 Original Facebook post December 2, 2015
A lot of people are really struggling right now. They desperately need someone to listen to them. Someone who genuinely understands how they feel. Someone who can comfort and encourage them. Someone like you. Because as this article "Why The Nicest People Have Suffered The Most Damage In Life' so eloquently states, your worst days gave you gifts you could not have received any other way. Thank you for making the choice to be better, not bitter... And for using your precious gifts to bless others. Cover Contents Books Home Hire Stories  Original Facebook post December 2, 2013
Whoever wrote this love letter to his friends must have been a saint. (Lutherans are quietly chuckling at this church humor.) But I know how Saint Paul felt when he said it in Philippians 1:3. Sometimes I wake up thinking of new friends and old friends and I just have this wave of gratitude for them. I used to keep those feelings to myself - we Lutherans are kinda reserved like that - but then I lost a few of my old friends before I could tell them just how much I appreciated them. So now I do my best to speak from my heart. And no matter how awkward and uncomfortable it is, I'm always glad I did. Often times they are too. So, this post is gentle reminder to share the love you have in your heart with those who have touched your life. It just might make a difference of biblical proportions (cue more soft chuckling from Lutherans). :-) Cover Contents Books Home Hire Stories  Original Facebook post December 21, 2014
I have been blessed to work with some of the strongest people in the world. Most of them came to realize that their enormous strength was a gift they could use to inspire, encourage and support others. In this season dedicated to peace and joy, there are many who are silently suffering heartbreak, loss, discouragement, betrayal and loneliness. So when someone who is strong in some area of life cares enough about them to reach out, it can make all the difference in the world - for those who receive and for those who give. May God bless you abundantly this Christmas and guide you where to use your strength in the service of others. Cover Contents Books Home Hire Stories  Original Facebook post December 3, 2012
I heard this parody (above) of the famous poem, "Footprints in the sand" (below) in church and it made me smile. I hope it has the same effect on you. Last night I had a dream. I dreamed I was walking along the beach with the Lord. Across the sky flashed scenes from my life. For each scene, I noticed two sets of footprints in the sand: one belonged to me, the other to the Lord. After the last scene of my life flashed before me, I looked back at the footprints in the sand. I noticed that at many times along the path of my life, especially at the very lowest and saddest times, there was only one set of footprints. This really troubled me, so I asked the Lord about it. "Lord, you said once I decided to follow you, You'd walk with me all the way. But I noticed that during the saddest and most troublesome times of my life, there was only one set of footprints. I don't understand why, when I needed You the most, You would leave me." The Lord replied, "My son, my precious child, I love you and I would never leave you. During your times of suffering, when you could see only one set of footprints, it was then that I carried you." Cover Contents Books Home Hire Stories  Excerpt from America The Beautiful: Chapter 16: Life Les-sons From The Road.
When someone invites you into their home they are also inviting you into their life. And since we never really know what people are going through, we won’t know how or why we can bless them unless we truly listen...On this trip I had the opportunity to listen, comfort, support and encourage some people who were going through some really, really tough times. Here are a few examples. I just sat down to lunch with a friend when he received a call from his Doctor telling him he had cancer. I consoled two very strong women who broke into sobs over their at-risk children. I received a call from a grieving widow that a buddy I was planning to visit had just passed away that day. One friend told me she was living with a severely debilitating disease. Another friend was going through a divorce so devastating she was inconsolable. Yet another woman was preparing to put the love of her life into hospice where he would spend his brief remaining time on earth. One couple was scrambling to change their entire lives so they could parent teenage boys. One woman spoke how she was abused as a child, and another spoke about how she had been in a physically abusive marriage. One last thing: If you have ever suffered tragedy, profound loss, depression, injustice, heartbreak, etc. and have asked yourself, “Why me?” then this may be one of the answers. Once you have finally healed and gotten stronger and wiser, you may find you have an entirely new skill set of compassion, wisdom and empathy that you can used to truly help someone. And when and if that person just happens to be one of your hosts, you will understand that you may have been placed there to use your experience to comfort someone. Cover Contents Books Home Hire Stories  Excerpt from America The Beautiful: Chapter 6: Driving For A Purpose.
I hope to be like the little boy with the starfish. Here’s the story if you haven’t heard it before. An old man was walking the beach littered with starfish washed up after a storm. He saw a little boy bend down to pick them up, one by one, and toss them gently back into the ocean. The old man saw the futility of the intended acts of mercy and told him sadly, “There are thousands of starfish stranded on this beach. You will never be able to make a difference.” The boy paused a minute, then bent down to get another starfish and placed it back in the water. Then with a smile he replied, “I made a difference for that one.” So it is that I hope to make a positive, encouraging, supportive and life-enriching difference for some of the people I meet – be it face to face or joining me online. And I hope and pray that I am able to bless their lives as much as they are blessing mine. Cover Contents Books Home Hire Stories  Excerpt from America The Beautiful: Chapter 5: The Student Is Ready.
