Shift of Attitude

There is beauty in a simple, genuine prayer of humility. If we want to have a positive effect on our community and those close to us we have to choose to act in kindness. Even if you aren't a follower of Christ the words of St. Francis of Assisi are wise to follow:

Lord, 

Make me an instrument of your peace.

Where there is hatred, let me sow love.

Where there is injury, pardon,

Where there is discord, union,

Where there is doubt, faith,

Where there is error, truth,

Where there is despair, hope,

Where there is sadness, joy,

Where there is darkness, light.

O Divine Master, 

Grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;

to be understood as to understand;

to be loved, as to love;

for it is in giving that we receive,

it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,

And it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

Amen.

The Final Countdown

What would you do if you found out you only had three years to live? While we might think about tackling our “bucket list” of activities or quitting our jobs, I really believe we would extra emphasis on the things that would last.

What decisions would you make to shape your legacy? What important things would you pass on to your children? How would you prepare for their future? With a limited time frame to spend with the people you care about we would have to be very intentional.

Do we really need to wait until we believe the end is near to make these decisions? We all have a limit on our remaining time, but we don’t know what that limit is. If we want to have a lasting, positive impact we should start making those decisions today.

Make It Count

This may not come across in the manner I intend it, but I want the things I do to have lasting impact. It's not so much that I want my name to be widely known, but I want the things I do to make a difference. Few things frustrate me more than feeling as if my efforts haven't produced anything of worth or made a contribution in some way.

I realize having an impact may not always be a grand event of monumental change, and I'm honestly okay with the understanding. I recognize I can't expect everything on my to-do list to radically change people's lives. My hope (and I don't think I'm alone in this) is to make my life count for something.

I believe there's a desire waiting to be activated in each of us to do something to make an impact on the life around us. If we believe this is true, we can start looking for ways to make it happen.

Shared Investment

I had a great conversation with a good friend this morning. We connect on a regular basis and share life together via the convenience of FaceTime. We talk about our personal lives, our passion & vision for ministry, and seeking God's will for our future. We are able to provide accountability, encouragement, and prayer for each other as we both try to stay focused on what matters most and how to stay under God's blessing. It's a very important relationship for us both as we see how God brought us together and formed a friendship that is pushing us to grow closer to Christ.

As we share in this journey of life we are able to impact each other in very positive ways. I don't devalue the opportunity that I have each day to influence my family, but I am also grateful for the people that God brings into my life for the sake of impact as well. Not only do I have a chance to make a difference in their life, but they are also helping to shape me. I find deep satisfaction in this process of sharing and can see how hundreds of people have been part of the forging of my character. I find equal satisfaction pleasure in seeing how my life has helped others as well. Working together in a mutually invested community that cares deeply for each other is the way that God intended for us to thrive.

Each One

We have to learn to take advantage of every opportunity to have a positive impact in other's lives. We won't necessarily be able to do this in totality, but we can commit to taking advantage of each one that we are aware of. As we seize these moments and recognize the blessing we are to others (and the resulting benefit that we personally experience) we will miss less of them. It's a stair step effect brought on by noticing people (family, co-workers, classmates, neighbors, community) and eagerly seeking a way to impact their life through blessing. Before we realize it this will not be a chore, but an integral part of our lifestyle.

Life to Life

You never really know the impact that your life will have. It's a measurable that can only be revealed as time passes and even then is not fully realized. We are blessed to see parts of that life-to-life contact in certain moments however. Today I get to experience one of those occasions.

I have the incredible pleasure of officiating a wedding for someone that is very special to my wife & I. We have experienced so much life with her & her family and there just isn't enough space to talk about all we have shared. We have watched her & her brother grow up from young children, worked through adversity, cried together, led them as their pastor, served in the mission field, laughed more times than I can begin to count, and developed a friendship that brings joy to my family. Her family asking me to lead her ceremony is affirmation of our mutual love and admiration.

Today Jocelyn Davidson starts the next step of her life journey and becomes Jocelyn Hofstede. It is my tremendous honor to be part of her day and I am grateful for this gift from God as evidence of our life impact on each other. 

A Glimpse of Heaven

The old (somewhat cliche) story is that when you get to heaven you will see the people that you influenced while you were here on earth.  It is difficult to see the positive impact that you might be having when you are in the middle of that life.  My family was blessed last week to gain a small glimpse into that truth as we visited Florida.

As we left Ormond Beach this past September we did not have the opportunity to say goodbye to our friends & family in the church-some of whom we had been investing in for almost 14 years.  The parting was certainly difficult for my family and it was not easy for those close to us as well.

When we discovered that we would be heading back to Florida for a wedding, we knew that we needed to set a time to connect with people in Ormond.  Our friends were gracious enough to open their home for us and we quickly spread the word that we would be there last Thursday.  What transpired that night is firmly etched in my mind and will always be one of the most special days of my life. 

Starting at 6 p.m. a crew of people started coming in and the crowd did not die down until 9:30.  I am sure that I must have given out close to 300 hugs and shared countless moments of joy in that living room.  I hear that the cars were parked up & down the entire street and that a line led out of the house, down the front stairs, and down the driveway at one point.  There were tears mixed with laughter, pats on the back, kisses, bear hugs, words of encouragement and pictures with red-eyed youth.  The night was overwhelming and yet healing at the same time-definitely for us and hopefully for many others.

My family and I are blessed to have such a great group of family & friends in Georgia and in Florida.  One man does not deserve all the love that I have found in my life.  I don't know that I will ever be able to put into words all of the emotions of last week, but I do know that if heaven is anything like the love that we experienced in that home, I can't wait to get there.