April 30, 2010
The May Miracle begins officially tomorrow, but it is already underway. A confirmed new client today. That makes the total for the month at four new clients. The May Miracle goal is $40,000. We are over half way there and the month has not started.
Friday, April 30, 2010
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
April 27, 2010
Great day to day at work. Also, had a true idea for the future of the business on the way home from work. I have found that when you refuse to give up and you also refuse to run from your problems, things begin to happen in a positive way. There is something about refusing to run from fears and refusing to give up that can be transformational.
When you push yourself outside of your comfort zone there are new answers that come your way.
Great day to day at work. Also, had a true idea for the future of the business on the way home from work. I have found that when you refuse to give up and you also refuse to run from your problems, things begin to happen in a positive way. There is something about refusing to run from fears and refusing to give up that can be transformational.
When you push yourself outside of your comfort zone there are new answers that come your way.
Monday, April 26, 2010
April 26, 2010
It is funny how things begin to turn. It is not like things happen overnight but you begin to see a pattern. I look back over the past few years and I see a clear pattern. I decided I didn't want to live like I was living and so I set in motion the situations where the things that used to work didn't work any more. I don't blame anyone else. It was clearly me, in hindsight, saying, "I don't want to think like this any more and I don't want to act like this." I couldn't admit it openly to myself, though, so the old subconscious kicked the wheels in motion.
If you wondering what the "live that way any more" means it was that I was trying always trying to get there. I was tired of wanting others to take care of me. Tired of doing things that really were not a part of who I was.
There are a couple of other things that have been critical on the journey. First, I decided to ask for help. Whether it was spiritual help, financial help, emotional help, physical help. I finally found the courage to start asking others. I think that I was actually saying, "I not only can't do this on my own any more, but I don't want to do it alone anymore."
Another critical step was that I stopped running. I started facing my fear. That was a huge thing. Another step that is emerging now is that I am moving forward with energy, not trying to run on my heels - going forward with part of my trying to hold back. In this environment I see things different and am not acting different. Exciting times are ahead.
It is funny how things begin to turn. It is not like things happen overnight but you begin to see a pattern. I look back over the past few years and I see a clear pattern. I decided I didn't want to live like I was living and so I set in motion the situations where the things that used to work didn't work any more. I don't blame anyone else. It was clearly me, in hindsight, saying, "I don't want to think like this any more and I don't want to act like this." I couldn't admit it openly to myself, though, so the old subconscious kicked the wheels in motion.
If you wondering what the "live that way any more" means it was that I was trying always trying to get there. I was tired of wanting others to take care of me. Tired of doing things that really were not a part of who I was.
There are a couple of other things that have been critical on the journey. First, I decided to ask for help. Whether it was spiritual help, financial help, emotional help, physical help. I finally found the courage to start asking others. I think that I was actually saying, "I not only can't do this on my own any more, but I don't want to do it alone anymore."
Another critical step was that I stopped running. I started facing my fear. That was a huge thing. Another step that is emerging now is that I am moving forward with energy, not trying to run on my heels - going forward with part of my trying to hold back. In this environment I see things different and am not acting different. Exciting times are ahead.
Saturday, April 24, 2010
April 24, 2010
I have not posted a blog since Thursday. Chase, our youngest, has the lead role in Les Miserables at his school and time has been consumed between the play, family in from out of town, and work.
I had a very exiciting thought today as I was working on the fearless living process that I have developed. Chase is 17. About age 15 he figured out what he really wanted to do. He was a dancer and an actor. I have since discovered that he can also sing. Notice that I didn't say he wanted to be a dancer and actor. He was a dancer and actor.
He did what anyone who follows the path of fearless living and intentional living does. Instead of trying to always get there, or be good enough he began to think of himself as a dancer and actor. We saw a marked difference in his performance from that point forward.
The journey to live very intentionally is about being rather than doing. Most of us, me included, spend way too much of our time trying to "get there" rather than living in the present out of our being. When we do that, live out of our being, the magic begins to happen. When we live out of our being we see ourselves and the world around us in a different light. We see opportunity where opportunity did not exist before. We see the path to success (whatever we are seeking to succeed at) where we only saw trees before.
Tonight is the last night of the play. It will be tremendous.
I have not posted a blog since Thursday. Chase, our youngest, has the lead role in Les Miserables at his school and time has been consumed between the play, family in from out of town, and work.
I had a very exiciting thought today as I was working on the fearless living process that I have developed. Chase is 17. About age 15 he figured out what he really wanted to do. He was a dancer and an actor. I have since discovered that he can also sing. Notice that I didn't say he wanted to be a dancer and actor. He was a dancer and actor.
He did what anyone who follows the path of fearless living and intentional living does. Instead of trying to always get there, or be good enough he began to think of himself as a dancer and actor. We saw a marked difference in his performance from that point forward.
The journey to live very intentionally is about being rather than doing. Most of us, me included, spend way too much of our time trying to "get there" rather than living in the present out of our being. When we do that, live out of our being, the magic begins to happen. When we live out of our being we see ourselves and the world around us in a different light. We see opportunity where opportunity did not exist before. We see the path to success (whatever we are seeking to succeed at) where we only saw trees before.
Tonight is the last night of the play. It will be tremendous.
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
The journey of intentional living is a great deal like peeling back the layers of an onion. You peel back a layer and think that you have found everything you need to find only to discover that there is another layer underneath with more to learn.
