Enjoying the Comfort

We have owned this couch for several years now. It isn't one we purchased, but was a hand-me-down gift from friends as they were moving. My wife recovered it and we bought new pillows for it, but it's definitely an old couch. I suppose we could buy a new one, but this one is still comfortable and it doesn't cost me anything to keep. If we were to buy a new couch we would have to shop around for a good bargain, find something we could agree on, and decide if it fits in our house. It's just easier to keep the old one since I already know what I've got and there is no risk involved.

What might seem like solid logic for furniture isn't necessarily the best guide for other decisions in my life. Always staying with something comfortable and familiar doesn't open up new opportunities and pathways of influence. Even though there is very little risk in sticking with old patterns and methods, there also isn't a great opportunity for growth. The truth is we won't discover if something fits us until we give it a shot. We might find the newness is more comfortable than we thought possible once we risk the opportunity in front of us.

Looking Ahead

"Some days you don't feel like going in that weight room, but you have to remind yourself where you want to be once you do get back up there,"
Zack Wheeler, NY Mets pitcher recovering from Tommy John surgery.


Zack Wheeler wants to pitch and be part of the dynamic Mets staff. As a fan, I want him back out there too because he makes the team better overall. I also appreciate how he practices discipline while keeping his eyes focused on his goal. He obviously doesn't just want to return to the mound, but wants to be successful once he gets there. Zack has a vision for where he wants to go and how he wants to perform once his opportunity arrives.

I need those reminders for myself. I believe I have a vision for where I want to go and need to use each day as preparation for future opportunities. We can each have this focus for the different areas of our lives--family, personal growth, career, and our spiritual journey. Realizing the work we put in today will affect us in the future gives more meaning to the present even as we anticipate fulfilling our vision.

Taking Advantage

This morning brought cooler than expected temperatures to middle Georgia as we woke to readings in the low 60's. With the incredibly hot summer we've already had this was a very pleasant break even if it was only for a day. When we first noticed these predicted morning temps, my wife and I both planned an early morning run. We've been dodging the heat for so long we didn't want to miss this opportunity. I'll admit my body could have used the rest, but I wasn't willing to forfeit this chance at fall-like conditions.

Sometimes we have to push ourselves a little harder when an opportunity presents itself. It may not come at the most convenient time, but if we don't take advantage of this chance it may be a while before another one rolls around. Seizing the moment in front of you means you have to be paying attention and be ready to jump when it arrives.

Just In Time

A minute earlier or later and I wouldn't have seen the sun peeking over the trees this morning. Once that opportunity had passed, I would have missed out on this view (which isn't captured nearly as beautifully as it appeared in person.) 

How many times each day are we right on time for an opportunity because we are paying attention? How many times each day do we miss out on an event simply because we weren't paying attention? There is value in each moment of our day. Try walking through it with your head up and eyes open and you might catch of a glimpse of something worthwhile.

Just Wait a Minute

I meet a friend of mine each Tuesday morning for coffee and conversation. It's an important part of the week for both of us as men striving to stay on God's path for our lives. We are both early morning people so we meet at a local coffee shop when they open at 5:30. Inevitably, I am there a few minutes early and sit in my car waiting for them to open.

A truck pulled in next to me today and the driver got out to walk up the door. It was just a few minutes before they normally open for business and when the guy tugged on the door it was still locked. The disgust on his face was obvious as he walked away, got in his truck, and peeled out. Naturally, as soon as he drove away they opened the doors right on time. In his haste, he missed his opportunity.

How many times are we in a hurry and cause ourselves to miss an opportunity? We might feel like it needs to be presented to us at the exact moment that we want it, but we don't always get to dictate when events occur. If we are willing to show a little patience we might even find that we don't have to wait long for something to happen. When we aren't able to wait, we might miss our chance by just a few minutes. A little perseverance can be fruitful.

Lack of Leadership

I have been a Florida Gator fan all of my life. I watched the second half of our annual rivalry game with FSU yesterday and wasn't too surprised when we ended up losing. While I had certainly hoped that we might be able to pull off the upset it wasn't unexpected when we fell short. 

I didn't catch all of the game, but the part that I did see had some pretty clear leadership lessons. It was very obvious why FSU is now undefeated over their last 28 games, are the defending national champions, and will have an opportunity to defend that title very soon. Florida on the other hand is wrapping up another unsatisfactory season in a minor bowl game and is already looking for another head coach. The game spoke volumes about the way successful leaders and teams operate.

1. They are disciplined: the Gators had 9 penalties for 100 yards and had several potential drives thwarted due to the inability to play disciplined football. Undisciplined leaders lose control of their emotions in tense circumstances.

2. They don't waste opportunities: the defense of Florida forced FSU's quarterback (and reigning Heisman trophy winner) into four interceptions and yet only managed to score six points off of those turnovers. Leaders don't let opportunities to move forward slip by without maximizing the impact.

3. They are focused on proper execution: even though their kicker kept them in the game, he ended up missing two field goals that would have ultimately given them the win. Even if circumstances are not ideal, winners find ways to be successful by executing at the right time.

