The "One-Lane" Road

Note that the title of this blog post is not “One-Way” road – it’s “One-Lane” road. That’s what the sign read, the sign that was washed up on the shore, face down and under a few inches of gravel and sand, about 50 yards from where a similar orange sign washed up about two years ago that read, “Road Narrows”.

That’s where I found the sign, quite by happenstance, while investigating an odd piece of flotsam that had washed ashore after an early New England winter storm. That freak item I was investigating from my kayak was a port-a-potty!
When I told a friend about this uncanny reoccurrence of a sign washing up on the shore where I regularly paddle, he said, “You’d better get pictures because no one will believe it. That stretch of shoreline, my friend, is your Mount Sinai”.

The “re-occurrence” refers to the subject of my January and February 2010 blogs and a sign that read, “Road Narrows” (photo included at that January 2010 post on this Blog).

“Road Narrows” infers that the road is about to narrow ahead. And so it did and has since that day in early 2010. The narrowing has not been as constraining as I had thought it might have been but rather a refining and an enriching experience. The “narrowing” has been; me joining a small enterprise that, with hard work, is now turning and may be beginning to flourish and (by the grace of God) I’ve published a book titled; Fruition ~ Reflections on a life grafted-in. And there have been so many other rich episodes along that narrowing road.

“Road Narrows” infers that the road will be narrowing – up ahead. It’s a warning, or rather, an advisory of things to come - a promise – something to anticipate. So this new sign had me contemplating the significance of what seemed to be a continuation of that advisory. “Road Narrows” to “One-Lane” road. For starters, this new sign suggested a present condition, the way that things are. The road has indeed “narrowed”. Had it narrowed to a “One-Lane” road?

What exactly is a “One-Lane” road?

In our town we don’t have alternate side of the street parking regulations and so we have many thoroughfares that, over time, have practically “become” one-lane roads. This does not mean that they are “one way” roads. And when cars are parked on both sides of those roads, or when it snows, those “one-lane” roads – well - narrow. But that’s not where I’m going with this. You see, on a “one-lane” road, either direction has the right of way and requires cooperation to navigate a single block. Don’t try to turn around. Once you’ve committed to a block – you stay the course to the end.

My wife and I have a favorite local restaurant. Crossing town to get there requires that we take local streets that inevitably lead us to a few of these “one-lane” roads. It is inevitable that we will find ourselves halfway down a block and confronted by an adversary coming the other way. Two cannot pass side-by-side – one must yield. And so a driveway or an open parking pace becomes a point of yielding so the other car may pass. The yielder will pull off in anticipation of the impossible close-quarters situation and so signal with a headlight flash, receiving the appreciated counter flash from the other as the “one lane” road travelers pass like ships in a restricted channel executing a proper and dignified “one whistle” passage. I enjoy that headlight flash exchange – especially when I initiate it. I don’t know the person on the other end – but we connect there for a moment in the execution of that maneuver of courtesy.

Some (many?) avoid such precious opportunities for a gentile encounter. It’s somehow tragic that one might take the easy exit of a quick right or left hand turn to avoid dealing with the encounters presented by a “one-lane” road. That option costs in the “going around the block” and the missed opportunity to dispense a little grace or to accept the grace of a stranger.

So, what is a “One-Lane” road? It is NOT a “One Way”. It is frequently narrow. It presents the opportunity for close encounters with others - strangers. It provides an opportunity to express charity and the receive it. It is wise to proceed slowly on a “One Lane” road because you never know what may enter from the right or the left, from between parked cars or from a hidden driveway. You cannot pass a slower traveler on a “One Lane” road – patience will be tested. Entering such a road one is committed to traveling in one direction. Turning around (changing one’s mind) is difficult if not impossible.

The other day my wife and I were on our way to that favorite restaurant of ours. We were traveling down one of those “One Lane” roads. We had to yield to an oncoming vehicle and pulled over into a vacant spot in front of a charming old Victorian home. Headlight flashes were exchanged. I was anxious to get going and the other vehicle was moving particularly slow. My patience was waning a little but I was committed so I forced myself to de-focus on the passing for a moment and look around. It was then when I noticed the Christmas lighting of that Victorian home. It was like an exquisite old classic Christmas card. In fact many of the other homes along that street were equally dazzling in their Christmas adornment.

The passing car was long gone when we pulled out of our choice parking spot along that “One Lane” road to proceed to … oh yes … dinner.

Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy New Year and - - - all the best!