The exciting part, though, is that a pattern seems to be emerging. You have the major things to face in your life. Once you face these, the other things seem to get smaller and smaller.
Another pattern is that in the early days you are exhilarated by facing your fears and conquering them. At some point, though, there comes the desire to begin moving forward to a new future. Here might be the right picture.
You start by realizing that you want more than what you have now in your life. It is either a proactive or a reactive movement. You either see something about life that you want more of, or you realize that you don’t want to stay where you are. When that happens you lose energy to continue doing what you are doing now. If you don’t do anything at this point you begin slipping into compression (the precursor to mild depression). If you begin exploring what is going on within you, though, you move in a different path. You begin the journey to understand why you are where you are now. This is the opening of the door in to fearless living.
What you go down that path you find obstacles in your path. You find things that you must face. Depending upon your emotionally hooks to the present you either face them or run from them. What many people desire is the knowledge of what they emotional hook is. They don’t really want to remove the hook and live free of that emotional hook. They simply want to now what it is. There are others, though, who want to be free from the emotional hook. These individuals who want to be free of the emotional hook move one step further down the path of fearless living.
When you decide to face them you take the next step on the journey of fearless living. Somewhere in the process of facing the fear and refusing to run from it, you find the power to confront it. When you do, your inner world is altered. By confronting the fear and finding the power to change things you free yourself from being controlled by the fear.
This is another place where people choose to stop on the journey to fearless living. They are so relieved to confront the first fear that they want to bask in the glow of having faced it and not died emotionally.
Those who continue down the path of fearless living recognize that power to live fearlessly is found in the relentless pursuit of uncovering things that inhibit our real living.
Somewhere along the way the energy turns from inward to outward. The focus moves toward living out of my power rather than simply using it for insight and awareness.
The journey of intentional living is a great deal like peeling back the layers of an onion. You peel back a layer and think that you have found everything you need to find only to discover that there is another layer underneath with more to learn.
The exciting part, though, is that a pattern seems to be emerging. You have the major things to face in your life. Once you face these, the other things seem to get smaller and smaller.
Another pattern is that in the early days you are exhilarated by facing your fears and conquering them. At some point, though, there comes the desire to begin moving forward to a new future. Here might be the right picture.
You start by realizing that you want more than what you have now in your life. It is either a proactive or a reactive movement. You either see something about life that you want more of, or you realize that you don’t want to stay where you are. When that happens you lose energy to continue doing what you are doing now. If you don’t do anything at this point you begin slipping into compression (the precursor to mild depression). If you begin exploring what is going on within you, though, you move in a different path. You begin the journey to understand why you are where you are now. This is the opening of the door in to fearless living.
What you go down that path you find obstacles in your path. You find things that you must face. Depending upon your emotionally hooks to the present you either face them or run from them. What many people desire is the knowledge of what they emotional hook is. They don’t really want to remove the hook and live free of that emotional hook. They simply want to now what it is. There are others, though, who want to be free from the emotional hook. These individuals who want to be free of the emotional hook move one step further down the path of fearless living.
When you decide to face them you take the next step on the journey of fearless living. Somewhere in the process of facing the fear and refusing to run from it, you find the power to confront it. When you do, your inner world is altered. By confronting the fear and finding the power to change things you free yourself from being controlled by the fear.
This is another place where people choose to stop on the journey to fearless living. They are so relieved to confront the first fear that they want to bask in the glow of having faced it and not died emotionally.
Those who continue down the path of fearless living recognize that power to live fearlessly is found in the relentless pursuit of uncovering things that inhibit our real living.
Somewhere along the way the energy turns from inward to outward. The focus moves toward living out of my power rather than simply using it for insight and awareness.
Monday, April 19, 2010
Day Forty nine
My sisite, Janice, did me a great favor. She took quotes from Joel Olstean's latest book and turned them into cards for me to review daily. what an inspiration. I am embarking on a real business growth process today and they were an inspiration. specific goals for the next six weeks - $40,000.
My sisite, Janice, did me a great favor. She took quotes from Joel Olstean's latest book and turned them into cards for me to review daily. what an inspiration. I am embarking on a real business growth process today and they were an inspiration. specific goals for the next six weeks - $40,000.
Saturday, April 17, 2010
Day Forty Seven
I rarely write my blog in the morning. It is usually at the end of the day. At the lake, though, there is time to think, something that I do not usually have at home. I had a restless sleep last night. From 4:30 until 7:30 it was off and on sleep.
Yesterday was both a good day and a frustrating day. It was good in the sense that we met with a new client. Also, Tyler and I had a chance to talk about what we wanted the men’s society to do and the structure we thought would be most effective. It was frustrating in three ways. First, Tyler and I had planned to get away early to the lake to write. Getting a new client was more important than writing in the AM, but it did throw the schedule for the weekend off. Second, Tyler is struggling with something which most likely has to do with his relationship with me. There was a tension in the air, but he was not interested in talking about it. It created a level of frustration in me. I realized in hindsight that I got hooked by his feelings in the same way that I have been hooked in the past. Third, Patty always hates to be by herself, which created some funkiness when we were leaving.
All of that I internalized last evening. I was tired in the first place from a busy week of work. That did not help. I found that it brought up anger in me. I was exhausted when I went to bed. In my fitful sleep this morning a couple of insights came to me.
