Goals are important — they help us think beyond ordinary outcomes. They’re also a burden, because aiming farther requires more of us (and others). Every historical marvel cost time, money, rest, relationships, alternate opportunities, and lives. Stepping back, achieving goals is really about perseverance, which entails strength of character, sacrifice, and encouragement. Not all goals […]
Category: Influence & leadership
Seven things I learned about community from a Louis L’Amour Western.
Ninety people in a theatre aren’t a community — they’re strangers sharing an experience. The same is true for passengers on a plane or shoppers in a store. Community is the product of shared ownership and a commitment to the common good. There are many good books on developing community, but the best portrayal I’ve […]
Patrick O’Brian on the storms of life
The tempests of life don’t always surprise us. Some we’ve faced before, and we often see them coming. When that’s the case, it helps to remember the experience. There’s an episode in Patrick O’Brian’s The Wine-Dark Sea that features four common stages of a storm. Though no two trials are identical, these stages rang true for me. […]
Aspiration or Calling
We all feature an aspirational side — the vision to be or achieve something. Aspiration adds lift to any endeavor, and often fuels sacrifice. On the flip side, calling suggests a responsibility to do or become something. You’re holding the baton and it’s up to you. Biblical history overflows with calling. Noah was called to build the ark, which […]
Adam had it all.
Consider Adam, the very first person. He was perfect, lived in Paradise, and enjoyed limitless opportunity. He had authority, creative freedom, and a face-to-face friendship with the Creator of the universe. Imagine having a face-to-face friendship with God! Going for walks, discussing ideas, and even asking questions about the complexities of Creation. Please explain the science […]
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