If you are tempted to think you have nothing to teach people, think again. There are areas of your life where you have forgotten more than most people will ever know. If you assume you have nothing that people would trade for or pay you for, stop it! The world is filled with people looking for all kinds of talent for hire. All you need to do is make the connection and set up a fair trade... All of this is to say, don’t sell yourself short. Take stock of all that you have to offer, then get creative on how you can leverage those things into getting something you really want. And don’t waste any more time doubting yourself in life because this is your journey… And it’s time for you to get on the road. Cover Contents Books Home Hire Stories  Excerpt from America The Beautiful: Chapter 16: Life Les-sons From The Road.
I’ve always liked giving little gifts and/or doing small things for others. I’ve found that a tiny kindness can go a long way toward making a big difference in someone’s life – especially if it is Divinely timed. But a couple of years ago I realized that while I was pretty good at giving I absolutely sucked at receiving. I was the guy who got something and kept repeating, “Oh no, you shouldn’t have.” And I was the guy who got invited to lunch or dinner and made a fuss about wanting to help pay the check. Then it dawned on me that I was absolutely stealing the joy from the giver. I was denying them the same pleasure of giving that I so thoroughly enjoyed. So I made a commitment to myself to be better and reinforced that with a mantra, “I am a generous receiver.” I can tell you that it made a big difference to the kind people who wanted to take me site seeing, go hike at their special places, buy me dinner in one of their favorite spots, cook me a favorite meal, bake me a pie, invite me to family events, etc. They got the joy of giving and I got the joy of receiving. And when the time was right, I was able to return their kindness and treat them to something – which made me very happy. Cover Contents Books Home Hire Stories  Original Facebook post March 3, 2014
I was walking through the desert yesterday when I came upon this old cactus. At first all I noticed was that it was bent and broken. Then I looked deeper and saw something greater. Despite everything that has come against it and left its battered toll, it was still standing. It was at that point that I felt an overwhelming compassion for all those who care for the depressed and downtrodden, the afflicted and addicted, the used and abused, the sick and dying. I know there are times where you must feel weary, inadequate, ordinary, or that what you are doing doesn’t really matter. But in the eyes of those you care for – and the One who made them – you are a miracle. Because despite everything that has come against them - and you - you are still standing by them. May God bless you for all you do and all you are. And may He continue to give you the strength, courage and support you need to answer your call in extraordinary ways. These words are dedicated to my incredible sisters who have always stood for others. If you have someone in your life who is a care giver and needs encouragement, support or recognition, please feel free to share this post with them. Cover Contents Books Home Hire Stories  Original Facebook post March 16, 2014
This post is from 2014. The leg has healed. The ego still smarts a bit. :-) I went to an awesome picnic yesterday hosted by my training partner, Jodi Low's personal development group U & Improved. Everything was going great until I decided to play kickball. I was last to be picked and never made it to first base. Which ironically is an accurate description of my dating life. Ba dum bum! (Sorry Pastor. Couldn't resist.) :-) After watching young Brian Talbot effortlessly kick a home run and drive two runs in, all while nonchalantly holding a beer, I figured "I got this". Besides, hadn't I just told Jodi that I thought I was a better athlete today than I'd ever been? Well, apparently my 23 year old mindset was writing checks my 63 year old body couldn't cover - despite all the training, stretching, blah, blah, blah that I do. So somewhere sprinting between home and first base I pulled my hamstring and went down like a wounded wildebeest. And no sooner did I stand that I fell right back down again as if Mike Tyson had punched me stupid. I finally hobbled to first base only to be called out officially – thereby adding an acrid taste of humble pie to the gravel I had gulped. I then drove home immediately to do what I tell everyone I train to do – R.I.C.E. (Rest. Ice. Compression. Elevation.). Fortunately that process, and some ibuprofen for the pain and inflammation, is healing me quickly. Now as for how to heal my bruised ego? The only remedy I can think of is a sense of humor and to use this embarrassing experience to help someone else who can learn from it. So here's my take away. Despite all our precautions and preparations, we all fall down in life. Sometimes twice in a row. And yes, the pain is a reminder of our missteps, negative experiences or bad fortune. But here’s the good part - we all have the power to let our painful mistakes become powerful lessons that will produce even greater blessings. So that’s what I’m choosing to do. And it is my hope that anyone who reads this post is encouraged to do the same thing when they fall. One more thing. I'm a writer and therefore I joke that I never let facts get in the way of a good story. So if you see me with a slight limp next week, I will simply explain that I got it while sprinting to save an infant in the path of a flaming semi truck hauling explosives. Oh, and there were terrorists shooting at me, venomous snakes and crocodiles attacking me, and my old librarian from high school dragging me by my ear until I paid an overdue fine. Yep. I like that version much better. :-) Cover Contents Books Home Hire Stories |