4. They know how to shift momentum in their favor: Florida had a chance to put the game away early when they had a lead of 9-0. They were about to score near the FSU goal line when their quarterback threw an interception that was returned 94 yards for a touchdown. Instead of potentially being up 16-0 Florida was only up 9-7 and momentum had shifted. Leaders learn to divert negative circumstances for the betterment of their organization.

Stoppage Time

I was sitting at a red light in Macon today while visiting some people and looked ahead to see a string of green lights down the road. There wasn't any traffic coming through my intersection and yet my light had not turned green. I suppose that I could have gone forward to the lights that were in my favor, but there would have been consequences for my impatience.

It's a powerful leadership illustration as well. We might see possibilities farther down the road, but we are currently stopped for some reason. It might be a place of learning, an opportunity for maturity, or the right time to develop patience and perseverance. We can choose to ignore the signal to stop as we look for success, but there are consequences for trying to shortcut the process of developing opportunity. Even though it might appear that our path is clear farther ahead there is still great value in where we are right now.

Don't ignore the power of the present for the enticing appearance of the future.

Just In Case

It's just about time for our week of middle school camp again. I have had the pleasure of leading a week for the past 11 years and it has definitely changed tremendously in that time. I have had to adapt my style of leadership and our approach to things over the years, but each year is an incredible blessing through the changes.

We spent today packing our trailer for the early crew to set up on Saturday in anticipation of the arrival of 130 campers and 27 staff on Sunday. We had a specific list of items for our stage set, the sound equipment, camper games, and object lessons. Our staff knew exactly what we were getting into and had our lists prepared. Even as we packed we collected several other items that were not on our original list. Many times this is done because we want to be prepared for what might happen.

Camp veterans understand that there will be unexpected events and surprises along the way. We can plan and strategize each moment, but there will always be moments that we need to take advantage of when they come up. While we can't always predict them we can prepare as much as possible so that we don't miss the chance for impact.

Big Shot

I love the playoffs in any sport. It has drama, upsets, tension, and big moments. No matter the sport, we see the superstars rise to the top, but we also inevitably see an relatively unknown athlete have a minute in the spotlight. Sometimes this occasion wins a game or changes momentum, but it is very rarely expected.

In last night's NBA playoff game between the Houston Rockets and Portland Trailblazers, a player named Troy Daniels hit a huge shot. This was a make-or-break moment for Houston as they would have most likely been out of the playoffs very soon if they lost this game. In a big moment, Troy hit a three pointer to give his team the lead. I think it is safe to say that he was the most unlikely hero last night. He had only played in five (5!) total games so far this season and yet was able to come through in the clutch.

While Troy might not been expected to hit a game winning shot it was also not the first three pointer of his life. He once made 11 3-pointers in a game in college and took 599 3-point shots while playing the Developmental League. This was his first opportunity on the big stage, but he had been preparing for it his entire career.

We might have the "opportunity of a lifetime" fall into our lap, but we have a better chance of finding that opportunity if we're preparing for it all along. Sitting on the sidelines without developing our skills won't get us into the game. We've got to be willing to devote the hours to practice if we expect to find success when the opportunity arrives.

Playing Time

"Do you know what my favorite part of the game is? The opportunity to play."

Mike Singletary, NFL Hall of Fame linebacker

Even if an organization seems to be the perfect fit for someone they won't stay if they don't have a chance to make an impact. Talented players aren't very willing to sit on the sidelines for too long-they want to contribute in a way that makes them feel valuable. A healthy organization won't just identify and recruit talent, but they will find ways to deploy that talent. This builds a stronger team and creates learning & advancement opportunities for team members.

Are we giving people a chance to play? As a leader, are we developing young leaders and giving them opportunities to see what they are capable of doing? As parents, are we letting our children learn to make decisions or do we make all of their choices for them? At some point we have to let people step out and take risks if we want them to grow and to be part of the process.

We all want a seat at the table and a chance to use what we have. If we don't give people an opportunity they won't develop and they'll look for a chance to play somewhere else.

Always Learning

I have participated in countless meetings and dozens of conferences in my professional career. There is almost always a set agenda heading into these gatherings (especially the conferences) and a desired objective coming out of them. The interesting thing I have discovered over the years is that I will almost always learn something "accidentally" through these meetings. There will almost always be something shared that stimulates my thoughts in a unique way or challenges me with a new perspective. The teachable moment probably wasn't the direct aim of the organizers, but it still ends up being beneficial to me.

It's a fairly solid principle for personal growth and development: be diligent in looking for learning opportunities on a daily basis. Personal interactions, news articles, random comments, blogs, books, and even meetings can teach you something new if you're receptive to the lesson. Take a moment at the end of the day and look back to make sure you didn't miss an important opportunity to grow as a leader.