Bill

Discordant But Not Discarded

I recently attended the Desiring God “Finish The Mission” Conference in Minneapolis hosted by Pastor John Piper. The kickoff message on opening night was delivered by Louie Giglio. Giglio pastors a church in Atlanta and is renowned for his contemporary Christian music, Campus Crusade for Christ activities and his astronomically oriented message titled, “Indescribable”. I recommend that you do a search for and watch any of the versions of “Indescribable” that you can find on the internet. You can watch Giglio’s message from the Desiring God Conference here (watch it to the end because the end is – well - “symphonically” wonderful):

http://www.desiringgod.org/resource-library/conference-messages/the-global-god-who-gives-the-great-commission#/watch/full

If you watched the video you will be in-tune with the remainder of this blog. [Without ruining the surprise content of Giglio’s message, what you experience is the unedited, orchestral resonating proclamations of creatures and celestial bodies as if they were all programmed to express their creation in acknowledgement of their Creator].

My 83 year old father has been an amateur astronomer, star gazer and student of quantum physics for as long as I can remember. Knowing his passion for observing the wonders of the heavens I kept thinking … boy would he like this Louie Giglio piece. So I sent my Dad an email with the link. His response came a day later;

“CAELI ENARRANT GLORIAM DEI !!!!! (Psalm 19). How true. Right on! While the music was playing, a small fruit fly came out from somewhere and danced all over my monitor screen. My first impulse was to kill it with a finger press but it dodged successfully so I let it go. It stayed ‘til the end of the music and then disappeared. Awesome! Whales and fruit flies are in tune. Are we in tune?”
My Dad’s reaction and question stopped me. That was a pretty profound reaction. From the smallest to the largest .. and what about us – mankind?

And so after a bit of thought this is what came to mind in response;

Although created for Him but different from all other creation – created in His image - we (mankind) seem to be out of tune - discordant. Something is amiss, something went wrong, terribly wrong. We are distant and out of tune while all of the rest of creation is focused on Him. Perhaps the restlessness expressed by Saint Augustine in his familiar statement; “God, You created us for Yourself and our hearts are restless until they find their rest in Thee.” is our manuifestation of the discord. All of creation in resonance - mankind (of all creation) oddly struggling out of tune.

Our Creator, who loves us - pursues us. And thank God for His indescribable gift - that through Jesus Christ - resonance, harmony, accord and relationship are restored!

My voice will be stronger and more deliberate when I next sing in worship. All the heavens do indeed proclaim His glory and all creation resonates with praise! Me too.

All the best!

Bill

Wedding Reflections

My niece got married on Labor Day weekend. The wedding quickened a memory that some time back it had occurred to me that the woman I married many years ago - when I see her - is not the person that others will see.

I met my wife when we were both 19 years old. We’ve been married now for over thirty years and if you meet my wife, the woman you will see is not at all the woman that I see.

What I see is an amalgam of my wife at 19 and every year in between. What I see is a sweetheart, a lover, a woman becoming a mother in the throes of childbirth, a playful partner with a coquettish smile and a sparkle in her eye that slays me every time, a mother bathing her children, a beautiful women - her face caressed by soft candle light - across the table from me in a romantic little Paris restaurant.

I see a strong, fearless, soaking wet woman perched on the heaving bow pulpit of our sailboat reaching out precariously for a mooring buoy as we make anchorage in the midst of a storm. I see a woman going under sedation for surgery and coming out of it on the other end. I see a woman shedding tears of grief and anguish at the loss of a loved one, or of melancholy at the end of a sentimental movie or of joy upon the realization that God has indeed moved in her life in a very personal way.

I see her blushing, laughing, frowning. I see her brow furrowed and lips pursed the way they do when I watch her so absorbed reading a book.

Oh, there is so much more that “I” see that you or anyone will never see. And I see it all together every time I see my wife.

Many years ago it struck me that the mirrors in our home have captured the reflections of our lives and the images of this woman I love along the way. Perhaps somewhere and in some dimension, those reflections still exist. For me they are recorded, embellished by sentiment, in my memory. That day I beckoned my wife to come join me in front of a mirror to look at ourselves and “reflect”. And so a little tradition started.
For close family members who are getting married I prepare a unique wedding token. It is a simple framing of a mirror beside a poem I was inspired to write titled, “Wedding Reflections”

Wedding Reflections

A bond today, commitments made and holy vows exchanged,
a young and hopeful image cast … sincere and unafraid.

This steadfast argent portal will record with object truth,
the passing days and life’s extremes … and temptor’s sly reproofs.