First, I was allowing feelings and emotions in others to control me. It is one thing to recognize these feelings and emotions in others. It is another thing completely to let them control me. It is either tapping into my need to please others or something else, but the insight was a good one. I want to love and be able to empathize with others, but I do not want or need other people’s feelings and emotions controlling me. It was another layer of insight on the journey. This year of living intentionally has already reaped huge benefits. There will be many more to come.
When you are no longer afraid, you can look objectively at who you are and what is happening. You can choose to act rather than being hooked. That is a major point of fearless living – knowing that you can choose.
Second, a meditation discipline for the day emerged. I was laying in bed and three thoughts that came to me. The first was to bathe the day in love at the start of the day. It was less of a ritual act than it was an emotional start for the day. There will always be stuff during the day – problems, stresses, clutter. Bathing the day in love means centering and focusing myself on love and the power of love within me as the day gets started. When I thought of love the color blue came to my mind - a pale blue that then turned to white.
The second thought was a thought of action. If you have been reading these blogs you know that finishing things has been an issue with me for years. That has changed and the thought of action was important for positive movement. So, the thought was love that translates into action. Again, a color came to mind – green. I think maybe the green light symbolism was active. Whatever the reason, green was the color that popped into my mind.
The third thought was results - love that translates into action and accomplishes a positive result. Sometimes in the past I have focused on busyness rather than results. I have come to believe that busyness is action originating in fear rather than love. When the action originates in love is has sustainability. When action rooted in love sustains itself over time it will lead to positive results. I guess the idea of bathing was now active because the color gold immediately came to mind. Gold obviously is a multi-faceted symbolic color. Gold is a royal color, it is the symbol of financial wealth, and it is a highly valued substance. The mythology of the alchemist was that he could turn lead into gold. Bathing myself in gold is the result of love that translates into action consistently over time.
That is how the morning will begin in the days ahead - a physical bath and also an emotional, spiritual, and psychological bath to clean the soul and prepare it for the day with love, action, and results.
I rarely write my blog in the morning. It is usually at the end of the day. At the lake, though, there is time to think, something that I do not usually have at home. I had a restless sleep last night. From 4:30 until 7:30 it was off and on sleep.
Yesterday was both a good day and a frustrating day. It was good in the sense that we met with a new client. Also, Tyler and I had a chance to talk about what we wanted the men’s society to do and the structure we thought would be most effective. It was frustrating in three ways. First, Tyler and I had planned to get away early to the lake to write. Getting a new client was more important than writing in the AM, but it did throw the schedule for the weekend off. Second, Tyler is struggling with something which most likely has to do with his relationship with me. There was a tension in the air, but he was not interested in talking about it. It created a level of frustration in me. I realized in hindsight that I got hooked by his feelings in the same way that I have been hooked in the past. Third, Patty always hates to be by herself, which created some funkiness when we were leaving.
All of that I internalized last evening. I was tired in the first place from a busy week of work. That did not help. I found that it brought up anger in me. I was exhausted when I went to bed. In my fitful sleep this morning a couple of insights came to me.
First, I was allowing feelings and emotions in others to control me. It is one thing to recognize these feelings and emotions in others. It is another thing completely to let them control me. It is either tapping into my need to please others or something else, but the insight was a good one. I want to love and be able to empathize with others, but I do not want or need other people’s feelings and emotions controlling me. It was another layer of insight on the journey. This year of living intentionally has already reaped huge benefits. There will be many more to come.
When you are no longer afraid, you can look objectively at who you are and what is happening. You can choose to act rather than being hooked. That is a major point of fearless living – knowing that you can choose.
Second, a meditation discipline for the day emerged. I was laying in bed and three thoughts that came to me. The first was to bathe the day in love at the start of the day. It was less of a ritual act than it was an emotional start for the day. There will always be stuff during the day – problems, stresses, clutter. Bathing the day in love means centering and focusing myself on love and the power of love within me as the day gets started. When I thought of love the color blue came to my mind - a pale blue that then turned to white.
The second thought was a thought of action. If you have been reading these blogs you know that finishing things has been an issue with me for years. That has changed and the thought of action was important for positive movement. So, the thought was love that translates into action. Again, a color came to mind – green. I think maybe the green light symbolism was active. Whatever the reason, green was the color that popped into my mind.
The third thought was results - love that translates into action and accomplishes a positive result. Sometimes in the past I have focused on busyness rather than results. I have come to believe that busyness is action originating in fear rather than love. When the action originates in love is has sustainability. When action rooted in love sustains itself over time it will lead to positive results. I guess the idea of bathing was now active because the color gold immediately came to mind. Gold obviously is a multi-faceted symbolic color. Gold is a royal color, it is the symbol of financial wealth, and it is a highly valued substance. The mythology of the alchemist was that he could turn lead into gold. Bathing myself in gold is the result of love that translates into action consistently over time.
That is how the morning will begin in the days ahead - a physical bath and also an emotional, spiritual, and psychological bath to clean the soul and prepare it for the day with love, action, and results.
Friday, April 16, 2010
Day forth six – April 16, 2010
Exciting day today. Go to meet a new client. Tyler and I are getting away when we get back to writing and planning. I may miss tomorrow. I lave learned that there is no internet where we are, which is actually fine with me. Being disconnected for a couple of days is great. There will be lots to write about on Sunday.
Exciting day today. Go to meet a new client. Tyler and I are getting away when we get back to writing and planning. I may miss tomorrow. I lave learned that there is no internet where we are, which is actually fine with me. Being disconnected for a couple of days is great. There will be lots to write about on Sunday.
