(and what you need to interject a little life into your life)

One of my long-time friends emailed me and said – “hey, I’ve got this cabin up in Hayward and I’ve got room for you. Do you want to do the Birkie?”

[The Birkie is a 50k cross country ski race]

I thought about it briefly. Looked at the dates. Nothing on the calendar (unusual). Thought, “hey, can’t be as hard as a marathon and I like the idea of staying in shape.”

Obviously I would need to get clearance from the home front. I asked my wife if she was cool with it. Well…she said yes, but a week or so later her comments made me think she didn’t fully understand what I was getting myself into when she originally said yes.

Anyway, that’s not the point.

The point is this – I agreed to do it because I believed I could do it.

I wrote my friend, said “yeah, I’m in” and I committed to it. Registered online just before the rates went up.

And then as I talked about it with my friends and family, they got all negative and doubty on me – “What? Are you crazy? Shouldn’t you start with something shorter? You don’t even ski!”

Then, last night, while the kids were practicing ski jumping, one friend who has done the Birkie 6 times talked about how he didn’t finish the first 2 times and how hilly it was.

(Hmm. . .ok, starting to sound like more of a challenge).

My wife still questions me about it now as do others.

My point is still this – I believe I can do it – I committed to do it – I am going to do it. End of story.

My advice to those you may be discouraging is this – don’t get all dark on people who are going after something, believe in it, are capable of it – regardless of how crazy you think it is.

My advice to those of you who think you can do something big, outrageous, and maybe even crazy? Go for it.

There’s a reason some experts recommend that you not share your dreams with everyone - they’ll just tell you how impossible they are! (to be clear, though - it’s not like I’ve been dreaming about the Birkie!)

Anyway, I’ve got 107 (+/-) days to get ready. Just got my XC ski poles today so I can practice with the inline skates. . .I’ll keep you posted.

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I just passed my 40th birthday. There are many things I would like to have accomplished by now. But with my aging, maybe I’m also gaining some better perspective as to what’s important.

One thing I had hoped to finish by now was an album/CD for which I had developed a concept well over a year ago (maybe even two?). How much progress have I made on that? Well, I have all the lyrics and a general idea for the whole album, but only recently have been able to get started doing some recording of the scratch tracks.

What I’m learning is that completing the goal may not be as important as working towards the goal. That is, the value is in “the going” and not in “the arriving.” And, as I go, some of the things that capture my time and attention – sometimes seemingly unrelated to my goals – may actually be more important to the bigger picture and even to my goals.

There’s a proverb that says, In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps.

How we get where we’re going is often much different than we thought, isn’t it?

I used to feel I needed to “pump out a ton of stuff.” Create a lot. Be prolific. Quickly! (Because that’s what leads to “success.”)

Now I’m feeling a little differently. What if that one CD is my “life work?” What if one song is all I have? What if your one book is it? One poem? One sculpture? One photograph? (I’m guessing there’s a whole lot more to our “life work” than what we create. . .)

I’m finding we need to enjoy each step. We need to pour ourselves into each moment, never blowing it off as simply something we must endure to arrive at a distant goal. This allows you and I to take the time to make each step deliberate, worthwhile, and gives us the mindset we need to actually enjoy the “now.”

Fully present. Fully engaged. Every moment.

What’s going on around you - right now - that you can’t see because you’re looking so far ahead?

–
PS I see that this is a bit like my last post. . .I guess you know where my head is at, eh?

PPS As I wrote this, I was (literally) also working on a song for my daughter – not a part of the album I mentioned above, but probably more important. Exactly the kind of thing I’m talking about here. (More on the song later. . .)

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I biked to work the other day. While I was biking, I was practicing a few dorky vocal exercises because I need to record some vocal tracks to a song before this weekend (I’ll explain after this weekend). It reminded me of a ride from over 10 years ago. I was biking from SAP in Walldorf, Germany (where I used to work) to my little dorf on the Neckar river. I was climbing a hill on a small country road. I was feeling good, had a comfortable pace, and, in my joy, began singing R.E.M.’s “I am, I am, I am Superman, and I know what’s happening. . .”

Just as I finished loudly and boldly singing that phrase, I glanced over to the small farm house I was passing. Standing there, frozen, was a young, blonde-haired teen farm girl, staring perplexedly at the crazy American. I laughed to myself and road silently on – well, silently until I knew I was out of ear shot anyway. . .

What’s funny is that I totally enjoyed that ride. Every bit of it. I can still smell the tall field grass, feel the warm sun on my back and even hear the light breeze blowing through the trees along the roadside on that late summer’s day. I wasn’t really in a hurry. I was happy to be experiencing that moment in completely new surroundings and just soak in it all.

Fast forward to my ride yesterday.

I’m biking as hard as I can, racing to get to work, pushing my heart (and legs) as hard as they can go. . . and missing everything between point A and point B.