But through it all you won’t despair; for in your love abounds,
a certain bliss that overcomes the fallen-ness that surrounds.

With every year and trial the overcoming strengthens,
as Master molds you bonded ones whom lovingly He chastens.

What life, what pact, was ever good that was not ever tested?
So let no blemish quench you that ever is reflected.

As decades pass, life rushes on, and as you steer your courses,
the rocks and shoals will take their tolls upon your scant resources.

Be mindful that this portal sees the subtle changes shape,
that day by day you won’t perceive but will appreciate.

So come before this mirror from time to time and see,
The gentle way His guiding hand has made your marriage be.

Reflect.
All the best!

Bill

An Octopus' Garden

“A dream you dream alone is only a dream. A dream you dream together is reality.” ~ John Lennon ~

You know the lyrics -

“I'd like to be, under the sea
in an octopus' garden in the shade.
He'd let us in, knows where we've been
in his octupus' garden, in the shade.
We would be warm, below the storm,
in our little hideaway beneath the waves.
Resting our head, on the sea bed,
in an octopus' garden near a cave …”(Excerpted from The Beetle’s – "Octopus’ Garden")

Don’t those lyrics deliver a soothing pulse of security and symbiosis? How about this finale;

“… How it would be, until you try to flee,
his eight arms firmly grasping you to stay!”



Entanglement strategies can be very effective for enterprise success. Like the quotation above – “a dream you dream together …” can be reality to the extent that you are involved in more than arms-length transactional business with your business partners everywhere along the supply chain.

Why not embed some unique and beneficial elements of your business into the workings of your suppliers and customers that will make your relationship more securely interdependent and influential as a whole? It’s the whole concept of virtual organizations coming to life. Data-sharing, packaging and labeling standards and electronic funds transferring all facilitate seamless business transactions and lower the costs of business. They entangle while providing commercial benefit in both directions. Customers so entangled are hard pressed to jump out of a relationship on a passing quality glitch, late shipment or spot price opportunity. Rebates, pull-through marketing that effects downstream brand recognition and customer loyalty incentives are forms of marketing and financial entanglement as well. They are all investments in a relationship for sustainable growth. They also ensure a “win-win” relationship bias that mitigates the second guessing that goes on in arms length relations that distract the participants from focusing on the value- added operations that they individually contribute and do best.

I once worked for a manufacturer that had achieved ISO9000 certification. With that certification we had developed valuable expert knowledge of that process and we leveraged it as an entanglement strategy by offering free seminars on the certification process to our customers. We did the same with other systems and methods talents we had acquired in the course of improving our own infrastructure. The same could be done with just about any generally recognized business system, practice, tool or compliance protocol that you may have mastered for your own purposes.

Maybe you have a particular expertise in Lean practices or the use of social media in marketing. Package it and offer knowledge transfer to your customers as a value-added service - send your managers out as trainers. A valuable by-product of such strategies is that your managers become better administrators when they begin to train others.

But beware; entanglement is no replacement for true value.

In life every relationship gets tested for authenticity. Sometimes a relationship that looked good on the surface begins to manifest signs of a bad sort of entanglement. There are times when disentanglement is in order when unhealthy, suffocating or distracting influences divert energy away from honest, free, profitable and worthy ventures. There is practical application of a biblical principal found in the Second Book of Timothy in Chapter 2 where it is written, “No soldier in active service entangles himself in the affairs of everyday life, so that he may please the one who enlisted him as a soldier.” So, use entanglement strategies for genuine relationship building and beware of the potential for its unscrupulous use on you.

"The biggest break in my career was getting into the Beatles in 1962. The second biggest break since then is getting out of them." ~ George Harrison ~
All the Best!
Bill

The Beginning of Wisdom

Dare I touch this topic?

Someone once said, “Wisdom is passion without emotion” . A speaker used that quote in the context of a speech about aging and maturity. I liked the quote when I first heard it but it began to work on me. The elements are appealing; wisdom, passion and emotion. To string those three words together in one related context is masterful. But is the sentence accurate? And so a pause and some meditation on Wisdom must follow …

Rolling that quotation around in my head, the word “emotion” became the sticking point. How can one have passion without some measure of emotion? Too much emotion can be bad, but emotion is fundamental to who we are as human beings. Emotion is central to the human condition. And isn’t there “good” emotion? I confuse passion with emotion. So, let’s go to the definitions to sort things out; Emotion = 1. A mental state that arises spontaneously rather than through conscious effort and is often accompanied by physiological changes; a feeling: the emotions of joy, sorrow, reverence, hate, and love. 2. A state of mental agitation or disturbance. 3. The part of the consciousness that involves feeling; sensibility. I suppose that “emotion” is summed up for me as being my personal reaction to things based on my world view, values and perspective relative to me.

