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Do you ever have one of those “Someone challenged my thinking…” moments? A great idea popped into your brain and you have mulled it over for years. You write it down and it becomes a manifesto for your life.
After a while all of your energies pour into feeding that dream. Your passions funnel through it. Then, before you realize it, after years of living accordng to that statment, your choices are determined by it and your track record builds according to it.
That’s called your Personal Mission Statement.
When I wrote my Personal Mission Statement, it was long, cumbersome and had me solving all of the world’s problems. I actually started it when I was in college, before the age of computers. Yes, it was done on a typewriter.
Then, it in golden age of computers, I copied that statement on to a floppy disk. Do you remember the 8088 chip? That was heady stuff in its day. My laptop computer back then weighed 28 pounds.
My revised and much more concise Personal Mission Statement was updated occasionally on my ancient computer. Yes, the memory capacity was adequate to hold it. But, that’s why I condensed it.
Now, in the rapid world of the great information age, my Mission Statement is distilled down to three parts. I almost have it memorized. But, I don’t publish it. That’s why it’s a PERSONAL mission statement.
It was rattling around in my brain though when I went to conference in Arizona. One of the speakers concentrated on how important it was to have a Personal Mission Statement. He asked us to write it down.
Then, he told us about a grid that he uses to help people assess their Mission Statement. On the vetical axis it measures from 1-10 a person’s passion for his statement. Then, on the horizontal axis from 1-10 he measures the clarity of the statement.
Once we had completed these exercises, he wanted us to turn to a total stranger and recite our mission statement with passion. After that exchange we were to evaluate each other. Based on his axis illustration we were to see how close we could get to a 10/10 statement: crystal clear and passionate.
My partner gave me a 7/7 score. He said that I wasn’t completely clear nor passionate. I was about ready to show him some passion by strangling him in front of 200 witnesses, but, managed to maintain my composure. After all, assualt isn’t part of my Personal Mission Statement.
My study time is very full. My soul is strained to its limits. Besides the major issues that crowd my daily calendar, I am looking forward to being the speaker at a fundraising dinner for CareNet. That is a not-for-profit organization that serves the needs of people facing an unplanned preganancy.
What should the thousands of women do who think that abortion is their only alternative? Instead of snuffing out the lives of helpless babies and their mothers personally damaged for years to come, CareNet offers a kind alternative. Caring, nurturing, and practical helpers guide these mothers through delivery and counsel with regard to adoption or even keeping their babies.
My research has uncovered how typical abortions are administered. When I read the details, the language, and saw the pictures of the results it was very disturbing. The testimony of mothers who opted for this procedure told horror stories of the physical pain that followed and the psychological agony the lasted for years.
Even more horrifying was learning about late-term partial-birth abortions. These little innocent babies need someone to stand up and champion their cause. They need many to stand up and defend them. Perhaps we can all help together. Will you join me?
Yes, I watched the TV special on the world’s best movies. Movies are a great hobby of mine. I love “story” and I think that some of the best storytellers are movie makers.
While those of us who are limited to the spoken or written word, the storytellers of cinema have sight and sound options that the rest of us can only try and mimic with our limitations. So many watch movies that we who tell stories with words only can actually refer to a well done movie and count on the fact that many in our audiences have seen the flick and draw up images to illustrate our point.
The silver screen is an amazing media conduit. It is supported by a complete industry of creative minds. Of course the brilliant lives of those who put it all together ooze with talent as well. Like a genius conductor of a philharmonic, the producers and directors manage the talent, budget, personalities and see something that most of us cannot.
I am not too interested in the glitz. Curiosity at times allow me to glance at the actors but my real interest is in the Best Movie award. Long ago I learned that the best individual awards don’t always match the movies that I enjoy watching.
This year was a good illustration of that basic principle. Slumdog Millionaire was a fabulous movie. It captured my heart, mind and imagination.
When the award was announced, I was already sound asleep. It was one of the first items of news that I picked up the next morning. There was nothing that I had contributed to its making or its success, but I smiled when I heard the news.
Reflecting over the film, I loved the good fortune that came to the star. An entire nation celebrated with him. Our world needs that kind of delight. Humor, horror, happiness all mixed into one improbable story that the world has now permanently recognized as one of the best movies ever made.