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Day Forth Seven – April 15, 2010
Well, you aren’t going to believe this. Two new clients in a week. Here I was with only one new client in the past ten months and suddenly two in one week. I think that things are moving.
I will look back and call May the May Miracle. We are going to start new things moving. Tyler and I are having up to Bob Googe’s place on the lake for the weekend to write after we get home from meeting with this client tomorrow.
Plus, I am making a presentation to another client next week.
The men’s weekend was another kick starter for the future. I have actually learned to “finish the drill.” Quite exciting.
If you don’t hear from me until Sunday it is because we did not have internet reception at the lake.
Well, you aren’t going to believe this. Two new clients in a week. Here I was with only one new client in the past ten months and suddenly two in one week. I think that things are moving.
I will look back and call May the May Miracle. We are going to start new things moving. Tyler and I are having up to Bob Googe’s place on the lake for the weekend to write after we get home from meeting with this client tomorrow.
Plus, I am making a presentation to another client next week.
The men’s weekend was another kick starter for the future. I have actually learned to “finish the drill.” Quite exciting.
If you don’t hear from me until Sunday it is because we did not have internet reception at the lake.
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Day Forth Five
It was a good day today. I am learning to complete things. And, I am learning to simplify, simplify, simplify. I am working on a program for a client and I am breaking it down to the point where I can make it simple for everyone. I like the direction things are moving.
Plus, out of the blue I got an email from a client that a proposal I submitted months and months ago is finally going to happen.
Good stuff happening. I am still reflecting on the men’s weekend at the barn and I know that it was the start of something big.
It was a good day today. I am learning to complete things. And, I am learning to simplify, simplify, simplify. I am working on a program for a client and I am breaking it down to the point where I can make it simple for everyone. I like the direction things are moving.
Plus, out of the blue I got an email from a client that a proposal I submitted months and months ago is finally going to happen.
Good stuff happening. I am still reflecting on the men’s weekend at the barn and I know that it was the start of something big.
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Day Forthy Three
Some musings from the weekend. Today was the funeral for Will Chamberlin. Will was a friend that I met through First Presbyterian. It was an inspiration to be in the service. It was the most uplifting funeral I have attended in many years. Even though Will died way too early in life, what he did with his life was an inspiration to all men. He lived it. He loved it. He embraced it.
Last evening some of the young men who attended the men's weekend at the barn spent the night at the house. They spent most of the evening around the campfire at the back of the property. It was extremely exciting to find them actively engaged in the weekend experience. I think that the men's weekend was the start of something extremely large and powerful.
When preparing for the college sunday school class that I teach I found a new insight about the sermon on the mount. Finding some of the historical definitions of the key words, it is very apparent that the sermon on the mount was a pathway to discovery, and the beatitudes are the key that unlocks the door. They offer a sequence of understandings and actions that manifests the kingdom within us.
Some musings from the weekend. Today was the funeral for Will Chamberlin. Will was a friend that I met through First Presbyterian. It was an inspiration to be in the service. It was the most uplifting funeral I have attended in many years. Even though Will died way too early in life, what he did with his life was an inspiration to all men. He lived it. He loved it. He embraced it.
Last evening some of the young men who attended the men's weekend at the barn spent the night at the house. They spent most of the evening around the campfire at the back of the property. It was extremely exciting to find them actively engaged in the weekend experience. I think that the men's weekend was the start of something extremely large and powerful.
When preparing for the college sunday school class that I teach I found a new insight about the sermon on the mount. Finding some of the historical definitions of the key words, it is very apparent that the sermon on the mount was a pathway to discovery, and the beatitudes are the key that unlocks the door. They offer a sequence of understandings and actions that manifests the kingdom within us.
Saturday, April 10, 2010
Day Forty Two – April 10, 2010
It may look like a number of days have elapsed, but in fact it has only been two since I last made a note. In the past month and a half, if I missed a day of discussion I did not note it, I simply continued with the next day. Day 42 reflects that it has been 42 days since I started the journey of intentionality.
Yesterday and today were phenomenal days. When I started this year of living intentionally, one of my goals was to create a gathering of men. This weekend was the inaugural gathering of a new order of men. It was a thrilling experience.
A few months ago I mentioned to two friends, Bruce and Wayne Middendorf, that I wanted to do a men’s weekend. I knew that both of them would be interested and we checked their schedules to find a weekend that would work for the three of us. About a month ago my son, Tyler, and I began to formula the strategy for the weekend. The chemistry of putting it together with Tyler was quite energizing.
Our goal was very simple – create a new cross generational society of men committed to intellectual and spiritual curiosity, positive accountability, and inspiring each other to do great things.
On Friday evening 11 men met for supper and discussion to outline our vision for the group and get feedback from the group. The group ranged in age from 21 to almost 60. Tyler created a great lasagna, so one of the major ingredients – food – was off to a good start. Tyler and I outlined our desire to create a group that would foster honest discussion, mutual support, positive accountability, and inspiration for great action. We both shared our thoughts about the importance of intergenerational adult male community and the power that we all bring to the group.
We knew Friday evening that we were on the right track. We finished at 9:15 and people continued to talk until 9:45.
Today fifteen gathered at 9:00 for breakfast. Patty cooked sweet potato biscuits, which were officially designated a permanent part of future gatherings. The format for the day was simple. A short presentation related to the man journey would be followed by small group discussion. Each presentation would be accompanied by a set of discussion questions, so the discussion would be focused and intentional.