Okay, now “passion”. Passion = 1. The state of being acted upon or affected by something external, especially something alien to one's nature or one's customary behavior. Honestly, that's not exactly what I expected it to mean. I'm glad I looked it up. Passion, as defined, is not "of" me. I thought it was something, part of me, mine, that rose up and inspired me. And I guess that's true, but now I realize, by the definition, that my passions affect me and act upon me from something "other than" me. I don't affect them. This begs the question; Where do they originate? For the moment, I'll just accept that they exist as I begin to realize that to understand my passions, whatever they are and where ever they are from, and to live in and by them will require an other-centeredness and other-consciousness.

So, the greater the maturity the lesser the emotion … the point of the quotation ... and the greater my giving of myself to my passions. Passion and emotion may be mixed but wisdom may suffer. The beginning of true wisdom is where emotion is restrained, disciplined and even set aside. It dawns on me that true passion points toward purpose and so passion, purpose and wisdom are related. Will I then be wisest when I give myself to my passions toward a purpose?


Wisdom is a broad topic of discussion. It might be broken into themes such as; The Beginning of Wisdom, The Path Toward Wisdom, The Pursuit of Wisdom, The Attainment of Wisdom, The Refining of Wisdom, Wisdom through Discernment and The End of Wisdom. All worthy themes for in-depth discussion.

I invite readers to share and comment on what Wisdom is to them and offer a favorite quotation on the subject.

To “prime the pump” I’ve searched out a few quotations on what I would call the “beginning” of Wisdom from a sampling of varied sources and of varying world views. Here they are;

"Honesty is the first chapter in the book of wisdom.“ ~ Thomas Jefferson

“The doorstep to the temple of wisdom is a knowledge of our own ignorance.” ~ Charles Spurgeon

“In wisdom gathered over time I have found that every experience is a form of exploration.” ~ Ansel Adams

“Wisdom comes only when you stop looking for it and start living the life the Creator intended for you.” ~ American Indian Proverb

“The saddest aspect of life right now is that science gathers knowledge faster than society gathers wisdom.” ~ Isaac Asimov

“Fear is the main source of superstition, and one of the main sources of cruelty. To conquer fear is the beginning of wisdom.” ~ Bertrand Russell

"By three methods we may learn wisdom: First, by reflection, which is noblest; Second, by imitation, which is easiest; and third by experience, which is the bitterest.“ ~ Confucius

“Wisdom consists of the anticipation of consequences.” ~ Norman Cousins

“Information can yield knowledge. But knowledge does not become wisdom until it is humbled before God.” ~ Anon.

“Gossip ends at a wise person’s ears.” ~ Anon.

The Serenity Prayer; “God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference. Living one day at a time; Enjoying one moment at a time; Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace; Taking, as He did, this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it; Trusting that He will make all things right if I surrender to His Will; That I may be reasonably happy in this life and supremely happy with Him Forever in the next. Amen." ~ Reinhold Niebuhr

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths." ~ Proverbs 3:5-6

There are myriad papers, volumes, quotations and commentary on the topic of wisdom. Most everyone has something to share on the topic. Could it be a central component of the three questions every person has; Why am I here? What’s my purpose? Where do I go from here - what's next? Could wisdom be central to the mystery of existence? Are passion, purpose and wisdom central to the mystery of existance?

Wisdom, contemplation and meditation seem to go hand in hand. One of my favorite verses in the Bible suggests deliberate and regular meditation on a string of descriptives and identifiers for elements of a life experience marked by an appreciation for and practice of wisdom. Following an encouragement to be gentle, calm and to prayerfully seek and expectantly await a peace that surpasses all understanding, the Apostle Paul suggests in Philippians 4:8 that, in the meanwhile; “ … whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.”

The Bible speaks about a “worldly” wisdom versus a “spiritual” or “other worldly” wisdom. Boiled down, that struggle of “wisdoms” pits a fare-sighted view (eternal) against a shorter-sighted view (one lifetime, existential orientation).

Several words or concepts seem to be sub-components of wisdom; patience, experience, discernment, sense of responsibility, application of knowledge and truth. Perhaps these can be called the “ways” of wisdom.

