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Unnecessary Roughness
We live in a world full of beauty and wonder. There are way more than seven wonders of the world, and I remain in awe of them.
The world has some darkness, too. People tearing others down, reminding them of every mistake they have ever made. Those people are the ones you should keep as far away from you as possible. This might include some family members.
People will spend time beating themselves up, too. Mistakes from the past can paralyze people from taking chances. They want more from life, but are afraid of failure. You only fail when you refuse to try.
The failures we experienced in life are there to teach us. No one gets everything right every time. Elon Musk blew up a lot of rockets to learn what doesn’t work. Now the Falcon 9 Booster gets payloads into space and then lands vertically on the launch pad. Pretty cool, huh?
Be fearless when you pursue your true calling in this life. God didn’t put you here to fail. He never promised it was going to be easy. But you will succeed if you refuse to give up.
Find your purpose and pursue it with everything you have in you. Setbacks will happen. Expect them. But whatever you do, don’t quit…
Reports Don’t Tell You Everything
Have you ever seen a marketing report? They are not only boring, they can be highly inaccurate. Yet corporate America continues to spend millions of dollars on them.
People want relationships which are more than transactional. Relationships are built on trust. Remember those market reports from above? Agencies even query consumers about which brands they trust. Again, costing millions of dollars that could be used to improve products.
There is one true source that cannot let us down. It talks about trust and incudes pieces on how to market effectively. I’m talking about the Bible. The Bible shows us that time and time again we can trust God. He tells us to be fair and equitable in dealing with others. Your reputation spread by word of mouth is the best marketing tool available. Your reputation is built by being trustworthy, treating people fairly.
Spend time with people. Strengthen your relationships. Stay in touch. You can read the marketing reports later…
Detractors
There are people among us who love to tear you down. I have never understood this. It must come from an area of their own insecurity embedded in their hearts. Deeply embedded.
The world is hard. Take a moment and notice the faces of the people around you. Wherever you are, in an elevator, walking around The Domain, in restaurants, the effects of isolation are still felt today. These are opportunities to show kindness and compassion to others, even to those who don’t deserve it.
God created us to be in community, not alone. We need solitude but not isolation. Even the CDC has put on their website that human connection is vital for good emotional health and wellbeing. If you haven’t heard from your friends and acquaintances for a while, take a moment to check on them. It will do both of you well.
Don’t fall for the distractions of life, or the detractors. Stay focused on spreading goodness and light, no matter what anyone says…
You’ve Got to Want It
Nothing happens without desire. You have to really want what you are pursuing. Being lukewarm won’t cut it. Neither will occasional effort.
The pursuit of your purpose in life will be filled with ups and downs, setbacks and obstacles. This is unavoidable. But consider this: when you are going after your God-given purpose for your life, you will find success if you refuse to give up. God doesn’t plant a dream in your heart to set you up to fail.
People oftentimes think they need to have perfect conditions or more education before they begin pursuing their purpose. Not true! You are already equipped. Just begin.
When frustration comes, instead of dreading it I encourage you to welcome it. The more difficult the path you are on, the more confirmation that you are doing what you’re meant to do. No one said it would be easy.
Start with desire. What do you want to accomplish in this life that benefits others? Once you have answered this question, then it’s time to get after it.
Don’t wait or hesitate. Just begin and keep going, even when the road is dark…
Unspoken
Take a look at the faces of the people you encounter. Take a good look. People are more stressed today than ever. To further complicate things, loneliness has reached epidemic levels. Yet, we live in an era where we can call anyone in the world any time we want to.
Kids have it the worst. Children who are living in homes where abuse, addiction and neglect keep their problems to themselves. As of 2023, about 25% of children are living in these conditions. This has doubled since 2014. Kids are carrying stresses they aren’t equipped to handle. Worse, they feel alone and believe they are the only ones who live like this.
Human connection is vital for good health. We need to be in community with others. If you are feeling lonely, reach out to someone. There are many good people in this world. In today’s “it’s all about me” culture you have to look hard for them, but they are out there. You don’t have to go it alone.
If your kids speak about troubled kids at school, consider inviting them over. Their troubled behavior might be a cry for help. Compassion triumphs over isolation.
Today’s column is my reminder to be kind to everyone. We don’t know what lies beneath…
Kids
Children are a wonderful gift from God. The innocent wonder and awe of toddlers is something to behold. They only get to be that age for a short period of time. Let them enjoy it.
The other day I was out for a walk in my neighborhood. I saw a sign placed in the ground advertising a sports league for kids 3-13. Yes, they can begin at three years old.
You know from previous columns how I feel about sports. They are wonderful teaching tools for young people. But in my opinion, three is too young. At three, kids are in an “imprinting” period where creativity is developed. From 3-7 is when talents like art and music are developed. And their imaginative ideas are off the charts. Getting kids to learn the motor skills required in sports robs them of some of this time of development.
Let’s let kids be kids. The great athletes will present themselves later. Professionals have a rare talent that can’t be hidden. Kids will grow up soon enough…
Your Very Best
We like the best. When we travel we want the best hotel, restaurants and local attractions. We wear the best designer labels, showing off our taste for the best.
But what about how we live our lives? Are we giving our best effort every day? The people who get the most accomplished are separated from the rest by one trait: commitment.
Although they are often related, accomplishing much in life doesn’t necessarily bring wealth. Mother Theresa dedicated her life to the poorest of the poor in India. She had worldwide acclaim, yet very little money. She gave them her best.
Commit to one thing and do it well. It should be something you love doing, even when it’s not fun. Your focus must be on making a difference, not creating wealth. Wealth may come, but it should be secondary.
Start each day with a quick prayer of gratitude for another day. Then go give the world your very best…
The Hunger for Truth
In May I was speaking in a men’s prison. Somehow I brought it up that I was taught that Christopher Columbus discovered America. Then I told the crowd that I was shocked to find out it was a lie when I took history in college. A few of the inmates were surprised to learn this lie we were told.
People want the truth. We want people who will tell us the truth, without bias. We want the truth about why we are here. We want to be able to go to church and not hear a perverted Gospel message.
In today’s society, people talk about “my truth.” There is only one truth. You cannot bend the truth to fit what you want it to be.
The sole source for the truth is the Bible. It has stood the test of time for multiple generations. It is true today and it will be true in 1000 years.
Accept nothing less than the truth. Turn the television off at the first sign of a political narrative. Do the same with newspapers. They aren’t telling you the truth. News media are telling you what they want you to believe.
Look through a biblical lens. The truth might startle you, but at least you can count on it…
Walking Tours
For the last three days I have been in Chicago. I’m returning home today. But man I have seen a lot of downtown Chicago!
I set out earlier this morning looking for a specific restaurant recommended by my assistant. Once again, Google directions failed me. Horribly. Oh well, I got in a nice walk before I found the restaurant. Google sent me a mile the wrong direction.
Walking is wonderful exercise. It’s easier on your knees, and we can walk farther than we can run. Walking allows us to experience nature while we are doing something that benefits our bodies.
Get outside. Walk around. Your future self will thank you…
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