I spoke on the hero’s journey from Joseph Campbell’s book, Hero with a Thousand Faces. Loyd Allen, who teaches spiritual formation and church history at McAfee School of Theology at Mercer University, spoke on Male Spirituality. The level of honesty and openness in the group was very refreshing. I have been in a number of group experiences in the past 40 years, but this was the most refreshing, honest, open, and encouraging that I can remember.
To a person, there was excitement about being a part of a group of men committed to building a new community that would inspire all of us to become more of the person we were created to be.
At the conclusion we talked about how to keep the process moving forward. I left thankful that my journey has shifted from simply an inward journey, focused just on me, to include an outward element that brings adult men of all ages together.
It was inspirational to me.
It may look like a number of days have elapsed, but in fact it has only been two since I last made a note. In the past month and a half, if I missed a day of discussion I did not note it, I simply continued with the next day. Day 42 reflects that it has been 42 days since I started the journey of intentionality.
Yesterday and today were phenomenal days. When I started this year of living intentionally, one of my goals was to create a gathering of men. This weekend was the inaugural gathering of a new order of men. It was a thrilling experience.
A few months ago I mentioned to two friends, Bruce and Wayne Middendorf, that I wanted to do a men’s weekend. I knew that both of them would be interested and we checked their schedules to find a weekend that would work for the three of us. About a month ago my son, Tyler, and I began to formula the strategy for the weekend. The chemistry of putting it together with Tyler was quite energizing.
Our goal was very simple – create a new cross generational society of men committed to intellectual and spiritual curiosity, positive accountability, and inspiring each other to do great things.
On Friday evening 11 men met for supper and discussion to outline our vision for the group and get feedback from the group. The group ranged in age from 21 to almost 60. Tyler created a great lasagna, so one of the major ingredients – food – was off to a good start. Tyler and I outlined our desire to create a group that would foster honest discussion, mutual support, positive accountability, and inspiration for great action. We both shared our thoughts about the importance of intergenerational adult male community and the power that we all bring to the group.
We knew Friday evening that we were on the right track. We finished at 9:15 and people continued to talk until 9:45.
Today fifteen gathered at 9:00 for breakfast. Patty cooked sweet potato biscuits, which were officially designated a permanent part of future gatherings. The format for the day was simple. A short presentation related to the man journey would be followed by small group discussion. Each presentation would be accompanied by a set of discussion questions, so the discussion would be focused and intentional.
I spoke on the hero’s journey from Joseph Campbell’s book, Hero with a Thousand Faces. Loyd Allen, who teaches spiritual formation and church history at McAfee School of Theology at Mercer University, spoke on Male Spirituality. The level of honesty and openness in the group was very refreshing. I have been in a number of group experiences in the past 40 years, but this was the most refreshing, honest, open, and encouraging that I can remember.
To a person, there was excitement about being a part of a group of men committed to building a new community that would inspire all of us to become more of the person we were created to be.
At the conclusion we talked about how to keep the process moving forward. I left thankful that my journey has shifted from simply an inward journey, focused just on me, to include an outward element that brings adult men of all ages together.
It was inspirational to me.
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Day Thirty One
In the Alchemist, the major theme is this – when you find your passion the whole world conspired to help you achieve it. It is true. I realized in preparation for the men’s weekend coming up that just planning for this event has strengthened my resolve on my journey to live intentionally. I have been surprised at the number of people who have shown interest in the weekend. I can’t wait to see what happens during and after the weekend.
In the Alchemist, the major theme is this – when you find your passion the whole world conspired to help you achieve it. It is true. I realized in preparation for the men’s weekend coming up that just planning for this event has strengthened my resolve on my journey to live intentionally. I have been surprised at the number of people who have shown interest in the weekend. I can’t wait to see what happens during and after the weekend.
Monday, April 5, 2010
Day Thirty
It looks like Tyler, our son who graduated from Sewanee in May, will be staying around and working with me. I am very excited. Drew and I worked together for four years after he graduated from Sewanee. It was a great time to be together as father and son. In some small way it helped him, I think, make the transition to teaching. It certainly was great for me to work with him. I cherish that time together.
Working with Tyler will be equally exciting. They are both great men, but different in their interests and gifts. It was helpful for me to work with Drew when I did. I believe it will be equally helpful for me to work with Tyler. Tyler brings a different type of energy and a different skill set than Drew. My hope is that our time together will be as beneficial for Tyler as it was for Drew.
Traction is taking place. Each Sunday I will post what my results were for this week. You may not be interested, but it is my way to be accountable for real results rather than just talking about results.
We began focusing tonight on the content for our men’s weekend and the forming of a new brotherhood of men who are committed to doing great things and inspiring others to do the same. Already I can see synergy between Tyler’s ideas and mine. It will be a great weekend. We are going to record it and we will be putting clips on youtube as well as our website.
If you are reading this, and you are a guy, and you would like to be a part of the weekend, call us – Tyler’s cell is 706-424-2721. My cell is 706-424-2725. you know my email. We can send you directions.
It looks like Tyler, our son who graduated from Sewanee in May, will be staying around and working with me. I am very excited. Drew and I worked together for four years after he graduated from Sewanee. It was a great time to be together as father and son. In some small way it helped him, I think, make the transition to teaching. It certainly was great for me to work with him. I cherish that time together.