Wisdom has a way of proving itself … over time. It is usually in retrospect that we appreciate the results of wisdom in action, probably because of its longer-view motives and orientation. Wisdom also seems to have a selfless or other-centered element to it. The application of wisdom does not always immediately reward the applicant and rarely does it do so directly. A greater benefit somehow results that benefits the applicant in ways he or she may not foresee. Adherence to the “ways” of wisdom is a way of conducting oneself and approaching the circumstances of life in a measured fashion in response to each turn and challenge. In many ways wisdom is appreciated from an appropriate distance - like a work of art. Too close and it loses its beauty due to lack of perspective and appreciation of scope. Too far and the impact of the wisdom is diffused.

Back to that selfless element of wisdom; the ability to take ones-self out of the equation as it were in order to see the circumstances more clearly, more objectively, on a broader plane. Maybe that’s the beginning of wisdom that Jefferson talks about when he refers to honesty. A selflessly honest approach would indeed indicate a measure of maturity. Is it then fair to say that true wisdom then is not relative but, rather, absolute, defined outside of ourselves?

It is said that it is in our losses and defeats that the elements of wisdom are discovered and tested; the courage to get up and keep going, perseverance, focus on the greater good, patience, grace and humility. This is also character. Wisdom reflects character.

We have now drifted toward the philosophical, so let’s briefly ponder the meaning of philosophy;
1. Love and pursuit of wisdom by intellectual means and moral self-discipline.
2. Investigation of the nature, causes, or principles of reality, knowledge, or values, based on logical reasoning rather than empirical methods.
3. A system of thought based on or involving such inquiry.
4. The critical analysis of fundamental assumptions or beliefs.
5. The disciplines presented in university curriculums of science and the liberal arts, except medicine, law, and theology.
6. The discipline comprising logic, ethics, aesthetics, metaphysics, and epistemology (knowledge science).
7. A set of ideas or beliefs relating to a particular field or activity; an underlying theory. A system of values by which one lives.

Here’s what I think; wisdom reflects one's character and is the conclusion of successful philosophy in action relative to a standard or truth outside of ones-self. A failed philosophy will lack wisdom in its practice. And who is the judge of wisdom? Relatively speaking, every person … and absolutely speaking, no person.

My view; A life of wisdom is an other-centered existance lived in the string of moments that constitute a life, drawing from the experiences of the past, considering with anticipation the future, actively engaged, drawing on passion, fearlessly exercising measured aggressiveness responsibly and with a sense of accountably and a heart and mind together bound and grounded on a future beyond this existance.

I know this has been a deep one. Thanks for coming out on the limb. I appreciate any comments to enrich this "beginning".

All the best!

Bill

The Fruit And The Root

“Storms make the oak grow deeper roots.” ~ George Herbert
Prolific fruit is indicative of equally prolific roots. If one could see a top-to-bottom cross sectional view of a mature oak tree, one would see a vast root network that somewhat mirrors the grandeur of the trees above-ground trunk, limbs and branches. Depending on the soil type and presence of ledge and rock, one would see deep roots and many shallower spreading roots. Rocks would be avoided, engulfed or split as the roots grew. The robustness and scope of the root network would also indicate unseen environmental and circumstantial factors that would have impacted the trees need to draw deeper and wider in the face of above-ground hardship and adversity.

Perhaps the most majestic and oldest of tress on our planet are the great Redwoods or Giant Sequoias of the Pacific Northwest. These mammoth trees tower nearly three hundred feet or more and boast trunks thirty feet in diameter. They are covered with bark three feet thick. You’ve probably seen pictures of redwoods with carved tunnels through which an automobile is driving. If you have ever stood beside one of these trees it is a humbling experience and one that conjures images of “Jurassic Park”. By ring counting, some of the trees are estimated to be 3,500+ growing seasons old.

Interestingly, despite their potent attributes as individual trees, Redwoods only exist in groves. You won’t find a Redwood growing or standing alone. Because of the geological strata where they flourish, Redwoods have relatively shallow root structures. To compensate, they spread their roots far and wide. They also do something else quite extraordinary; they intertwine root systems with those of neighboring Redwoods. This root networking provides stability for all who are interconnected. One tree can attribute its ability to stand to the support of its neighbors.

Redwoods also depend on frequent forest fires to promote their growth. The periodic fires clear the forest floor for seeds to grow and the heat from the fires is required to open the conifers from which the seeds come. If regular fires do not occur, dead wood, organic matter and other flammable growth can be allowed to accumulate in excess such that when a fire does come – it can be harmful. Nonetheless, the 3 foot bark insulates the trees from most fires. Regular “refining” fire is healthy.

