To Serve well

Serving with Excellence for a Life of Excellence

Serve Well

Here we go, 2021: Let’s dive right in to the new year

Most of you have likely spent time reflecting on 2020, putting thought into what you’d like to accomplish in 2021. If not, perhaps today is the day to set aside time to really think through where you have been, what you have learned, and who has impacted your life. This effort always makes me feel like I have a more clear picture when working toward the plan I need to put in motion. They say that writing down your thoughts and goals is a key part of achieving them. I totally agree with that. To me, diving in after you write them down is the only option. Taking action not only feels good, but it drives us forward.

What areas of your life do you need to take action on? So many of your ‘one words‘ were so good and inspiring. How do you plan to make that happen? What does peace look like when it’s played out? More time alone to reflect? A deeper prayer life? Time set aside time each morning? What does joy look like? More time with friends? Family? Pets? Doing what fills your soul? What do I need to let go of to optimize my life? How much of an impact can I make?

As you dive in, please know that you have a tribe of people supporting, encouraging and praying for you! I truly believe we can all accomplish whatever it is that helps us be our best. Of course that means, serving well!

Here’s to a more than meaningful and joyful year ahead and a decade that increases our capacity for love and justice. Thank you so much for taking time to read these brief insights. Cheers to you all!

What one word sets your soul on fire for the best year ever?

I really love this topic. My mind runs amok with the possibilities. Where in the world does God want us to go in 2021? It’s a whole new decade… the possibilities are endless! How do we best achieve our personal goals and purpose? How can we show up with excellence at home, in our neighborhood, as a friend, for our community and in our careers?

Now, of course I know “one word” doesn’t capture it all, but what would one thought be that galvanizes and energizes? Is there a specific area in your life that needs a specific focus? Do you need to for example cultivate your relationships? Do you need to have more days of connection and joy? Are you being called to adventure, travel or exploration?

So many ideas. Here are a few…

Discipline – This was my first “one word” from back in 2012, and it was the year I started working out on a regular basis and focusing on personal health. Total game changer.

Also… Elevate, trust, joy, stretch, acceptance, happiness, freedom, momentum, growth, unstoppable, shine, minimize, rebuild, peace, silence, brave, curious, perspective, thrive, aware, fresh, quiet, travel, adventure, journey, accelerate, game-changer, win, search, commit, dedicate, meaning, true, love…

If you choose to jump on this train, I highly recommend that you share your word with a few members of your tribe, write it down and put it front and center somewhere you see often. There are also other resources, including a website, which lets you join others across the world in the process.

In closing, I will share that selecting a word could be a challenge. Since I’ve done this a few years, I always want to give it some real thought and try to hear from God on what would be the most powerful word to help direct me. That said, my word for 2018 was “revival,” and I didn’t really understand it fully at the time, but felt it was clearly supposed to be my word.

Here is what I wrote in 2018 on this topic (referencing a message I had just heard at that time about “revival” being a “season of reintroduction”): “Revival is a time where God reintroduces himself, exposes you more to your next assignment, and gives you insights to conquer that next level.” As it turns out, it actually was a year of reintroduction, but in many ways not at all how I would have even began to predict or understand January 1. I think that is a fun part of this journey… sometimes what you think at the onset is not how it ends up.  

What we can count on is that 2021 will be an adventure! Have a terrific wrap to your week everyone!  

What if: The impact we can make

Rewind! Throwing it back to a post from last year that will, I hope, help us ring in this holiday season like no other.

What if we all took some time this week to ask ourselves this question? What if we started the same conversation topic around every table we find ourselves at this week? Kitchen table? Board room? At bingo night? Over a card game? What if?

There is profound power to be found in this. The power to improve lives. The power to be a blessing that someone has no idea is about to hit them. The power to scale a mountain (or perceived barrier). The power to upend the status quo. The power to use our gifts in such a way that those around us are all better for it.

What if…

What if you knew the woman in front of you in the carpool line was just diagnosed with cancer, and she is silently being courageous for her kids, though she desperately needs support? What if the family at church that seems to have it all together really doesn’t, and is struggling to pay their electric bill? What if your child knew that three kids in their class of 20 don’t have enough to eat at home, let alone have the means to sign up for organized soccer. (By the way, statistics show it may actually be more than three. Folks, there are a lot of people that leverage their lives on credit cards, trying to act as if they are fine. Sadly, it’s the American way.)

We can take this into the work place, our retirement communities and many other directions.

We so often get caught up in our own lives. What do I need to accomplish? What is going on with my family? How am I going to navigate the busy fall schedule?

What if we put all of that aside and shift the conversation to others?

There’s power in dialing the focus over to how to use our gifts – time, talent, resources, treasure – for other people. How about we move in the direction of making an impact on those around us? A simple Google search can tell you, for example, the number of people who are food insecure in your zip code (check out feedingamerica.org). What if we all grab a friend, and identify a school, or some other community within our neighborhood to impact together?