The thing is – I actually know that life’s real meaning is found “in the journey” (and all those other clichés). Truthfully, I hate the clichés. But, unfortunately, at least in this case, it’s true. It is “in the going” that we live life. It’s where all the real “life” truly happens.

How much do we miss – around us, right now – as we race forward, focused only on the future?

Too much.

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. . .is that we rarely look/act like Christ*. (Nothing new here for some of you.)

Comments to the reluctant blogger’s political frustrations don’t surprise me. They do, however, bum me out. One commenter expressed her step away from Christianity primarily because of her negative perceptions of what Christians (or those who claim to be Christians) seem to be about.

Unfortunately, I’m sure that happens a lot.

It’s weird though. If you look at the source of this faith – that is, Jesus – you see that he had the same problem with religious people of his day. They followed all sorts of rules and tried to look righteous, but their hearts were as cold as ice.

Often times, we Christians don’t reflect what Christ was all about (myself included). Scot McKnight summarizes what Jesus was all about in his book, The Jesus Creed. He offers four memorable words as this creed: loving God, loving others. Amazingly simple, yet amazingly difficult.

And, many of us forget the second part of that little ditty. Christ was all about us loving others.

If we were to put that to work in everything we did, we’d have a much different reputation in the world. How do I know? Rewind a couple thousand years to the beginnings of the Christian church and you’ll discover that a great deal of the church growth in the first few hundred years had to do with just that – Christians loving others with reckless abandon.

If we want a better reputation in the world, if we want to impact this world, we’ve got to start showing some serious love.
–
* My apologies to those of you already rocking the world with love – I know you’ll take this in the right spirit. (For non-native English speakers, “rocking the world” is a good thing.)

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Encouragement matters.

When you see something good, or see someone using their talents or gifts for the good of others, please show these people some love by letting them know.

And I don’t just mean saying, “Good job!”

Anyone can say that – whether they experienced something good or not.

No. To make encouragement meaningful (and believable), specify what was good about what you experienced. Tell the person

1. How it impacted you
2. What specifically you liked or what specifically moved you

You may not realize this, but there are a ton of creative people out there doing amazing things – maybe even touching or impacting you – and they have no idea whether they are reaching anyone with their work.

Tell them.

The truth is that most creative people don’t get meaningful feedback.

Hugh Macleod’s first rule of how to be creative is probably right: Ignore everyone. To be creative, you do need to ignore everyone – at least what they are telling you to do. Instead, we have to listen to that still, quiet voice to direct what we create.

But it means the world to those who create when someone says,

Wow, I was really touched by the video you put together. The way you drew me in and set that scene up and then reworked it with a complete twist. Man, that hit me hard!

or

Wow, you know what? The sound in [some venue] yesterday was really good. Normally I cannot hear what the electric guitar is doing, but you took the time to make sure all the instruments on the stage were heard. Good job!

or

Whoa! That presentation was excellent! I saw the violin sitting there behind you as you spoke, but had no idea why it was there. Then, at just the right point, you introduce this incredible musician who plays an amazing piece that absolutely drives your point home. That was incredibly powerful!

or

You know what? That graphic you created to represent the cleansing power of water really moved me. It fit so well with all the other visual elements.

Giving specifics shows you really paid attention. Telling them shows you cared enough to write/say something. Telling them something good encourages them to do more.

And creating more is what creative people live for.

When you see something good, tell them. And be specific.

Spread the love.

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I’m feeling like I may be ready again. Ready to write here. I had taken time - a lot of time. I’ve journaled in the privacy of my own home, on actual paper, and worked through many things. Now, I may be back.

I’ve known about Hugh Macleod for years. Thomas at Vendorprisey hipped me to him long ago. However, I never took the time to read one of his most popular posts, entitled, “How to be creative.”

I’m going to work through that a bit. I like a lot of what he has to say (as if he could care). One of the things he says is “blog.” Well, I’ve blogged. I’ve blogged for work, and I’ve blogged for personal reasons, but I feel I haven’t achieved that level of simply blogging to share what I create.

If I continue here, as I feel I will, it will be to blog about what I create. I’ll probably open up some new areas that I haven’t yet shared, and just get some things out there. I’ll probably close down a couple categories on this site that were good ideas, but not necessarily areas about which I ever created much content. I may add a new category. A new section to the site.

If you’ve been here for a while, thanks for sticking with me. I hope you enjoy where I take this.

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I apologize for my lack of posting. The life change from home office to real office has taken some adjusting. Here’s a little something I started on a couple weeks ago.
- - -

I put up a birdfeeder last year. Right in front of my living room window. I can see it from most seated areas of the room. Mostly for finches.

A couple Mondays ago, a holiday here in the USA, I added birdseed to it. The following Tuesday, I asked my wife, Mary Elizabeth, “did you see any birds in the birdfeeder today?”

