Everything

"With all I am, in Your grace I stand." lyric from Love on the Line, by Hillsong Worship

All the pieces of my life, 

every decision I have made, 

everything that has been done to me and 

everything I’ve done to others. 

My hopes and aspirations, 

my failures and successes, 

when I felt good about myself and when I am consumed with self-loathing. 

The times I have overcome my mistakes and 

the (many) times I have repeated them. 

My insecurities, my pride, my fluctuating ego, my confidence, and my weaknesses. 

What I can do, what I can't do and 

the line that is sometimes blurred between them. 

My love for those close to me and 

my deep compassion for others traveling this journey around me. 

This is all of who I am and 

all of it is able to stand in the grace God offers me. 

This is a big, bold, stable grace 

that gives me strength to be upright when I don’t think I can stand anymore. 

It is this generous gift from God that envelops me and reminds me I am loved.

Off Schedule

Planning out each part of your day is supposed to help with productivity and staying on task. While that might be an effective planning tool, it may not accurately represent the way each day will flow. Even with careful forethought there will be unplanned interactions and events which throw us off our intended path. In fact, I would argue that interruptions are almost guaranteed. The question we each have to answer is, "How will I react when this happens?"

We can choose to get upset about these inconveniences or we can view them through a different lens. While constantly being off schedule won't be helpful, we might find that occasional interruptions lead us to experience life in new ways. It might cause us to engage in a deep conversation, meet someone new, or live out a unique moment. Perhaps it's the moments in the margin of our calendars that show us a refreshing and unexpected side of life.

When you feel off schedule, take a deep breath and look for the new experience you might have missed otherwise.

Winning Formula

March Madness is one of my favorite times of year. I am a big fan of college basketball and enjoy watching this tournament take place with all of its drama and unexpected results. The upsets are part of the beauty of the tournament. They aren't always predictable and it leads to teams taking on the mantle of "Cinderella" as they make surprising runs deep into the tournament. This unstable environment is part of what makes filling out a bracket such a fun challenge. No matter what I read to prepare or how I trust my instincts I still won't be 100% correct. Regardless of what popular opinion reveals, the game must still be played out for a win to take place. A team won't move on just because they should progress.

The same is true for us. There are many things we should be capable of conquering and working our way through, but it won't happen just because it seems like it should. We've got to have a plan to put into action and then execute that plan to get the results we desire. While this won't bring a 100% certainty of success, it does set us up for the best potential outcome.

Practice or Real Life?

When I was involved in theater, we would always get the cast together to do a read through of the script. This gave us a chance to get to know each other, hear the director's thoughts, and start to discover more about our characters. It was a safe practice that wasn't open to the public because we weren't ready for that step yet. We needed time to rehearse and become more comfortable with our show before it was time to step under the lights. The read through wasn't the real performance and didn't reflect what things were going to be once we had more time to refine

Life might be easier if we were able to do a read through before the big performance, but it's not how things happen. Every piece of our life is real and part of the larger show of who we are and who we're becoming. Each conversation we have carries weight and our actions have a more powerful impact than we might realize in the moment. I don't think this means we should live fearfully, but that we should see how each interaction and event in our life is part of the big show. We can't casually dismiss pieces of it as they all contribute to the sum of our lives.

Too Much

I am re-reading the entire Bible again this year and have started in Genesis and the story of our beginning. I was reading about Adam and how long he lived (930 total years!) and his son, Seth who lived 912 years. When you read this passage you realize Seth lived 112 years after his father died. My thought this morning was that this was a long time to live while missing a loved one. I know they had hundreds of years together, but that would probably make the loss feel even greater.

The idea of being young and/or living forever has been pursued for centuries. While there are parts of that idea which seem attractive, I found myself thinking the opposite this morning. We obviously don't live as long as early man once did and I am grateful. Living that length of time provides a lot of years of sorrow. I realize there is great joy in life as well, but there is an abundance of trials and we experience much loss. I know how hard it is to effectively cope in our limited time and couldn't imagine making my way through it over 500 or more years.