So let’s get this straight. Redwoods congregate in groups, require regular refining fire in order to grow and rely on vast intertwined root networks for stability – roots that are safe from the fires and thick skins to resist scorching. Sounds like the design for a church.

God’s garden has a similar root structure that employs two dynamics; His provision and our interconnectedness. When I first became a Christian I was struck with the idea that I was part of a living organism called the Body of Christ and that we were the Church. Some were the eyes, some the feet, some the hands and hair. If one member was injured the rest felt the pain. I was connected and “felt”. This was different. This was special. My body a temple, part of a body, also a temple and each of us “…living stones that God has assembled into His spiritual temple" (1 Peter 2:5).

Fundamental to our relationship and connectedness with God and each other called for His purpose is that at the source is the root and at the other end is the fruit. Grafted into His body and life we, as grafted-in branches, are initially closely oriented toward the sustaining trunk and main limbs wherein we have been grafted. It is close to the trunk that we are discipled and nourished with the equipping teachings and encouragement of our brothers and sisters – our mentors and those called to be our teachers. This equipping may take years and is a function of our complete surrender to a new source and flow of resource that is not of ourselves. The foundations of our faith are formed there in the shade and, in season, the effectiveness of our preparation results in an irresistible budding of growth as our branch stirs into action and a life of active, fruitful service that pushes outward to the extremities and toward the light.

“The roots of education are bitter, but the fruit is sweet.” ~ Aristotle
All the best! Bill

The Freedom To Be Imperfect

“My imperfections and failures are as much a blessing from God as my successes and my talents and I lay them both at His feet.” ~ Mahatma Gandhi
A trio of family members performed a Celtic music benefit concert for a small not-for-profit in which I am involved. After the performance I sent a brief note of thanks to the leader of the trio and she sent back this response;


“I love playing with Karen (her sister) and Jacob (her son) and we truly "make music" together with a freedom to be imperfect and a freedom to try anything we feel moved to try. There is a joy in it that is hard to explain - but wonderful for us. It truly is a singular blessing and one which I have always enjoyed with them. Actually, my whole family is musical and some of the most wonderful times have been when we have shared that gift with one another. Even though I was exhausted yesterday, I was filled with "peace surpassing understanding," and it has followed me into today. Thank you for your kind words - I am delighted that you enjoyed it!”
What a liberating string of thoughts and words! What a peace – freedom to be imperfect and a freedom to try anything we feel moved to try! This woman is gifted indeed. She plays the harp and the piano with concert quality. By her own words she knows this is a gift, yet she finds joy in knowing that, even in her gift, joy is not found in perfection, but in the sharing of it, the offering of it, the fellowship of it and in its daring expression. She takes risks with her gift and she’s not afraid of being imperfect. That selfless giving of herself to her gift is what makes it a joy. Could that joy in its risking, sharing and giving be the perfection of it?

As we work out our lives exploring, discovering and endeavoring to express our purpose and our gifts, isn’t it good news indeed that we are free to be imperfect? Isn’t it encouraging to know that we can try and risk without having to be perfect?

The Apostle Paul, a self-described perfectionist until his conversion, in 2 Corinthians 12 (NKJV quoted here) recounts how an area of imperfection in his life bothered him. Verses 8-10; “Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

Can you find the "imperfect" clover in this picture?
In my book, there is only One who is perfect. To Him I pray, I obey and I get out of His way. And He accepts me as I am. We are family and I am made perfect through Him. My goal is Him and my means is obedience. After all, as John MacArthur puts it, “The true Gospel is a call to self denial, it is not a call to self fulfillment.” That is, the call is to something much larger, perfect and infinitely more wonderful and resourceful than ourselves into which we are grafted for a selfless, fruitful purpose.

“This is the very perfection of a man, to find out his own imperfections.” ~ Saint Augustine
“The Pressure’s Off” as Larry Crabb puts it in his excellent book of the same title. We say that the most successful of people are well acquainted with failure - yet most of us continue to strive to live linear lives that avoid imperfection at all cost. The cost is lost joy. The cost is not discovering or expressing and sharing what lies bridled in our hearts for fear of executing poorly.
Confucius is credited with saying, “To know what is right and not do it is the worst cowardice.” That quotation is not qualified by a requirement to be perfect or even to succeed in the doing. There is no self esteem in it, There is no self glory in it. It requires only obedience to what you know is right. Success is in being true to that.