Working with Tyler will be equally exciting. They are both great men, but different in their interests and gifts. It was helpful for me to work with Drew when I did. I believe it will be equally helpful for me to work with Tyler. Tyler brings a different type of energy and a different skill set than Drew. My hope is that our time together will be as beneficial for Tyler as it was for Drew.
Traction is taking place. Each Sunday I will post what my results were for this week. You may not be interested, but it is my way to be accountable for real results rather than just talking about results.
We began focusing tonight on the content for our men’s weekend and the forming of a new brotherhood of men who are committed to doing great things and inspiring others to do the same. Already I can see synergy between Tyler’s ideas and mine. It will be a great weekend. We are going to record it and we will be putting clips on youtube as well as our website.
If you are reading this, and you are a guy, and you would like to be a part of the weekend, call us – Tyler’s cell is 706-424-2721. My cell is 706-424-2725. you know my email. We can send you directions.
Sunday, April 4, 2010
Day Twenty Nine
What a great day today. Yesterday, Patty’s sister, Cindy, her brother, John, and most of their families, along with a few friends gathered at the house for supper. It was great fun and a very relaxed time. Two nephews, Daniel and Travis, one guy that I call a nephew even though we aren’t actually related, Chandler, and a friend of Daniel’s stayed at the house last night. This morning all the guys had our traditional Easter breakfast – quiche, grits, great coffee, and croissants. It was such a celebration to be with this great group of young men and just enjoy their company.
Our service at First Presbyterian in Athens was maybe the best Easter service I have ever attended. The music was spectacular, the sermon was great, and the whole atmosphere was electrifying. It made me proud to be a member of the church.
After church, 44 family and friends gathered at our house for Easter lunch. What a time of celebration. Like all of our gatherings, it was a covered dish feast. From Vera’s fried okra to Martha’s field peas and creamed corn, to Susan’s deviled eggs it was a feast. Maybe the most exciting part was that people truly enjoyed being there. You could tell that people enjoyed each other’s company. Friends, family, those who were there for the first time truly enjoyed being together.
We had a treat in the afternoon. Justin Wallace, Patty’s cousin’s son who is in the Navy, was home on leave and came by with his girlfriend. Everyone was gone except Sheryl, his mom, Brent, Sheryl’s husband, and Shanna, Justin’s sister. We had a great visit.
As we collapsed on the sofa, I thought about how lucky I really am.
The sermon was entitled, Morning has Broken. We also sang the song by the same name. Indeed, on this Easter, a new day and a new spirit was born.
What a great day today. Yesterday, Patty’s sister, Cindy, her brother, John, and most of their families, along with a few friends gathered at the house for supper. It was great fun and a very relaxed time. Two nephews, Daniel and Travis, one guy that I call a nephew even though we aren’t actually related, Chandler, and a friend of Daniel’s stayed at the house last night. This morning all the guys had our traditional Easter breakfast – quiche, grits, great coffee, and croissants. It was such a celebration to be with this great group of young men and just enjoy their company.
Our service at First Presbyterian in Athens was maybe the best Easter service I have ever attended. The music was spectacular, the sermon was great, and the whole atmosphere was electrifying. It made me proud to be a member of the church.
After church, 44 family and friends gathered at our house for Easter lunch. What a time of celebration. Like all of our gatherings, it was a covered dish feast. From Vera’s fried okra to Martha’s field peas and creamed corn, to Susan’s deviled eggs it was a feast. Maybe the most exciting part was that people truly enjoyed being there. You could tell that people enjoyed each other’s company. Friends, family, those who were there for the first time truly enjoyed being together.
We had a treat in the afternoon. Justin Wallace, Patty’s cousin’s son who is in the Navy, was home on leave and came by with his girlfriend. Everyone was gone except Sheryl, his mom, Brent, Sheryl’s husband, and Shanna, Justin’s sister. We had a great visit.
As we collapsed on the sofa, I thought about how lucky I really am.
The sermon was entitled, Morning has Broken. We also sang the song by the same name. Indeed, on this Easter, a new day and a new spirit was born.
Saturday, April 3, 2010
Day Twenty Eight
I woke at 4:30 this morning to use the bathroom and could not go directly back to sleep. Being Saturday morning, I did something unusual. I went into the kitchen and meditated for a while. During the meditation I had a fascinating insight that correlates to my current perspective on following Jesus.
In one of my earlier blogs I wrote that Jesus did not want us to worship him. Instead, he wanted us to follow him. The comment was also made that following Jesus does not mean following a set of Jesus rules. That is the opposite of what Jesus would desire for anyone. My take is that Jesus wants us to follow his light to discover who are created to be.
The question for most people is, “Where is this journey of discover going to lead me?”
In my meditation, I had an insight related to the destination. It was probably my recent watching of the Matrix again that sparked my thoughts. I recently saw one of the scenes were Morpheus, played by Lawrence Fishburn, tells Neo, played by Keanu Reeves, that he is the chosen one.
In the meditation, for some reason, I said, “I am the chosen one.” I didn’t like the sound of it. It wasn’t right. It made a presupposition that my instincts told we was not accurate. Then I said it again, but in a different way, “I am the chosen one,” I thought, “to be me.” It clicked. I realized that ultimately, that is everyone’s destination – embracing the call to be who we are created to be. When we embrace that call emotionally, intellectually, and physically, the doubt and fear begin to subside and the future becomes clear.
In looking back I realize that the resistance to embrace my true self and love myself was the stumbling block that always held me back. My limitations in the past had nothing to do with my capabilities. It had everything to do with my mind.