It's another reminder to me that while there are beautiful pieces of this life for us to experience, we aren't ultimately made for this world. I have no desire to rush through the life I am allowed to have here, but I also recognize I am created for more than just this time.

Something beyond this earth is what our hearts long for and will eventually find, whenever that may be.

Look Around

I loved teaching at Mainland High School. I struggled through it some in the early years as I figured out what I was doing, but soon discovered a passion for teaching. The classroom was a place of enjoyment for me (mostly), but the most powerful education was shared in other ways. I quickly discovered greater impact through non-traditional "teachable moments." These would present themselves in small group interactions, discussing societal events that impacted all of us, and one-to-one conversations in non-traditional environments. The key to taking advantage of these was to always be on the lookout for a time to share. My willingness to share and the student's desire to learn could be shaped through all of these apparently random moments.

Life is full of teachable moments even today. Our life experiences, relationships, and personal interactions are always providing learning opportunities. What we read, watch, and listen to can stretch us in new ways while causing us to think in deeper levels. Regardless of our age, all of life can teach us new things if we are willing to learn. Are we paying attention to the possibilities all around us?

An open mind, a desire to grow, and a willingness to put things into action are all that are necessary to take advantage of the teachable moments life provides.

All Around Me

One of the regular parts of my week involves sitting at Chick-Fil-a on Saturday waiting for daughter to get off work. I show up about an hour before she's done, order a cup of coffee, and write while waiting. I enjoy the change of place and pace as I find it refreshing. Some people (my wife included) might find it distracting to attempt to develop creative thoughts in a crowded place. I actually enjoy hearing the people around me and the uniqueness of the thought of all of us ending up together in this time and place.

This place is usually quite busy on a Saturday afternoon and there are wide varieties in the groups of people here. There are older couples out for ice cream, families with young children looking to escape the heat and enjoy the playground, travel baseball & softball teams grabbing post-game meals, and others grabbing a late lunch. While I'm here writing there is a constant buzz of life around me in its different stages. Knowing that I am one life sharing this mundane moment is one of my favorite parts of being here.

How often do we stop to pay attention to the lives moving around us? I think too often it's like floating on the top of the ocean without any clue of the life that fills the water beneath us. We can pretend it's not there, but we are denying ourselves the beauty of sharing in it unless we are willing to get beyond the surface.

Reality Check

I doubt I'm the only one that has come back from vacation and said, "Back to reality!" It's as if we have separated family relaxation time from the normal daily activity portion of our lives. I really believe it's a reflection of the way we tend to compartmentalize. We keep things in separate boxes in our minds and miss the big picture of how everything fits together.

I think all of our life experiences: routine family events, work, hobbies, events to celebrate, tragedies to mourn, and difficulties to endure are all part of real life. It's the blending of these positive, negative and seemingly mundane things that make up who we are and define the life we are called to lead.

Every part of our life is valuable. We should pay attention to it as it goes by or we'll miss something important. We live in this reality every moment whether we recognize it or not.

Finding Beauty

You can find beauty in many moments of life if you are willing to look for it. I found one today as I stood by the grave of a fellow pastor as his family mourned his passing. While we shared God’s words of encouragement the most powerfully beautiful words were in a song we sang together. There were no instruments, but simply voices offered up in celebration and hope. Some sang confidently and strong while others could do no more than mouth the words of the familiar hymn. While it may not have completely soothed their sorrow, I pray it reminded them enough of the commitment of their father, friend, and pastor and the promises of God to bring us to Him. Sometimes a beautiful moment of shared hope for what is beyond this life can be a balm for a wounded soul.

And then one day, I'll cross the river,
I'll fight life's final war with pain;
And then, as death gives way to vict'ry,
I'll see the lights of glory and I'll know He lives!

Because He lives, I can face tomorrow,
Because He lives, all fear is gone; 
Because I know He holds the future,
And life is worth the living,
Just because He lives!

Simple Things

Life is complicated more often than it is simple. We have levels of responsibility, layers of relationships, problems to handle, and dreams to fulfill. There are day-to-day things that must be addressed and future plans to develop. Sometimes the weight of it all can be overwhelming and the right path difficult to see clearly. 

