driving in traffic July 26, 2010
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driving in traffic
Name some things in life that slow you down. It’s not just traffic; though that can be a real nuance sometime, or, twice a day…, everyday. But there are other things in life that slow you down as well. Waiting for other people to finish their piece of a project so you can get started on your piece. Solving a problem that just won’t resolve. Depression/Anger (flip a coin). Conflicting class schedules. Delayed Passports, flight departures, turkey’s baking, kids, retarded gas-pumps, check-out lines, Bank processes, taxi’s, broken down equipment (tractors, oil rigs, irrigation pumps, hydraulic compressors, pens that run out of ink), kids again, and, of course, traffic.
Then, at some point along the journey we call life, we find out we are slowing ourselves down. Getting stuck in a job, afraid to move forward. Fear of failure. Lackadaisical about learning—we just quit thinking. Emotional grey-toned—no passion for anything, anyone, nada. We find ourselves living with a total lack of interest or energy for anything: truly, we are merely existing, one foot in front of the other, no deviation from the pattern, day-in, day-out. You come to be at ease with the laborious pace of driving in traffic. Brake—go. Brake—go. Brake—go. Brake—go.
So, what’s the secret to breaking free from things that slow you down in life? For starters, hit the gas with these ideas—
1. Frustration—determination—more frustration—resolution—MORE FRUSTRATION—Action! DO something to get moving.
2. Find a friend, a mate, who will listen, but also advise you, either professionally or personally.
3. Kick yourself in the, well, you know; and if you’re not up to it, ask someone you trust to do it! Stop whining.
4. In the Christian Scripture there is some good advice— “Commit your work to the Lord and your plans will be established.” (Proverbs 16:3) An admonishment well heeded.
5. Learn to overcome fear with either sheer determination or adamant, blind shots-in-the-dark. Both will get you through.
6. Corroborate with companions, stronger than yourself, who will let you draw on their strength, willingly.
There will always be traffic; there will always be things in life that will slow you down. The trick is to not get stuck.
In closing, as a reward, for those of you with greater ambition, I leave you with this. And if you have to ask… .
Have a nice week.
Gary
no dark in day July 26, 2010
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EmPulse for Week of July 19, 2010
no dark in day
There is no dark in day
In the world of work…, and play
For clear is light, with eyes bright
We are not captive to night, to sadness, to a heart wrenched dry
We need not surrender to the empty void within, nor without
For our soul was forged from tougher stuff, tempered gold, alloyed metal—
Strength of spirit, confident in conflict, assured of our bearing
We are no weaklings, thrashing under plan and program
Scurrying to meet deadlines that to others matter
Rather, we know meaning, purpose, cause, and triumph
In the daily crunch of life, yes, but in so much more
We find…
A reason to live, to be alive, nere dead inside, nor to any in need
Alive
To celebrate, to give, to bless, to care
To serve and be of consequence; to honor— God, friends, family, and faith
Faith that this world may never become any better than it is
But, with God’s grace, and strength, and mercy, and forgiveness—
We will
There is no dark in day
Have a nice week.
Gary
course corrections July 12, 2010
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EmPulse for Week of July 12, 2010
course corrections
Navigating the twists & turns of everyday life often involves some minor adaptations we call course corrections. These are mere practice lessions for the major course corrections we will have to negotiate when our lives sail through rougher seas. Going off to school, becoming responsible for our own lives, getting married, getting divorced, starting a family, losing a job, being fired, losing our parents, burying a child, a wife, a husband— none of these events are simple matters to endure; some are painful, some, oddly exciting. Any one of these experiences will bring on the occasion for a major course correction. This will be the time when our true metal will be tested and refined.
How we negotiate a course correction will determine, to a large degree, who we become on the other side of the circumstances. Not all of us handle change very well. A worst-case scenario occurs when we stand by idly and wait to see what happens. We simply relinquish any control and responsibility we might have to influence the outcome of a situation. Just short of this kind of passivity is the position of avoidance— we avoid facing a course correction by sticking to our guns and maintaining the original course direction we set, even though it leads us into catastrophic wreckage. We need to pay attention to that funny little voice in the back of our head sometime; and we should carefully consider the insights of close friends who know us well.
Course corrections always demand that we change. Whether it be a shift in corporate ethos, personal perception, or team realignment, course corrections acknowledge changes in societal wind direction that demand we steer our course on another heading. On a corporate level, this will mean uprooting offices, families, relationship networks…, the whole kit & caboodle. On an individual scale it may mean admitting that you just might have been wrong about some cherished traditions or practices that are no longer appropriate on this new bearing. It may mean it’s time to learn a different perspective on things.
Advice on Navigating Life’s Course Corrections—
1. Establish a set of core values which are non-negotiable, which are central to any course correction. How will this course corrections challenge my/our core values?
2. Ponder the implications of a course correction. What will I gain? What will I lose? What will I have to let go of? How big a risk is this new direction?
3. Run a potential problem analysis (thank you Charles Kepner & Ben Tregoe) on each course of direction.
a. What might go wrong if we stay the original course?
b. What might go wrong if we change bearings and set a new course direction?
4. Find a set of friends with different perspectives than your own and have them play “devil’s advocate” with you.
5. Think through things. Stop thinking. Put everything up on a shelf for a week. Look at it again.
6. Pray…, but listen, too. You really need to listen for the input of the God who made you.
Course corrections are a part of life; get used to them. Do not try to circumnavigate them; the earth is flat, it has boundaries, and you will fall off if you sail too far off course. Better to settle on a new bearing and take the helm on the new course correction.