I see it every day in almost every situation I encounter - people who can’t embrace who they are. The layers of guilt, negative feelings, unresolved anger, and God knows what else become an emotional, physical, mental, and spiritual barrier that keeps us from embracing our uniqueness. It is the ultimate rejection of God. Isn’t it odd that the one thing that we must do to really experience the power and grace of God, is the one thing that virtually everyone avoids and even the church discourages at times.
Think about what happens when we know who we are, and who we are created to me. Think about what happens when we embrace this knowledge with our whole being. Only when we embrace the uniqueness can we say, “yes, I am the chosen one to be me.” I don’t want to be my mother’s or father’s version of me. I don’t want to be what society or even my church wants me to be. I don’t want to be my wife’s or my son’s version of me. I want to be the me that I was created to be.
On this Easter eve, may the images that others have of me die within me so that the version that I was created to be can be born.
I woke at 4:30 this morning to use the bathroom and could not go directly back to sleep. Being Saturday morning, I did something unusual. I went into the kitchen and meditated for a while. During the meditation I had a fascinating insight that correlates to my current perspective on following Jesus.
In one of my earlier blogs I wrote that Jesus did not want us to worship him. Instead, he wanted us to follow him. The comment was also made that following Jesus does not mean following a set of Jesus rules. That is the opposite of what Jesus would desire for anyone. My take is that Jesus wants us to follow his light to discover who are created to be.
The question for most people is, “Where is this journey of discover going to lead me?”
In my meditation, I had an insight related to the destination. It was probably my recent watching of the Matrix again that sparked my thoughts. I recently saw one of the scenes were Morpheus, played by Lawrence Fishburn, tells Neo, played by Keanu Reeves, that he is the chosen one.
In the meditation, for some reason, I said, “I am the chosen one.” I didn’t like the sound of it. It wasn’t right. It made a presupposition that my instincts told we was not accurate. Then I said it again, but in a different way, “I am the chosen one,” I thought, “to be me.” It clicked. I realized that ultimately, that is everyone’s destination – embracing the call to be who we are created to be. When we embrace that call emotionally, intellectually, and physically, the doubt and fear begin to subside and the future becomes clear.
In looking back I realize that the resistance to embrace my true self and love myself was the stumbling block that always held me back. My limitations in the past had nothing to do with my capabilities. It had everything to do with my mind.
I see it every day in almost every situation I encounter - people who can’t embrace who they are. The layers of guilt, negative feelings, unresolved anger, and God knows what else become an emotional, physical, mental, and spiritual barrier that keeps us from embracing our uniqueness. It is the ultimate rejection of God. Isn’t it odd that the one thing that we must do to really experience the power and grace of God, is the one thing that virtually everyone avoids and even the church discourages at times.
Think about what happens when we know who we are, and who we are created to me. Think about what happens when we embrace this knowledge with our whole being. Only when we embrace the uniqueness can we say, “yes, I am the chosen one to be me.” I don’t want to be my mother’s or father’s version of me. I don’t want to be what society or even my church wants me to be. I don’t want to be my wife’s or my son’s version of me. I want to be the me that I was created to be.
On this Easter eve, may the images that others have of me die within me so that the version that I was created to be can be born.
Friday, April 2, 2010
Day Twenty Seven:
It was a good day with my client today and a great evening. The family gathered at Patty’s brother’s house along with most of her family. Tremendous time of great food and great fellowship. Madison and Carissa, my nieces, are spending the night at our house tonight. I have watched both of them grow up over the years and it is such fun to see them as they enter and bloom in adolescence. Their own unique personalities come out and they are both a delight.
Chase and I sat down before we crashed tonight and played music. Me on the piano and Chase on the banjo this time. Even when we can’t hit the notes together, it is great fun.
Tyler may be staying with us past the summer, so I think he is getting ready to be immersed in the business.
More tomorrow when there is more time.
It was a good day with my client today and a great evening. The family gathered at Patty’s brother’s house along with most of her family. Tremendous time of great food and great fellowship. Madison and Carissa, my nieces, are spending the night at our house tonight. I have watched both of them grow up over the years and it is such fun to see them as they enter and bloom in adolescence. Their own unique personalities come out and they are both a delight.
Chase and I sat down before we crashed tonight and played music. Me on the piano and Chase on the banjo this time. Even when we can’t hit the notes together, it is great fun.
Tyler may be staying with us past the summer, so I think he is getting ready to be immersed in the business.
More tomorrow when there is more time.
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Day Twenty Six
Tonight we went to the Maundy Thursday service at our church. What a great service it is. Somber, but a very meaningful service. I was struck by two things during the service.
The first was a profound sense of what Jesus must have felt knowing that he was heading to an obvious death. I don’t think that Jesus was waltzing through those days knowing that everything was going to work out in the end. He knew the probability for the future and he knew that he really didn’t want that choice. On the other hand, he also had set his course in life and was committed to that course, whatever the consequences.
I abandoned the notion of the sacrificial system connected to Jesus a long time ago. The idea that Jesus died for my sins, like me slaughtering my first lamb just didn’t fit for me. The sacrificial system understanding of God does not fit with my understanding and the world that we live in today.
I wrestled with that idea for a number of years. How is Jesus really relevant for me? It hit me about two and a half years ago when I was sitting in church one day. I heard our minister reading a text (I don’t even remember what it was) and I suddenly though, “If you look at that text a different way, it can create a whole new meaning about following Christ.”
