To Serve well

Serving with Excellence for a Life of Excellence

Simple Thoughts Sunday

Simple Thoughts Sunday: Finding joy with childlike abandon

So… what will it be?

The freeing sensation of swinging as high as you can, creating enough energy for the wind to push through your hair, that exhilarating feeling in your tummy when you drop – fully alive.

The sense of discovery in a sandbox – digging, building, imagining your next move, making your vision come to life.

Oh, the monkey bars. Revealing your strength as you leap from one bar to the next… maybe even skipping over one or two to exercise your true superpowers.

I love the idea of finding joy with childlike abandon. The very thought of the playground experience makes me smile.

The holidays provide an opportunity for true joy and also very real stress… From clearing our to-do lists and calendars, to the hustle required in preparation to make it perfect for our loved ones.

I felt like this was a really great time to remind everyone to find time to play, whatever that looks like for you. Perhaps we should all make a commitment to enter this season with this very notion of childlike abandon. Incorporating play and exploring the moments as a child would, finding joy and accomplishment wherever the world might take us in any given day.

Simple Thoughts Sunday: Errors increase with distance

I am inspired by this idea, and perhaps you will be as well.

Where are you when you are at your best? I heard this concept of “errors (as in a lack of peace, quick to express my viewpoint versus listening, etc) increasing with distance” in the context of spiritual connection. I have to say that I am fully at my best when I am closest to God in some way. When I am actively surrounding myself with not only the word of God, but also the energy that is found by spending time in community with other purpose-focused believers, praying regularly, serving those around me, helping those in need, or reading the stories shared by teachers and authors. Heck, even listening to praise music brings me to a sense of awe and gratitude for both the amazing and the challenging in my world. In short, I find myself most fulfilled when my daily life is spiritually connected.

So, logic would say that when I am further away that “errors” may happen. How true is that? When I am not doing much of what I listed above, I find myself feeling disconnected and far from an optimal state. It’s pretty straight forward, yet I have to be honest: I don’t know how or why, but I sometimes find myself distracted and a lot further from the target. Anyone else?

So, for today’s post, it truly is a “simple thought,” which is to say that we are indeed our best when our actions bring us closer to our creator. When we are intentionally near, we can know deep inside that we can hit the targets we were designed to hit, and do so with a sense of deep joy. That’s powerful.

Praying for you all today to have the BEST week!

Simple thoughts Sunday: Have you ever been undercover with your faith?

First of all, my answer is sadly YES. I was challenged several years ago when someone asked me if the people I worked with would readily know about my faith. I really didn’t know what my closest colleagues at work may say, which is exactly the problem. It occurred to me I had largely kept that (huge) part of my life private outside of personal relationships.  

It could be that I came up out of college in the early 90s, and outside of the need to wear awful navy suits, pantyhose (ugh) and ridiculous pumps, I was mentored to not discuss anything such as faith in the workplace. (I also was told that I really should always vote republican if I cared about the country’s fiscal position. I wish I had known earlier that the best leaders & cultures wouldn’t set you up in this way.) All of this becomes more laughable over time, but it also leaves me, admittedly, a bit disgusted. I don’t dwell as a practice on these types of realities but I certainly hope today’s grads don’t have that experience. But I digress…

Back to the point of today’s message. 

Folks, other people are relying on us to be open about our faith. People need the light that can be brought – and many times flat out hope that we might bring – through this discussion. I am not a fan of flaunting my faith, but I do believe that in the right place (and or conversation) revealing where you find your peace, focus or perspective can be quite helpful. 

You know fairly quickly if someone is open to the idea. As a practical example, I often speak at a mentoring event each year leading a small group discussion about work life balance. In this encounter, I can’t tell you the number of young professionals that come up to me after and want to thank me for talking about my faith. My take-home thought on that experience is that people want to share their faith and blend it in but are afraid. I hope our cultures evolve over time to make this more acceptable. An important part of this to me is that all faiths are important. To me this is where we are best: When we are willing to learn and grow and ultimately open our minds and hearts to many points of view.

So, what would those that know you say about your faith no matter what that may be? Would they know they could come to you if they needed a bit of encouragement or inspiration today? I’m so thankful someone challenged me. I hope it inspires at least one of you! Have an incredible week. 

One more thought: My friends at Faith Always Wins have a terrific interfaith message that is inspiring and encouraging as we all move toward greater awareness. - check them out if you’d like! Their work is changing the world. 

Simple Thoughts Sunday: A game-changing thought to start your day in the most amazing way!

I adapted this from a post from @ChristineCaine via Twitter. Christine is the leader of the @A21 campaign – a global organization fighting the battle of human trafficking. It’s a powerful movement. I wondered if, when she wrote this, her mind drifted to the thousands of girls and boys who are being held captive, waiting for someone to rescue them. Certainly the idea of praying for a still heart and an emboldened spirit must be a desperate cry that somehow provides peace in the most stressful situations.

What do you need to call on the Holy Spirit for today?

  • Acceptance that those you love – and that life in general – isn’t perfect?
  • Forgiveness for someone who may not have the emotional capacity to forgive in response?
  • How about a SPIRIT OF JOY? Good, honest, happiness?

This is a question worth asking. It’s also worth writing down. The act of simply asking each morning for the Holy Spirit to move on your behalf just might change your life. In fact, I’m proof positive that this is not only possible, but probable.

Today, I pray that your hearts are overflowing with love and that you surround yourself with whatever it is that warms you through and through. Cheering you all on with love and prayers.

Simple Thoughts Sunday: The winding roads of life

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!