There are more important riches than money. We all know that. It’s just that money gets in the way of us embracing that reality.
Love trumps finances every time. Perhaps with the economic ills of the world today this movie will make us all feel better, live better, and love better. It is a very good story, a very good movie, an even better reminder of what is true.
My flying neighbor was a passenger on the same plane that was taking us both to Vermont. Her daughter and son-in-law just had their first child, her first grandson. For the next few months she would watch over this new life while her children went to work.
Once at the airport I met her daughter and cooed at the infant. This new life had a countenance of cheer that was delightful. All of his small life gestures made all of us smile. Grandma was sporting the biggest smile of all.
It was a fun moment that was the beginning of many more introductions in the friendly state of Vermont. I was invited to Burlington, VT by the ministry Iron Sharpens Iron. They specialize in helping men become more effective as husbands, fathers, and servants in their churches.
Wherever I went during my short stay in Vermont, everyone was noticably friendly. Whether it was the leadership team of the conference that I attended, the conferees who registered for the conference, or the hotel staff, the hospitality and ease of conversation was consistent. Even the throngs of high school kids who jammed the hotel on a ski trip were polite.
We never traveled far once I landed in this sparsely populated state. A mere quarter of a million people populate this corner of our great country. But, they live in a beautiful environment that would be any photographers dream.
My camera was left at home. But, my eyes captured image after image of rural USA, couched in a blanket of snow, with the best of Amercia dotting the landscape. Quaint homes, two lane roads, mountainous horizons, frequent woodscapes and babbling brooks rolled past our multiple journeys through the towns of Burlington and Essex.
Locals told me that during my short visit I would miss out on some of Vermont’s best shows for sight seeing. The common white tail deer sightings eluded me. Parades of wild turkeys apparently were scheduled for a different time of the year. Even the Northern Lights have made spectacular appearances in Essex, but not during the cold still nights that I was in town.
Fishing and kayaking would have to wait for a warmer season. Of course the temptation for snow shoeing and cross country skiing would have to wait for a more appropo time as well. For this visit it would just have to be great conversation.
photo credit: Google image
My calendar is in the middle of one of those schedule-choking surges. Back-to-back trips to the airport and multiple speaking presentations have my mind and soul on overload. Of course one of the assignments that was waiting for me was to speak on the subject of “Managing Stress.”
I was on my way to the airport, scheduled to fly to Vermont. That beautiful state has not been a frequent destination for me. Anticipating this rare chance for me was alluring.
Once I was checked in at the airport I pulled out my file and began to review my assignments. Sometime in my past I had agreed to speak three times in the next day. The subjects made me smile.
One of my workshops would be for pastors. We would discuss the benefits of Expository Preaching. This is a topic is of great interest among career pastors since the popularity of topical preaching has been waning in recent days.
In addition, I was scheduled to teach another workshop on managing stress. I have a lot of fun with that topic. A simplified diagnostic tool revealed that the stress level of my Vermont audience was relatively low. Yet the current poor economic climate of the nation is infiltrating this community like every other.
To top off my visit in this amazing community I was to speak to the gathering of a standing-room-only sold-out conference of men. The final plenary session of the day was my responsibility. It was a moment mixed with both nervousness and excitement.
This was a newer message for me with an added communication feature that I have never yet tried. Hundreds of men had already experienced a full day of input. Now, I would anchor the events of a solid day. The pressure was significant but also exhilarating.
Preaching is a privileged experience. In the moment being swept along to preach on the Lord’s behalf, His Spirit gives wonderful freedom to speak without constraint, full of confidence, and eager to watch God drive home His point.
Speakers can’t always describe what it is like to “be on” but we all know it when it happens. My time in Vermont was one of those times. Together we hit the sweet spot. It was a break-through moment.
Thank you men of New England for having me over for a visit to your beautiful state. Thanks for responding so eagerly to the teaching and preaching. You blessed me.
photo credit: Google image
Banquets are a great time to meet new people and enjoy the chance to forge new friendships. I was at one of those gala moments on Tuesday night. In the room there were two hundred people looking forward to the evening.
At my table were eight others, only half of whom I had met previously. I enjoyed being introduced to the new ones. Together we all shared a common faith and the most important relationship in all of lives, Jesus Christ.