She looked at me with disbelief and ripped into me commented about how I must think she just sits around all day staring at the birdfeeder and, no, she hasn’t had any time to be lounging around staring at birds.

Back from an early morning run, a bird flying away from the feeder caught my attention.

I thought back to our conversation. It bummed me out that my spouse has no time for birds or staring at birdfeeders.

Maybe life is a little like the birdfeeder. We fill them and fill them, but we never enjoy the reason we fill them. We’re simply too busy.

Seen any birds at your birdfeeder lately?

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I read somewhere that the 8th deadly sin was busyness. Or maybe it was hurry. Either way, hurry and busyness are two terrible challenges for me. (And the reason I haven’t posted in a while.)

Over the last months Mary Elizabeth and I started to notice some changes in our dog, Bailey (13). She was drinking a ton of water and acting a little strange. She just didn’t seem herself and seemed to have lost her spark.

Well, after I finally got her checked out by the vet (and paid for a couple sets of serious blood work) they ruled out all the typical culprits (kidney failure, diabetes, Cushing’s disease). Before the results of the tests, we thought that Bailey might be “getting ready to go.” We started paying a little more attention to her. Petting her a little more often. Caring for her a bit more. Showing her some attention. Giving her some time.

Funny. She doesn’t seem to be acting as strange anymore. Sure, her joints are bothering her and she can’t go for a three-mile run like she used to. . .but. . .

Could it be that our dog was simply suffering from a lack of attention?

Mary Elizabeth and I think so.

It’s a powerful thing – attention. It takes time and effort.

Man, and if our dog suffers for a lack of it, imagine our kids.

Just something to think about.

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(This should have been posted a week ago…but I went on vacation)

I really don’t travel much for my work. Not anymore. I used to. But that’s another post.

The last 10 days have been a bit of an anomaly. 10 days, 4 countries, tons of meetings, tons of new people.

Normally, I work from home. And, for those of you who do this, you know how hard that can be. You know how everyone [who doesn’t work from home] thinks it’s so great, but they never see the challenges, the isolation, and the discipline you have to have (and which most of us do – if you want to stay credible). They also don’t see how hard it is to separate work from your home life. It all becomes one.

It’s all a part of life.

One of my visits was in Germany. My wife and I lived and worked there years ago and that experience will always be one of our favorite times. (I’m sure I’ll post on that more. . . )

Going back to Germany messes with my mind. I love the way of life. The challenge of working in another language. Working/living in another culture. You can NEVER know it all when you are in a culture other than your native culture. It’s humbling.

Even more humbling is working in countries where you really don’t know the local culture or language. I had some meetings in Brno, Czech Republic. What a cool little place. This company I was working with is filled with young, energetic, animated, and hopeful employees. Not what you might expect from the Czech Republic. I love it when my attitudes are shifted to better understanding.

I’m not sure what my point is here. I’m pensive in Philadelphia, waiting for my final flight connection home. The thrill of new people, new cultures and simply touching other lives is so refreshing that it messes with all of my “what I want to do when I grow up” thoughts.

Would I give up “what” I do just to be in a specific type of environment – almost regardless of what it was I was doing to be there? That’s an interesting question.

I’ll ponder that on my next flight. Thankfully, this trip has been smoother than my last business travel.

Maybe I’ll stop all my lofty questions when I get home, hug my wife and kids, and simply be thrilled with all the great things/work/situations I already have.

That would be something.

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On the road for work. Parked at brother-in-law’s in suburban Chicago and grabbed a taxi to the airport. Interesting driver. Syrian medical doctor. Came to America to pursue the dream. Got married, nasty divorce and now his ex-wife is basically ruining any chance he has at grabbing the dream. (Screwing up his American residency.)

Obviously, I cannot know both sides of the story. (I’m sure he helped screw up the marriage too.)

What a crazy position I was in. I have the entire world in comparison to what he has. He is well educated, moved for a better life (took a huge risk, I imagine), and is at the bottom of the American food chain (or, perhaps better said, working a position far below his abilities).

He feels robbed, lied to by the American media, by Baywatch. . .(he brought that up, not me.)

His skin color continues to weigh him down in America – a land he animatedly referred to as 100% racist. (I politely disagreed with the full 100%, but do not deny that we have problems.)

He’ll likely be deported at his next immigration court date (April 13) because his visa is expired and because of some legal complications surrounding his ex-wife.

I’ve often asked myself (and God) why I was born into the (relative) wealth I was. A relatively easy life. A life that I’m so quick to complain about.

I’m trying to stop asking that question and simply give my life the best return on investment possible.

[time passes]

I finished Lawler Kang’s book, Passion at Work on the plane. In the last chapter he talks once again about all the “x-factors” that happen – things you cannot plan for – the unexpected – both good and bad. He also talks about avoiding the “victim” status. How it’s a dangerous trap that will steer you away from realizing your goals.

I wonder if I could avoid feeling the victim if I experienced the unexpected life of my cab driver.

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