WHAT IF?

The weight of your attention

This quote –– a line in Ann Voskamp’s “One thousand gifts” video study this week –– captured me.

I’m away from my normal routine for a few days and the gravity of all things encompassing love, gratitude and importance are weighing on my thoughts. This message, so strong, seemed to be delivered for me personally. Like the sunset each night, we can only slow it down by giving it our full attention. What else in life requires this of me right now?

I can’t answer that in this moment but will be diving into the question. It’s a good one. Where is the “weight” or perhaps “energy” best spent? If I turn to God and the wisdom I have always found there… in what areas would I be directed? Is there an area of joy I need to cultivate?

Happy Thanksgiving to each of you! Today I’m leaving you with Ann’s insight. It’s profound, I think. May we all bring our thanks and enter into the moments this season delivers with hearts and minds fully present to the moments. I believe if we do we will somehow be filling our souls with pure joy.

A day of honor: Veteran’s Day 2020

Today is always one of my favorite days of the year. I don’t think anything captures the heart of America like Veteran’s Day.

The men and women who have served, their families, and the communities that circle around to honor them, all give me pause and the inevitable lump in your throat response. One of the most powerful scriptures says that “There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” (John 15:13)

Today, we honor your great sacrifice, your willingness to immerse yourself and your families in what truly is the greatest display of love.

Our country has been built on the backs of men and women who have served with honor. There is no doubt in my mind that this required pushing through fear and all manner of stress as they faced the unknown. That level of commitment and honor for America is why we are all in a free democracy today, in what I believe is and always will be the greatest country in the world. My heart is overflowing with gratitude. I hope that we will all let this day live on day after day as we strive to serve well with love for our country.

Wise words at just the right time

I was listening to a podcast earlier this week called “5 more minutes.” As in “It will be 5 more minutes, honey,” or “I am caught in traffic… just 5 more minutes.”  The host, Levi Lusko, shared this story about Ruth Bell Graham, wife of Billy Graham:

Long before she became bedridden, she was driving along a highway through a construction site. Carefully following the detours and mile-by-mile cautionary signs, she came to the last one that said, “End of Construction. Thank you for your patience.” She arrived home, chuckling and telling the family about the posting. “When I die,” she said, “I want that engraved on my stone.” She was lighthearted, but serious about her request. She even wrote it out so that we wouldn’t forget. While we found the humor enlightening, we appreciated the truth she conveyed through those few words. Every human being is under construction from conception to death. Each life is made up of mistakes and learning, waiting and growing, practicing patience and being persistent. At the end of construction – death – we have completed the process.

I absolutely love this truth. I love her bravado in actually putting this on her head stone and am sure I would have loved her spirit. Anyone who has lived quite a few decades knows deeply this reality. 

As our family continues to push through these long days, this message helped me to navigate how my mom would have not only gotten a good laugh out of this, but she would adamantly tell you how true it is. Construction of any kind requires patience, planning, inspection, modification often and the need for ongoing maintenance. She was on this “building” trajectory until she became ill… She was becoming more beautiful with each day and season. 

We have been working on updating the Chicken House on my friend’s hobby farm this weekend. Every step of the way, the symbolism in this message has shined through. One insight today is that stopping to appreciate these steps –– even the “yikes” moments such as nails flying or a missed hammer strike –– can really transport you to the value of work in creating a strong and beautiful foundation for which you build your life on. 

***By the way, getting outside is so important right now! The fall weather is perfect, whether you are getting your hands dirty or just soaking up the afternoon sunshine and being mesmerized by the leaves falling, it is all a balm for the soul.

Have a crazy amazing week and know that your comments and support and prayers have all stopped me in my tracks and literally carried me through this week. My love overflows.

The winding roads of life

Throwing it back to a post from last October that feels like a great mid-week check in. Cheering you on, friends.

God has interesting ways in which He guides us through life, to learn and to connect with great people and of course, to challenge us to be our best selves. To fully achieve our purpose.

Today, I want to share a few insights as we look toward the busy sprint that is the end of the year. I hope this is a reminder to you – as it was to me –to take in the beauty of this busy, sometimes winding, road that we call life.

  1. Beauty can be found everywhere. There is beauty even in life’s side roads that find you wondering why in the world you may have arrived there. Literally, if you set your mind to find the beauty (the good, the positive, the inspiring…) it is indeed there, and often front and center.
  2. God is leading and I am to follow. Those ideas about where, how and what we will be doing at any given stage of our lives are open to change at anytime. If you truly follow His lead, I believe He will use the right people and places and the right time and situations to bring you right where you are meant to be to achieve your highest purpose. Again it is up to us to choose to listen to those promptings.
  3. Finally, stay expectant. Sometimes change can be scary, but I choose not to look at it in that way. Choose instead to find clarity, and know that the right people are placed on the path at just the right time. If we step forward and reach out and do our best work, there will be honor found in the process.