No Regrets

I've seen people who tattoo this on themselves as a symbol of their willingness to take risks. Adopting this as a life philosophy is sometimes used as validation for poor decision making and an excuse for recklessness. In spite of that possibility I want to adopt this motto for my own life. I don't intend for it to be a license to take foolish risks, but instead as motivation to leverage every opportunity:

• Always telling my family that I love them
• Stopping what I'm doing to have conversations with my daughters
• Giving my wife a good night kiss
• Holding my wife's hand whenever I can
• Praying for people in the moment they ask
• Taking risks of generosity with our finances
• Seeing strangers in need and engaging them in that moment
• Seizing a unique opportunity of faith that takes us out of our normal routine
• Investing in a potential leader who might not fit the typical mold
• Breaking out of routines and stretching my thinking
• Establishing new disciplines that help me overcome poor lifelong habits

I don't want to have a ton of regrets at the end of my life, but I want to make sure it's for the right reasons.

Get Ready

If you stay ready you don't have to get ready. Russell Wilson

I have dreams for my future. There are things that I want to accomplish, places that I want to go, personal changes that I want to make, and a legacy that I want to build. I have ambitions that are fueled by my personality, but most importantly by God's calling on my life. 

I have confidence that God will bring me into the right future circumstance at the right time if I will be obediently faithful in the present. I won't just accidentally fall into an opportunity for growth and increased impact, but need to prepare for that moment now. My prayers, devoted study, careful meditation, and daily character reshaping will create an avenue for God to prepare me for what lies ahead. 

Opportunity will knock and I don't want to miss it because I wasn't ready to answer.

Greater Than: God + me > world

God uses ordinary people to do extraordinary things. It's the way He lets us be part of something that is bigger than our abilities and influence. He has uniquely equipped us to step up to meet needs, to lead revolutions, to transform communities, and to lead our family and friends to Christ. We simply need to recognize the opportunity, bring God what we have of ourselves and let His power flow through us to bring change. God's vast power working through our limitations has been the way the world has been changed from the beginning. 

What are you asking God to do through you to make a substantial impact in the world?

Surfing USA

I grew up in Daytona Beach, FL and spent many hours at the beach. We were pretty poor growing up and the beach provided days of free entertainment. I never did try to surf (didn't know anyone with a surf board) but spent hours body surfing and riding boogie boards. We would paddle out and wait for the big wave to carry us all the way to the beach.

The key to getting a get ride back to the shore was being able to catch the right wave at the right time. You had to pay attention to what was coming at you, time your move just right, and have the guts to jump on the wave to take you in. It didn't always work out the way you expected and sometimes you ended up with a bathing suit full of sand and a mouth full of seawater. 

Life isn't a whole lot different from trying to catch that wave. We can get excited by the potential of an opportunity and if we aren't paying attention, act at the right time, or have the guts to take a risk, we simply miss out. Even if we take a leap of faith you aren't guaranteed to find success. You might end up with a bad taste in your mouth and a chafing sensation that rubs you the wrong way. You then have to decide whether you're going to wade back out for another chance or give up and sit on the shore. I can assure you that very little adventure happens while we sit watching other people look for the next wave of opportunity.

Open Sesame

If you have ambition, it's natural to pray for opportunities to come your way. It can come in the form of a general desire for increase, for your current situation to prosper, or for God to present new avenues for growth. There may even be times when you feel that God is leading you directly into something that almost seems too good to be true. 

In the midst of this potential you can find yourself working and even praying hard for it to go well. You see all these signs that are leading to a new frontier in ministry, faith, finances, or career advancement. You get excited about the potential for personal growth and even give God credit for this new venture. You pray for it to open up quickly and may even see positive steps drawing you closer to what you feel is the inevitable conclusion as a new chapter begins in some way.

What do you do when the door of opportunity is shut just as you think you are about to walk through it? How do you react to what you feel is a failed attempt? I've seen people who turn and question the path God has led them down and wonder aloud why He would do this to them. Has it become so common to only think we will gain experience and wisdom when life is "successful?" 

In her book, Hungry for God, Margaret Feinberg writes, "God can teach us just as much through a closed door as an open one." It is a powerful reminder that God knows best and that He is always preparing us for the season that is coming. In His perfect nature, He will always choose to do the right thing for us. Whether the door is open or shut, the lessons God delivers through all circumstances are invaluable to the overall development of our character in Him.

Opportunity Cost

In a simple explanation, opportunity cost is the loss of potential gain from other alternatives when one alternative is chosen. Choosing to forego an expensive vacation to put a larger down-payment on a car brings a loss of relaxation time, but a benefit in a lower monthly payment. Choosing to work late might curry favor with your boss, but will cost you time with your family. Some of the decisions are simple, but others are more complex because of the long-term impact they will have on us and our circle of influence.

Each of us have to evaluate the opportunity cost of life on a daily basis. There is a value that we place on the decision to follow Christ over the influences of the world around us. Some of those choices will be difficult to make and that is why Christ told us that we would need to die to ourselves. It is an active decision to live a life that is worth far more than the temporary, immediate gratification that we often see in front of us.