In our imperfections we are unique. As we live in our purpose and apply ourselves to those things that make us individually come alive – we will struggle and likely stumble and fall along the way. But our perseverance and vision will bring an energy to get up and try again as we keep our eyes on the goal. And so our imperfections are perfected in our perseverance - our imperfections become the markers in our lives.

All the best!

Bill

Road Continues to Narrow - Fear Exposed

“Come to the edge, He said. They said, We are afraid. Come to the edge, He said. They came. He pushed them... and they flew.” ~ Guillaume Apollinaire
In my January and February 2010 blogs I told the story of my discovery, while kayaking, of a sign washed up on the shore that read “Road Narrows”. The discovery carried a personal message for me - a man on a mission of personal exploration, discovery and expression. It was very encouraging. The very next week as I set out to recover the sign, I was confronted with a whisper of a message and the realization that preparation and perseverance, while great attributes, will not win the day on their own. Risks must be taken (you can read the Feb 2010 post at this Blog for the details on that “whisper”).

A year later and I am still appreciating the message carried by that sign. My road has indeed narrowed as has the road of a great many people I know. Circumstances have striped many of us of a lot of fluff and excess that, truth be told, has been the source of much un-needed anxiety in the first place. Our “narrowing” has made us leaner. It also kind of smarts - like when you remove a festering splinter from a delicate place. I think that many of us have developed a little flinch, a nervous tick perhaps, that commemorates the stripping of so must so fast.

I’ve talked to many business men and women in the past two months who have entered 2011 with a sort of defiant burst of belligerence that the pain is over and its time to heal and get on. I'm reminded of a WWII poster that was distributed throughout Great Britain when invasion from Germany seemed imminent and fear was high and widespread. The poster read, “Keep Calm And Carry On.”.

The renewed energy and “shake it off“ attitude I’m observing should encourage everyone. There is a gathering strength in the recovery of business. Like the patient surfer who has diligently waited, they are discerning the swell that is mounting and turning their boards toward the shore of success. They have started to paddle – lest the wave, and the ride, sweep past. This requires calculation and taking calculated risks.

Risk aversion takes many forms and the core of it lies in our imagination. The result is fear, extraordinary caution, half-starts, half-measures, indecision and immobilization. I’m not talking about reckless risk taking. Some forms of fear are healthy and make for an appropriate cautiousness. What I’m talking about is fear that makes one anticipate defeat before the fight is engaged. I’m talking about fear in the course of running businesses that we are supposed to be the masters of that makes us insecure and scared. I don’t think that the word “scared” has many good applications. Try in on. Say, “I haven’t done this or that - - - because I’m scared.” Not good.

One of the main reasons why I deliver management consulting services to organization leaders is because they have issues, problems and/or opportunities, not acted upon, that dominate their thoughts. Let’s call it “Inaction Inventory”. Inventories are high.

The bad sort of Fear is a stalking horse for counterfeit solutions. There is a lie that is peddled to and purchased by entities in their vulnerable moments that leverages a deliverance from fear in exchange for shortcuts, postponements and deferred action. Given to fear, reality and truth can go out of focus for a season. And so, inaction, like the splinter ignored, brings infection.

The root of this struggle with fear is our imagination. Fear in a fertile imagination is like a seed that sprouts into a poison ivy that entangles our minds with projections of myriad outcomes and possibilities that simply overwhelm. Our fascination with all sorts of information (now prolific to the extreme thanks to the internet) fertilizes our snarls of ivy with every manner of distortion, misinterpretation and out-of-context factoid. Most of this information is fashioned to manipulate our behavior. We become perplexed and we are tossed to-a-fro by every wave and wind of opinion that hits us.

A favorite story of mine is the well known account in the Bible of the Apostle Peter walking on the water. It appears in the Gospel of Matthew in Chapter 14, verses 22-32.

The “water walking” is one thing but the peripheral stuff fascinates me as well. Before the episode takes place Jesus sends His group of disciples out ahead of Him “to the other side”. There is a storm enroute and the boatload of men are terrified. (I wonder what comments were being muttered under their breaths about Jesus not accompanying them for the "crossing"). Fear is high. Then, in the midst of the torment a ghostly specter appears “walking” on the waves. Fear mounts more as the men think they are seeing a ghost. It is Jesus, of course, and He proceeds to encourage His men to take courage, declares that it is He and tells them not to be afraid. Peter recognizes Jesus and, in typical Peter fashion, takes the adventure up a notch. Peter asks Jesus to invite him out on the water with Him. So Jesus, matter-of-factly, says, “Come.”. Eager beaver Peter clambers across the gunwale and walks toward Jesus. This works well, for a moment, until something reminds Peter of the laws of physics, buoyancy and relative mass – he looks down - and he sinks. Up to his neck in the swirling chaos about him, he cries out for help and it is there. I can see Jesus shaking His head as he says, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”. When they return (walk?) back to the boat everything calms down. It’s like the whole thing was orchestrated to prove a point. Duh.