Systematically I visited with each of the new friends at the table and engaged them in some conversation. It wasn’t long until I was talking to a gentleman to my right. Soon into our conversation he identified himself as an Ohioan. That’s when the banter began.
“You’re a buckeye?” I queried.
“Red and silver, all the way,” he said proudly.
At that everyone on our table turned their attention to our conversation. He was still in polite mode since we had just met. So, it was a moment to inject a jab for comic relief, “So, are you a Christian?” I asked.
He took the question seriously. It was after all a Christian conference that we were all attending. My friends who knew that I was from Michigan burst out in raucous laughter as he assured me that he was. The light went on in his eyes. It was a classic Wolverine flanking move that paid excellent dividends. He was a good sport and we had fun together for the rest of the night.
There are arenas where civility can rule even over differences. Sports is one of them as long as opposing sides live according to a value system that supercedes their loyalties. If sports loyalties preempt personal identity, then problems erupt into brawls, vicious attacks, and all sorts of melee.
Politics is one of those arenas for hopeful unity. Unfortunately, matters related to government and leadership, loyalties are more than mere entertainment. Rather they touch life, money, and identity.
Yet, it is still possible to have a unified country. If dialogue can be kept objective, attitudes preserved with dignity, due process kept as a priority, and dialogue kept from being inflammatory.
It is possible for many, although not likely for all. On the one hand, it is impossible without a commonness that is greater than differences. On the other hand, I am hopeful that all that America stands for regarding life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness will unite us.
There’s a lot of change going on in our country. I don’t even watch the network news but I pick up on a lot of the thunderous activity that is swirling around me. My reading gives me a good picture of the current events.
A remarkable amount of activity has been ramping up here in Mesa, AZ. In this town the foreclosure rate among homes is the highest in the country. We just happen to be here when President Obama decides to visit. His intent is to unfold the economic stimulus plan for struggling homeowners.
My skills at government talk is quite modest. However, I am going to try and decipher out loud what I’m hearing. Maybe hearing myself explain things will help me digest things a little better.
If a homeowner has not been able to keep up with his house payments as he promised he would, there is help on the way. Even though he has legally entered into an agreement with his lenders he will be the recipient of a bail out. But, he only qualifies if he has been missing payments as he promised he would do.
Also, if the house that he agreed to purchase is now worth less than what he paid for it there is also help on the way. “They” will reduce the principle of his mortgage in order for him to restart his payments. “They” will also wave late payments, that is payments that have been missed will be forgiven.
In addition whatever the interest on the agreed mortagage will also be lowered as the priniple is reduced. “They” will rework the numbers to make it more comfortable for the homeowner who has been delinquent on his payments.
Finally, “they” will given him a reward for participating in this restructuring of his past agreed to terms. If after one year he is able to keep up on his new payments then, they will give this homeowner a $1,000 cash reward. This is like hearing about Christmas coming in February.
Now, since I have been keeping up with my mortgage payments with a miss since I promised to do so years ago, I do not qualify for this bailout. Furthermore, since I have been faithful in my payments then I will not have the principle of my loan reduced. Nor will the interest on my loan be reduced. But, I am included in this bailout plan because I am one of the “they” that is paying for all of this.
For the last three days I have forgotten about travel, sunshine, and snow. The little things of life have been a mere collection of jumping-0ff points to get to hear some amazing speakers. I have been challenged beyond imagination.
So often matters of life crowd out our dreams. Demands by others shrink the possibilities that have been calling to us. Doubts of those around us chip away at our confidence to wonder about greatness.
People and circumstances erode the vision that can make lives reach for the moon. Passion drains away with the duties of our hours at work. Just getting through the year, the month or the day is about all the energy that we can muster.
Yet, I have thoroughly enjoyed the challenges at this conference in Arizona. Speakers are challenging us to refresh our dreams for our lives. It’s not enough to dream about what is best for our individual life.
Instead, the vision is for God’s purpose of having us here on earth. What is His plan for us? What does He want to do through us? What part of the world does He want us to impact far beyond our own lifetime?
No, it is not human greatness that we have been discussing. Nor has it been personal achievement for our own self satisfaction that we have been conversing. Nothing so self-centered would be so great compared to being in the middle of the plans of the God Almighty.