When those complications start to seem too big, I've discovered that I need to refocus on what is simple to gain perspective. A family meal with laughter, multiple stories, and talking over each other is a guaranteed remedy. A conversation with my wife, sitting with my dog, or a good cup of coffee helps me take refuge in the simplistic things that bring peace in the chaos. We've all got to find those moments, wherever they might be, to help bring necessary balance to our lives. 

Breakable

Life here is a fragile existence. We might pretend otherwise, but we are given reminders on a regular basis. It confronts us when relationships are devastatingly changed, those that we love pass from this life to the next, injuries and illness occur, or feelings are deeply wounded. We are far from unbreakable in this temporary existence.

How comforting is it then to have the confidence in knowing this life is not all we are meant to experience? We can gain peace in stormy seasons through our acceptance of the greater gift that waits with Jesus Christ and and the unbreakable life he offers

As Fast As It Goes

On the elementary school playground of my childhood a huge chunk of our time was spent at the merry-go-round. The objective was to see how fast we could get it to turn while people hung on for dear life. Once it was moving at top speed the daredevils of the group would try to jump onto the moving target. It didn't count if you waited for it to slow down to a safe speed, but it had to be attempted when it was spinning at maximum velocity. Needless to say, it didn't always end well.

That's very similar to the feeling of returning to "normal life" after being away for a week. Even though our trip to Arizona was partially business it still didn't flow at the same pace as life back home. It's always an adjustment to jump back on the spinning merry-go-round of real life and there isn't always a way to wait for things to gradually pick up the pace. You've got to pick your moment and jump back into the game even if you feel out of sorts for a bit as you get used to the action. Much like jumping on playground equipment in motion, we are the ones that have to make the necessary adjustments so we can stick the landing. 

The merry-go-round slows down for no one.

Final Remarks

It seems as if I have been part of more funerals than usual lately. It's obviously always a difficult time for family and friends as they mourn the loss of someone they cared for so deeply. As a pastor you try to do the best you can to share an accurate representation of who they were while steering loved ones to the hope that is found in Christ. When people are appreciative of our efforts after the funeral we tell them that their loved one made it easy on us. They had been writing these words for us by the way they lived their lives. 

We are all writing our own eulogies as we live. Our character is having a consistent impact on those that are close to us and forging strong bonds that will last long after we are gone. While I don't think we can live healthily by overanalyzing every word & action, we should still give some consideration to the legacy that we leave behind. 

A life that is lived well by focusing on serving others will give us a foundation for positive impact. When we seek to honor God through the way we live it becomes less about our reputation and more about our allegiance to Him. That speaks a message that is so strong it will last long after we have breathed our last here.

It's Over

"If something cannot go on forever, it will stop." 

Economist Herbert Stein

This may seem like a fairly simple concept, but it leads to a number of questions:

• What does this mean for our concept of organizational leadership? 
• How does this affect the way we react to family stresses? 
• How does this help us cope with our seasons of life? 
• How do we prepare for the end of situations? 
• How do we react when circumstances are unbearable? 
• When do we determine that it's time to let go of something?

The truth is that nothing here on earth will last forever. We need to prepare accordingly and be wise enough to move through the different seasons with some grace and patience.

Changing Gears

When I was a kid I rode my bike everywhere-school, the beach, the library, my friend's house-basically anywhere I needed to go. As long as I had the energy, my local destinations were almost unlimited. My ten-speed bike wasn't fancy, but it fit my needs. While riding I very rarely changed gears, but just relied on my legs to power me down the road. I suppose that I could have made it easier on myself now and then if I switched gears, but I was usually just focused on the ride and not so much on changing speeds.

Life doesn't operate at one speed either. Different seasons place different demands on energy, personal focus, creative thought, and community interaction. There are circumstances that call for an increased work load and investment in other people. If we learn to develop different gears of leadership we can make these times flow more smoothly. If we aren't able to do this we find ourselves expending tremendous amounts of energy to find success when there are more efficient ways to get things done. It's the principle of adjusting to the pace of life and being able change gears when necessary. Otherwise we'll exhaust ourselves trying to keep up.