"Walk by Faith" Artwork/Prints available at JTBARTS.COM Gallery

What, I wonder, distracted Peter and made him founder? But, for a glorious moment we know that faith defied science, knowledge and fear. Peter knows Jesus, he trusts Him and he has seen Jesus feed five thousand households with five loaves and two fish. He has witnessed Jesus perform incredible healings and was sent out by Jesus for a time with the same powers to heal. Peter has also traveled and camped-out with Jesus. Peter has left the family business cold for Jesus. He knows this Man. To ask Jesus for an invitation to walk on water with Him should be as sure a thing as there could be. Right? Peter gets distracted. Maybe his imagination kicks in for a split second, he takes his eyes off of Jesus and takes in the chaos all around. It consumes him and he sinks.

Fear feeds on our imaginations and snatches our volition into its shadows. Fear is no minor theme in the human drama. It is fundamental to our condition and it is a fulcrum that the sinister part of our imagination uses with utmost skill. Fear can be found at the root of most conflicts and at the core of Mankind’s worst hours. I dug up a few quotations on the topic of fear to share. They are from a broad spectrum of authors with whom we share our existence as human beings. I hope you enjoy them;

“He who strikes terror in others is himself continually in fear.” – Claudius Claudianus
“Only with absolute fearlessness can we slay the dragons of mediocrity that invade our gardens.” – John Maynard Keynes

“It is part of the general pattern of misguided policy that our country is now geared to an arms economy which was bred in an artificially induced psychosis of war hysteria and nurtured upon an incessant propaganda of fear.” – General Douglas MacArthur“Imagination frames events unknown, in wild, fantastic shapes of hideous ruin, And what it fears, creates.” – Hannah Moore
“Men are Moved by two levers only: fear and self interest.” – Napoleon Bonaparte
“Panic is a sudden desertion of us, and a going over to the enemy of our imagination.” - Christian Nevell Bovee“Fear is a self imposed prison that will keep you from becoming what God intends for you to be. You must move against it with the weapons of faith and love.” – Rick Warren
“Do the thing you fear to do and keep on doing it…that is the quickest and surest way ever yet discovered to conquer fear.” – Dale Carnegie
“Jesus promised the disciples three things - that they would be completely fearless, absurdly happy and in constant trouble.” – G.K. Chesterton
“Every day you may make progress. Every step may be fruitful. Yet there will stretch out before you an ever-lengthening, ever-ascending, ever-improving path. You know you will never get to the end of the journey. But this, so far from discouraging, only adds to the joy and glory of the climb.” – Winston Churchill
“The presence of fear does not mean you have no faith. Fear visits everyone. But make your fear a visitor and not a resident.” – Max Lucado

“He that fears not the future may enjoy the present.” – Thomas Fuller

“According to legend, one day a man was wandering in the desert when he met Fear and Plague. They said they were on their way to a large city where they were going to kill 10,000 people. The man asked Plague if he was going to do all the work. Plague smiled and said, No, I'll only take care of a few hundred. I'll let my friend Fear do the rest.” - Anonymous“Anything I've ever done that ultimately was worthwhile... initially scared me to death.” – Betty Bender
“Since we fear most that which is unknown to us, defining moments of change occur when we choose to know our fear.” – Lee Colan

“Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood. Now is the time to understand more, so that we may fear less.” – Marie Curie

“One of the greatest discoveries a man makes, one of his great surprises, is to find he can do what he was afraid he couldn't do.” – Henry Ford

“Fear always springs from ignorance.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson“Action cures fear, inaction creates terror.” – Doug Horton
“How very little can be done under the spirit of fear.” – Florence Nightingale
“The timid are afraid before the danger, the cowardly while in danger, and the courageous after danger.” – Jean Paul“We are more often frightened than hurt; and we suffer more from imagination than from reality.” – Seneca, The Elder
“Fear is that little darkroom where negatives are developed.” – Michael PritchardAll the best!

Bill