Simple Thoughts Sunday: 3 strategies to WIN the day

Win the day! We truly need to try to WIN every day! I am reminded (it seems weekly) that life is short and tomorrow is not promised.

What are some ideas around this thought?

  1. Start with what WINNING is to you! What brings you true joy? (Yes, that can include your career, school, etc.) Who are your “must haves,” as in I can’t imagine my life without [enter your closest friends and family names here]?
  2. inventory your schedule, specifically the last 90 days. Does your time line up with your definition?
  3. Align what your version of WINNING is with your next 90 days. Schedule that coffee date, start reading that book, connect with what or who fills you up.

Here’s to a week filled with owning a life that allows you to full on seek and find JOY.

Simple Thoughts Sunday: Rest precedes blessing

One of my friends posted the photo above on Facebook this week. It’s so peaceful to me that I just had to turn it into the blog photo for today.

I am reading Rebekah Lyon’s new book, Rhythms of Renewal, so the timing couldn’t be more perfect for this discussion. Several conversations with a variety of people in my life this week have revolved around the need for finding space, margin and really just flat out REST. I feel the reality is that we don’t allow ourselves to experience the capacity that God gave us to think, create, innovate and serve. We need to reconsider allowing ourselves to being scheduled out and consumed by the distractions around us. I’m always reminded that this is a choice, and if we don’t put some proverbial “muscle” around it, we will continue down a path that doesn’t quite give us the full energy we need to forge ahead in the most fulfilling way – nor really the way God intended us to live.

In her book, Lyon talked about the initial design of the human race, which clearly states that we were intended to rest: “On the seventh day (of the days of creation) He rested from all his work.” The part I hadn’t really noticed before was this: “Then God blessed the seventh day…” Aha! She noted, “Rest precedes blessing. We don’t have to run to earn rest, we run FUELED by a posture of rest.” Very cool. Anyone else need that?

Her story is one that showcases that she feels her life has been saved (she was having debilitating anxiety attacks) because she decided to pause and take a literal inventory… an inventory of evaluating her life and redefining priorities. Have you ever sensed your life was about more that it is today, but cannot quite get to the point of understanding what it is? Her inventory strategy was to sit down with someone she loved and capture all of the moments where she felt most alive, and then the moments where life wasn’t too much fun. That rather simple starting point offered her a course correction, if you will, and allowed her to move closer to what she felt called to do. In her words:

“Taking a break, resting from responsibility long enough to take inventory, was crucial to imagining God’s plan for my life.”

I kind of love that. How can we rest better? If we all make a commitment to doing this, we may just turn up the volume on truly realizing all we are intended to do in this one life of ours. My friends, have the most incredible week. I hear it’s going to be a beautiful and full of actual fall days and nights.

Simple Thoughts Sunday: Set your focus for the rest of 2019

What stands out to you from that list? I think the world needs more crazy and extravagant love. I don’t watch the news (thanks to my son Joe who pointed out the chaos of it all, and he was right… Now, I just get the highlights in other ways), but in passing televisions in airports, scrolling Twitter, and listening to the people surrounding me, I hear all of the stress. It points to the need to reset our minds to love.

We can all use the reminder to take our minds off of how [pick your poison] is impacting us personally. We are all wired to be selfish and that is, in many cases, critical to living safely and protecting ourselves. We can, however, get too focused and it’s important to recognize when we are too far in so we can shift our minds to the needs of those around us. There are many.

Prayer, reflection, intimacy with God. That is such a terrific call to action. Our hearts expand and our minds settle when we spend time alone with our faith. When we are able to cry out, even in the most subtle ways, and share our concerns and needs, we somehow are able to offload our soul and refill it with what is true and right. God’s word points us to peace, joy and love and ultimately provides all of the guidance we need to live well and serve well.

Have an incredible week.

Simple thoughts Sunday: You don’t need to fight…

Nothing. Absolutely nothing.

Your best strategy during a difficult moment is to simply relax and give the fighting to someone better equipped to handle it. Wouldn’t it calm your mind to know that you don’t have to say or do anything? No need to come up with the right words. Let that sink in.

This could be anything. For example, a car repair gone wrong, a derailed project, a relationship issue, or perhaps an unexpected delay in achieving a dream.

One scripture I have often been pointed to is Exodus 14:14; 

“The lord will fight for you, you need only be still.”

One of the larger challenges in life is to give up our desire to be everything someone needs – to be the problem solver, the magic wand, and curator of solutions for ourselves or others.

My friends, we have the greatest gift in that we can rest in knowing that God has better answers and solutions. We need only be still.

Side note: I love the quote below so much.

“Prayer is the difference between the best we can can do and the best God can do.”

Mark Batterson

I pray that I can be better at not striving to fight my own battles and give them up to the one who can handle them much better.

Confetti & a dance party: We are called to celebrate

Simple Thoughts Sunday

We are so much better when we praise. When we call out the light in others. When we express gratitude and let our love pour out to others. Doing that is pure CELEBRATION of all that God has provided for us! What’s great is that this doesn’t just sound good but it’s actually God’s idea, as you can see in the scripture above.

  • Party hats
  • Hands raised
  • Confetti
  • Bringing out the good wine
  • An all out dance party

All is wildly important. Our world is crazy awesome despite what the world may try to tell you sometimes. The people who God has surrounded us all with are truly good and helpful. (Short a very small handful that I am convinced are here mostly to refine our ability to overcome even the craziest encounters we may face. And maybe to add humor!)

Celebration is a form of praise.

Praise is a form of gratitude!

Gratitude is acknowledgement that you recognize that life is a gift.

That gift is meant to be shared with others. Celebrate them early and often!

Thanking God for each of you right now! Have an incredible week.