So whether your path today is straight or winding, I hope you will find great beauty all around. Have the best week!

Processing sadness

I partially write this blog each week as therapy. I have been a writer since I can remember, and processing through writing seems to be my go-to. I wish I was one of those “journaling” types that documents their processing for either their own growth, or for future generations to learn from. I am not… it’s not indifferent from my prayer life… I lean into short thought circuits and find myself able to “bullet” out prayers & that is much more useful for my play-by-play processing.

I seem to be straying from my point in writing today’s blog, so I’ll try to get back onto the focus: processing sadness.

My mom is critically ill and under hospice care. I know many of you have walked this path or one similar to it, so perhaps this may resonate with you. The “Processing” part seems to be the challenge to me. I am told we are closing in on this journey, and yet I feel that the horizon is far enough away where I need to maintain hope and help advocate for her best care. I can see and feel the sadness just “over the horizon” and yet I don’t seem to have the ability to shed those tears or be ready in other words for what’s to come. In other words, perhaps I can’t release control over what no longer needs an advocate… I know it’s okay to go full on into the sad part of this, but my processing is clogged up, if you will.

Over the last several days I have prayed her favorite scripture over her… Psalm 23. She shared that it was also her mother’s favorite. The Lord is indeed our Shepherd. Always has been for this family. Always by our side and unrelenting in guidance no matter if we were interested, clearly listening or not at all.

Seasons change and we change, but God does not. It’s the most powerful truth in my life. I know that when I’m ready to process the tears, that the Good Shepherd will be there in that moment too.

If you ever find yourself not being able to process sadness, know that there is an army of people lifting you up and that once you are able to surrender, that God will be with you and that over the horizon there will be beautiful days and the love that remains always through the memories we hold.

Blocking mediocrity

Throwing it back to a message from 2019 that felt right for this week!

I hope I don’t offend some with this post, but I feel like it’s a needed message. More and more often it feels like people (of all ages) are okay with “mediocrity.” What does that even mean…?

Definition: “ordinariness, commonplaceness, lack of inspiration, indifference… A person of mediocre ability; nobody, lightweight, amateur…”

We are too surprised when we get “great” service at the post office, restaurants, or a routine call to a local utility or similar. When did this happen? Over time, the standards of excellence appear to have declined. At one time even I, with little supervision, couldn’t leave the house on a Friday without dusting every last knick-knack in the house. (If you are younger than me, ask me or someone older what a knick-knack means. Trust me, the generation above ours loved these, and if you don’t believe it’s a real thing, look it up – I had to. I thought it most certainly was not only vintage language but totally made up. (Sub-note: I vowed to never have knick-knacks at a very early age. I highly recommend we continue this ban.))

I love this idea that friends don’t let other friends be mediocre. Really, we all need someone – hopefully a band of people – who are willing and able to help us rise above commonplace. Being average, being “okay,” just getting along… that’s not what we want, is it? I firmly believe that 99% of all people want to fulfill their purpose, to serve well, to propel ourselves and others to new levels. I also know from experience that we need those friends to lift us up, give us a nudge, help us push past our own narrative and into new thresholds. These are coaches, friends, co-workers, nurses, doctors, teachers, neighbors, and yes, family. These are people like you and me! This takes courage… it takes the willingness to have meaningful dialogue that can take time and investment. These are the conversations that become the difference makers and game-changers.

Let’s all make a commitment this week to be that friend who cares enough to have that candid conversation. I’ve written about it before but let’s cater to each others success, not our egos. We need real friends who care and as a result, we all make this world so much better.

So thankful for each of you!

Did you know you don’t have to jump on every train of thought?

This was a useful reminder for me and perhaps it will be for you as well. I love this idea that I heard recently, “we don’t have to jump on every train of thought.” 

According to google the tendencies of our mind are powerful by sheer number. From the web:

Tendencies of the mind

It was found that the average person has about 12,000 to 60,000 thoughts per day. Of those thousands of thoughts, 80% were negative, and 95% were exactly the same repetitive thoughts as the day before.

Wow… those are a lot of thoughts –– no wonder I’m tired. My mind seems to always be working … running from thought to thought. On top of that, these thoughts lead to a trail of distractions that impact us all, taking us off of one “train” and shifting us to another often before we realized what happened. Did we even have time to grab our bags so you speak before we relocated our thoughts and actions? (Research shows it takes 2-5 minutes to get refocused after we get off track.) 

And then we take this to a new level and we come head to head with do I even want to be on the train I find myself on? Why do I even care what he or she thinks or why am I even looking at those (cars… clothes… shoes) when I’m already stretched on my budget. Heck… how did I even get this thought into my head that I should search this?

An important reminder today to guard your thought life. It’s the most powerful part of our days and being on the trains that take us to beautiful destinations and lead us to places of growth are two terrific places to start.