Have a nice week.
Gary
deep waters July 5, 2010
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EmPulse for Week of July 5, 2010
deep waters
“Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water, but a man of understanding will draw it out.”
[Proverbs of Solomon 20:5 NKJV]
Deep water can mean different things to different people. For some it means going through hard times, for others it is deep thought that draws them into self-reflection and serious evaluation. Sometimes it means you’re just in over your head. Whatever it is, deep water runs deep…, deep into the heart of a man, a woman, and draws upon our life experiences for counsel, wisdom, direction, and answers. Every one of us has this stream flowing deep within our being. Some try to avoid its current and cling to branches in our surface lives; but it is still there, surging below. Others seem constantly pulled under by its flow, always seeking to resolve the disparity between its course and the direction of their lives.
Deep water beckons us to ponder ultimate questions— Who am I? What am I doing with my life? How much time do I have left to make a difference? What kind of husband, wife, son, or daughter am I? Do I matter anywhere? These are the kinds of questions we all need to ask ourselves on a regular basis (yearly?) They are self-assessment questions. [For other approaches go to http://www.soon.org.uk/question.htm, or http://www.personalityquiz.net/ ] Questions that are designed to help us to come more in touch with ourselves, with how we come across to other people and with how they view us.
The better each of us understand ourselves, the more we will understand our role in society, in a family, on the job, and even at leisure. (We need to know what relaxes us just as much as we need to know what motivates us and gets us out of bed in the morning.) Some of us seek counsel to understand ourselves better. This is not an admission of mental illness, or some personality disorder, but rather an acknowledgment that having a guide to help sort through all the history just makes sense. The guide can be a wise friend, or a professional counselor. Doesn’t matter. But we all need someone to swim with us in the deep waters.
Two wrap-up questions:
1. Do you have some unsettled questions about life, in your own deep waters, where you could use a guide, someone who might offer you some wise counsel?
2. Is there someone for whom you need to be “a man (or a woman) of understanding?” Someone who needs a person exactly like you to walk into their life, who will take the time to win the right to be heard, who will have the patience to be invited deeper in, and then who will bring just the right Truth that is needed at just the right time?
If you answered yes to either of these two questions, make sure you are first in close touch with the God who made you…, and that you hold tight to a deep discernment concerning your own soul. Now…, go for it!
Have a nice week.
Gary
side effects (read at your own peril) July 1, 2010
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side effects (read at your own peril)
So many medications come with WARNINGS about their serious side effects.
Do not take XXXX if you take nitrates, as this may cause a sudden, unsafe drop in blood pressure. Discuss your general health status with your doctor… . If you are older than age 65…, consult with your primary care physician before using this medication.
In rare instances, a sudden decrease or loss of vision has been reported. If you experience sudden decrease or loss of vision, stop taking XXXX, and call a doctor right away. Sudden decrease or loss of hearing has been rarely reported in people taking XXXX. If you experience sudden decrease or loss of hearing, contact a doctor right away.
The most common side effects of XXXX are headache, minor memory loss, diarrhea and vomiting. Less commonly, hallucinations, blurred vision, or sensitivity to light may briefly occur. In some instances loss of use of the limbs or death has also been reported; but this is rare.
With these kinds of accompanying Warnings it is a wonder anyone would dare take any kind of medication! Where is our trust in the pharmaceutical industry being compromised by legalize language? Do the benefits of our medications truly outweigh the possible side effects? Don’t misunderstand, modern medicine is a miracle workers dream come true. What we take for granted today, Aspirin and Penicillin, weren’t even known slightly over a century ago. These were miracle drugs throughout the last century, and we are still discovering more of their surprising uses today.
Still, so many things that are truly good for us always seem to come with warnings of possible detrimental side effects. Power tools (not safe for children), fine whiskey (alcoholism), or gourmet food (high cholesterol/obesity), and just about ALL medications (for legal protection). Some things should come with Warnings— Bugatti Veyrons (don’t ask…), 5 blade razors (ouch!), children (loss of privacy & and any life of your own), and even the Christian faith. Yes, the Christian faith should come with a WARNING about its side effects, just like children should.
Some side effects of faith that have been reported— first, a sense of lightness comes over you, like a great weight has been lifted off. Second, you start to perceive reality & people differently, as having intrinsic value. Then, you begin to assemble a worldview where things start hanging together instead of merely being strung together. Fourth, you start to understand your place in the grand scheme of things. You are not the center of the universe; you are a humble creation, gratefully in love with your Creator. The whole Jesus-Savior, Creation-Fall-Redemption-Fulfillment thing starts to really ring true. Finally, you start to care— about world situations, the poor, injustice, AIDS, your community, having integrity, your family, people at work, even strangers asking for $$$ on the street. There are serious side effects to the Christian faith that come upon a person when they get serious about facing the God who made them.
OR, you could continue taking XXXX, ignoring the warnings of possible detrimental side effects, and die an excruciating death. Your choice. [Did I mention there are also detrimental side effects to ignoring the claims of your Creator on your life. You have been warned!] And DO enjoy your children; you’ll get your life back someday, maybe-sorta.
Have a nice week.
Gary