We have been raising our sights on something bigger than our own desires. Our conversations have been to reign in the plans of the Almighty for each of us. The impact supercedes all human possibilities. We want God to use us to change nations by touching all people.
Ordinary things will not satisfy us. Small things will never be acceptable. Lasting results must linger for a century.
God has given each one of us a gift-mix. We are designed by Him to be uniquely capable for a specific task. To enable all of us to fulfill that task He has also wired us with a passion that will drive that vision.
Our objective in life is to live such obedient and righteous lives for Him that we can discover the perfect meeting of gift-mix with life-passion. That confluence will be life’s greatest level of satisfaction and have an impact of legacy proportions. Care to dream big dreams with me? Our God is not too small.
My flight landed safely in Phoenix. I was never nervous. But, when those wheels screech on the tarmac, thoughts of those who were rescued in the Hudson and those who did not survive the crash in New York cross my mind. It’s a brief moment to be grateful.
The disembarking is without incident. Sure, there’s always one in the back of the plane who tries to push past everyone else. But, the sheer numbers of passengers makes that endeavor futile. I smile and join the majority who show courtesy and patience.
When it’s my turn, I step into the aisle and make my way to the exit at the front of the plane. The gang way is tight up to the plane fuselage. But, there is a gap in the cover overhead. Suddenly, I pause with the shock of a familiar yet strange environment.
I look up between the plane and the cover and squint into the sky. Instinctively, my hand goes up and covers my eyes. A quizzical disoriented look must have draped over my countenance. The flight attendant smirks with a cheery reaction, “That’s called the sun.”
Laughing, it is easy to smile and drink in the moment. It feels so good to be enveloped by the warmth of God’s created source of light and heat for the earth. Michiganders enjoyed a moment to bond together with the sunlight streaming through that little crack in the gangway.
Outside, I burst out in smiles when the sunshine embraced me in a full body hug. The locals must be able to spot a visitor from the frozen north. Behind the wheel of a comfortable rental car, the miles of asphalt invited me to enjoy my journey through hill, dale, and cactus field. Soon into my drive I dug through my napsack and put on my sun glasses. Yeah, I was stylin’ and smilin’ with the stream of welcome sunlight bathing my car in its natural warmth.
Parking the car and putting it into gear usually means, buttoning up my overcoat, wrapping my neck with a scarf, pulling on my gloves, and fitting my hat. But that’s when I’m living in Michigan. Here, in Arizona where the sun shines and temperatures are warm, stopping the engine means just opening the door and stepping outside, into the sun, the very warm and inviting sun. It feels so good!
Saturday morning I was up early. A plane was waiting at the Detroit Airport with a seat reserved in my name. At least I was hoping it was.
My concern was the weather. It was snowing outside. The airport on a good weather day is a 45 minute drive from my front door to the airline ticket counter.
God’s hand on the weather was both good news and tenuous news. The good news was cold blustery Michigan weather made me a little giddy that I was leaving for a few days in the warm sun-rich snow-free Arizona desert. The bad news was my commute to the airport would have to traverse through accident-prone traffic along the way. Michigan was trying to keep me home.
My mind started playing tricks on me. If all went well my extra travel time would put me at the airport with two hours to spare. Two extra hours at the airport is like looking forward to a root canal.
Once I was loaded up I was glad that I did allow for some flexible time in my drive. There were about five vehicles that had spun off of the freeway and into the median. Being stuck in the deep snow puts a damper into any schedule.
Once I was at the airport parking lot, I waited for the shuttle to load up before we could depart for the terminal. Someone dropped their keys in the snow, another couldn’t get their car parked without the attendent’s help with a snow shovel, and of course one couple was slow in climbing on board because they were fighting over who was right about something that had to do with world peace.
At the airport I stopped to read the monitor with the latest flight information. There was my flight number scheduled to arrive at Phoenix. Tracking that flight over to the right I read the word in bold RED letters: DELAYED. I was so clever to plan in inclement-weather-travel-time; it was back up to a two hour wait. Oh, that root canal is back in the picture.
Do you ever glance up to heaven with that silent-knowing-prayer? God’s smiling down at us saying, “Patience is a virtue.” Then, we chuckle back, ”Yes, Lord, attitude check: Praise the Lord.” But, we don’t shout that with gusto. Instead we let it roll off of our soul with a slight groan. God must still want me in Michigan.