That idea has blossomed over the years into a full blown theology that for me is indeed relevant and also, I think, Biblical. I don’t think Jesus wanted or intended for us to worship him. Not at all. We worship things that are at a distance, separate from us. I think Jesus wanted us to follow him. That is very different than worshiping something.
That then brings up another question. What does following Jesus mean? Does it mean to adhere to a set of Jesus rules? If the answer is yes, then we are no different than those that Jesus was talking about in the gospels. So, what does it mean to follow Jesus? Here is what I have discovered on my journey.
Following Jesus means following the path that he followed to discover who God created me to be. I don’t think Jesus knew the future as I often hear ministers say. It doesn’t make sense and it would not be really relevant for me if he knew everything. What he did, though, was learn how to find his path, stay connected with the spirit of God within him and around him, and develop the confidence and courage to follow his path. He knew some of the logical consequences of his actions, but I don’t really think he knew on this day they will arrest me and then I will die on a cross and come back in three days. What he developed, though, was the ability to listen carefully to that spirit of God within himself and to act on that guidance with confidence.
I think that is our job this Easter. Instead of trying to play by the rules, our job is to go down the path to discover our own calling and manifest that. When we discover the unique person that God created us to be and then have the courage to manifest that (regardless of what others might think or the consequences) then is when the magic starts to happen. Salvation occurs when we have the courage to find our path and follow it.
Most Sundays our minister begins his sermon with the same prayer. “Startle us oh Lord, with the wild improbability of what we say we believe.” This Easter my prayer for you is that you will come to really believe what we say we believe.
The second thing that caught my attention at the Maundy Thursday service was a comment our minister made about the gathering of the saints. He said that since the early church, Maundy Thursday has been a sacred time in the lift of the church. He made a comment about the different eras since then and then made a comment something like, “We gather here with the saints of old.” That is not an exact quote, more a paraphrase. The phrase gathering with the saints was what stood out to me.
I thought for a minute about why we call them saints. There is a set of criteria you must demonstrate in your life before you can become a saint in the Roman Catholic Church. What really, though, made them saints? During communion it struck me that the reason we call them saints is because they had the courage to take the Christ journey themselves and manifest something great in their own lives.
Easter celebrates new beginning.
Tonight we went to the Maundy Thursday service at our church. What a great service it is. Somber, but a very meaningful service. I was struck by two things during the service.
The first was a profound sense of what Jesus must have felt knowing that he was heading to an obvious death. I don’t think that Jesus was waltzing through those days knowing that everything was going to work out in the end. He knew the probability for the future and he knew that he really didn’t want that choice. On the other hand, he also had set his course in life and was committed to that course, whatever the consequences.
I abandoned the notion of the sacrificial system connected to Jesus a long time ago. The idea that Jesus died for my sins, like me slaughtering my first lamb just didn’t fit for me. The sacrificial system understanding of God does not fit with my understanding and the world that we live in today.
I wrestled with that idea for a number of years. How is Jesus really relevant for me? It hit me about two and a half years ago when I was sitting in church one day. I heard our minister reading a text (I don’t even remember what it was) and I suddenly though, “If you look at that text a different way, it can create a whole new meaning about following Christ.”
That idea has blossomed over the years into a full blown theology that for me is indeed relevant and also, I think, Biblical. I don’t think Jesus wanted or intended for us to worship him. Not at all. We worship things that are at a distance, separate from us. I think Jesus wanted us to follow him. That is very different than worshiping something.
That then brings up another question. What does following Jesus mean? Does it mean to adhere to a set of Jesus rules? If the answer is yes, then we are no different than those that Jesus was talking about in the gospels. So, what does it mean to follow Jesus? Here is what I have discovered on my journey.
Following Jesus means following the path that he followed to discover who God created me to be. I don’t think Jesus knew the future as I often hear ministers say. It doesn’t make sense and it would not be really relevant for me if he knew everything. What he did, though, was learn how to find his path, stay connected with the spirit of God within him and around him, and develop the confidence and courage to follow his path. He knew some of the logical consequences of his actions, but I don’t really think he knew on this day they will arrest me and then I will die on a cross and come back in three days. What he developed, though, was the ability to listen carefully to that spirit of God within himself and to act on that guidance with confidence.
I think that is our job this Easter. Instead of trying to play by the rules, our job is to go down the path to discover our own calling and manifest that. When we discover the unique person that God created us to be and then have the courage to manifest that (regardless of what others might think or the consequences) then is when the magic starts to happen. Salvation occurs when we have the courage to find our path and follow it.
Most Sundays our minister begins his sermon with the same prayer. “Startle us oh Lord, with the wild improbability of what we say we believe.” This Easter my prayer for you is that you will come to really believe what we say we believe.
The second thing that caught my attention at the Maundy Thursday service was a comment our minister made about the gathering of the saints. He said that since the early church, Maundy Thursday has been a sacred time in the lift of the church. He made a comment about the different eras since then and then made a comment something like, “We gather here with the saints of old.” That is not an exact quote, more a paraphrase. The phrase gathering with the saints was what stood out to me.
I thought for a minute about why we call them saints. There is a set of criteria you must demonstrate in your life before you can become a saint in the Roman Catholic Church. What really, though, made them saints? During communion it struck me that the reason we call them saints is because they had the courage to take the Christ journey themselves and manifest something great in their own lives.
Easter celebrates new beginning.
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