francis puts it well, "He knows us by name, he cares for us and he seeks us out whenever we turn away from him. He is interested in each of us; his love does not allow him to be indifferent to what happens to us."  Yes, that is who Jesus is. But what about me? Am I following Him and loving others as He does?

I think the point of Lent & fasting is not to focus on what you are removing from your life; but rather what you are giving yourself to. And then it all makes sense in my mind. Several weeks ago, I had felt a call in my heart to become more involved with refugees in our neighborhood so I volunteered to help with tutoring. 

While it's a small step in loving as He does, it's an intentional one. 

Rather than asking you what you are fasting this Lenten season, I'm curious to know what you are giving. Feel free to write & let me know. I'm for you. 

Sharing Life

For everything that happens in life - there is a season, a right time for everything under heaven. Ecclesiastes 3:1

I have to admit, I am a slow adopter to emoji's. Unlike my 14 year old daughter Natalie who has entire conversations with them. I tend to stick with words and be pretty direct in my communications. While I'm quite accustomed to a quick colon/ parantheses smile :) or xo for kiss and a hug.... who has time to change the keyboard to a sea of hundreds of faces?!

But I've tried. Mostly because Natalie has asked me to. I think it's a 6th love language & Gary Chapman may have to revise his book on the love languages.

In my efforts, I've failed as much as I've done them right. Who knew that each face has a particular meaning and you can't just choose the one you want? Did you know that there is even an emojipedia where you can discover all the meanings? And I'm not going to read it. She's just going to have to put up with her mom's love language & do some interpreting. 

What I do know, is that emoji's communicate emotions - a vital exchange and sharing in our relationships. There is a season to rejoice and a season to weep. A season to hold and a season to let go. A season to live and a season to die. All these things we experience, and our friends do too. 

So, maybe emoji's have a good place in our lives. Sometimes they deliver cheerfulness and othertimes comfort. Whether you use them or not, I encourage you to find a way to share the seasons of life with the people around you. 

Living your best life means feeling it & sharing it with others. 

Keep Going!

"I am usually the last one. It doesn't matter if you win or lose. You get it done." Scott Willey

I had the privilege of talking with Scott last Friday at the Y. A man who walks an average of 20 miles a day & participates in many road races & walks for charity. In the past few years he has been at the top of the leader boards in the U.S. (#1 in Iowa) for Fitbit, an activity tracker. 

In January 2014, Scott made Fitbit history by pushing the system to 100,000 steps (approximately 40-50 miles) in 13 hours. At the time, Fitbit's app only went to 75,000 steps. Willey was able to get Fitbit to change their badge system to include a 100,000 badge. During this time, others followed in his footsteps and accomplished the same. On January 2015 he did it again, receiving the badge he earned. This time doing 106,894 steps in one day. 

While I could go on about Scott's accomplishments, and they are certainly worth honoring; that is not the whole story. What has inspired me the most about Scott is his determination to keep going in spite of the challenge of cerebral palsy. 

Scott & I met over a year ago. I was in a low spot that day as the music played through my headphones and my feet hit the track. I was weary and confused; with my soul breaking on the inside. As I went around the track again and again, my eyes were drawn to Scott. He was walking with a pretty good limp as he navigated the track with determination. 

Inspiration began to rise in my heart... If he can keep going, I can too.

I introduced myself to Scott that morning, who greeted me as a friend with the happiest, most welcoming smile. I told him that while he may limp on the outside, I was limping on the inside today and how much of an encouragement he was to me to keep on going. He laughed and seemed pleased that he had made a difference in my life.

Scott attributes his resolve to keep going to his mom. He said she suffered for years with rheumatoid arthritis and kept going; never complaining and never missing a beat. 

As Scott says it best, "Don't quit. Keep going. Don't lose interest. The only way you can accomplish your goal is to stick it through. It's much more than walking and having a fit tracker. You have to put everything together to see the whole picture. Two years ago, I was in it for the competition and being #1. Now I am in it for the fun and for motivating other people. So what if I drop in the standings? I don't care because I am involved in groups and focused on what I can give to others." 

Living in sync with your best life means you keep going. You don't quit. You find there is a bigger picture to your life and the great blessing it is to give to others.

Thanks, Scott. You are an inspiration to me and to many.  






  

From the Farm Kitchen

A watched pot never boils.

Growing up on a farm in a family of 11, there was a lot of cooking to be done. In fact, as I look back at my childhood most of my memories of my mom are in the kitchen. 

Daughter of German immigrants, she made everything 'from scratch'... homemade bread, noodles, pies, you name it - we grew our main ingredients and very little of our food came from the store in a box. 

From the play kitchen set to the real kitchen, I donned my apron and learned to cook with mom. There were simple directives to follow and few instructions provided, you just did what she said. I mean, let's get real - she had a feast to get on the table 2-3 times a day. Who has time to look up the newest recipes on Pinterest or explain what you're doing? Learning was caught. 

As I grew, more responsibility was given to me. I remember getting anxious a time or two and mom telling me, "a watched pot never boils".

Sometimes life gets a little like the farm kitchen. There's a lot to be done and coordinated to reach completed goals. And you know what? That same saying holds true in those situations, too. 

Over-focusing on something and getting anxious about it, whatever "it" is, will not make it happen any more quickly. In the right conditions and at the right time, it will come. Be patient and wait for it. 

When that pot is on the burner and it is turned on high, the water will boil. No doubt. With the same assurance, I can remind you that...

• with lots of practice & in the right time, your children will learn how to sleep through the night, tie their shoes, pass a math test, drive a car, and all they need to develop and grow.

• your hard work & commitment to do the right thing will reward you in the long-term, even if you can't see it right now.

• most things worthwhile in life come from a process and with great patience- finishing a degree, buying a home, having children, establishing a career or business,  making a difference in the world, and leaving a legacy.

Hang in there. A watched pot may never boil... however, be assured, it will boil.