Pick One

I don't want to be too simplistic, but the truth is that we have two paths to choose in life. We can decide to forge our own way, rely on our own wisdom, and try to maximize our personal strengths based on what we think is right. Our other option is to take those same  things and trust God with the outcome. We might find a modicum of success doing things our own way, but we will be frustrated at some point with our own inadequacies. I guess the larger question to ask ourselves is, "What does it actually hurt to try things God's way for a while?"

Good Things

What brings you pleasure in life? I'm not just talking about entertainment or a good way to pass the time either, although there's nothing inherently wrong with either of those. I'm thinking about things that feed who we are and make things feel right. For me it can be:

• Conversations on the front porch with my wife
  
• A good afternoon nap after a hard day of work
• The collaborative efforts of like-minded people accomplishing a physical task
• Surprising my children with simple things that they enjoy
• A good cup of coffee over conversation with a friend
• Praying with someone in need
• Looking over a yard that you have spent the day working on
• Finishing a good book that makes you think deeply
• A really good meal
• Preparing and sharing a sermon
• Confidence in knowing where God is leading your family even if the time frame isn't completely known

It's important to know what brings us joy. Not only does this make us more grateful for these moments, it encourages us to make sure we make time for them in our regular routine.

Life Happens

"Life is a storm, my young friend. You will bask in the sunlight one moment, be shattered on the rocks the next. What makes you a man is what you do when that storm comes."

Alexandre Dumas, The Count of Monte Cristo

The pace of life often seems haphazardly designed. We flow from moments of peace to extreme unrest in a smattering of emotions and words. Just when we feel that we have a firm grasp on our future, possibilities change and it quickly slips from our grip and shatters on the floor. Solid relationships become flimsy with one unexpected event. Unplanned circumstances transform stable surfaces of trust into quickly tilting floors of disbelief and uncertainty. Simple confidence in our physical health evaporates under the wilting heat of a surprise diagnosis. Our boastful confidence in personal truth is snatched away as our reality is distorted through other's perceptions. 

These tumultuous changes can paint a grim picture of our lives, but in the midst of hectic uncertainty we have a choice. We can be overwhelmed to the point of despair or we can choose peace that passes understanding and grow in stature and wisdom. Our response (even if inconsistent) will reveal our character and help to shape the people we are becoming.

On the Beach

Now that we have been back in the true rhythm of life for a week post-vacation, I feel that I can accurately say that life is simpler at the beach. There we had no distractions and our pace of life was never threatened by outside influences. It was a place to recover from a hectic pace, to rejuvenate tired minds and souls, and to simply find rest. It was a place to be reminded of what is most important and to refocus energy where it's needed the most. I found peace in watching the sun peek over the horizon, the almost constant smell of sunblock, the thunderously peaceful sound of waves hitting the shore, and the dolphins, sharks, and fish that reminded us whose house the ocean actually was. Food was eaten hedonistically with no concern but appetite and what was easily available. Conversations were deep, but hours of silence were also freely, willingly shared. It was an almost perfect week.

The interesting truth about a vacation on the beach is that while it might provide the respite that you so deeply desire, it cannot be a substitute for real life. We might wish for things to be easier and simple, but a life that brings maturity and character isn't developed that way. We eagerly anticipate times of relaxation, but also treasure the tough moments when life isn't handed to us so easily. The time away hopefully refills us enough to move forward with strength and confidence when the path is difficult to maneuver. 

Full Day

The day has been full as the schedule has been packed and emotions have ranged from sorrow to frustration and to elation. It has been marked by incredibly sweet gestures in honor of a godly man who has passed to heaven. It has been filled with hugs from people who have been gone from the church & are returning to reaffirm their commitment. The day held the excitement of a young lady who couldn't wait to be baptized and commit her life to Christ. It was the prayer of a recently engaged young couple for God's blessing as they begin this journey of life together. The day was marked by investing in other people through prayer & guidance. It ended with a gathering of 30 people on our quiet lake property with simple worship & a comforting word.

Each day holds the promise of being this full. Open your eyes to look for the possibilities and don't dismiss the potential opportunities when they present themselves. Life will be more full and more rewarding if we do.