Making it Right

There she was…walking across the parking lot in a dash. The morning was unfolding and she was running late. Her hurried pace indicated the stress that weighed down upon her schedule… What happened next caught my eye (interlude)

We’ve all had moments when what you intend to do, doesn’t quite match up with what you actually do.

Whether it’s a simple comment we wish we could take back or a chosen action that obviously was the wrong choice. Mistakes are a part of everyone’s journey. From BIG mistakes to small ones …what we do in the moments that follow them – really matters…

We may desire to be people who do the ‘right thing’, but it’s often the thought of embarrassment, guilt or shame that might hinder us from carrying it out. Fear tends to tell us to flee. You’ve had those feelings well up within you. I have too.

As a parent: I try and model, teach and have my kids ‘make it right’ when they have been in the wrong.

For example: we’ve made it a point to have our kids look each other in the eye balls, when apologizing to one another. They don’t like this. It is typically a yelling of ‘I’m sorry’ as one storms out of the room. Only to have them return within seconds to have to apologize while looking them in the eye. Whatever occurred, we want them to ‘own it’ and ‘make it right’.

So, back to the parking lot story…

She places her drink (that doesn’t have a lid?) onto the hood of her car with haste. It spills over – of course, which brings obvious and expressed frustration. Fumbling for the keys within her purse, she hits the clicker. The familiar sound signals the car is unlocked and the headlights flash in unison. The problem was – the car that performed those functions wasn’t the one that she was now trying to enter. A look of shock and embarrassment shoots across her face as she glances up to see “her” car performing these announcements, two spaces over.

Then it was the quick glance at the spill rolling down the hood as she walked away and toward her car. She settled into her vehicle. And as the car began to position itself to rush on with it’s agenda of getting Ms. Late to her appointment, she stopped it. Ms. Late emerged from the car with a couple napkins, back toward the spill and took a moment to ‘make it right’…

It literally took her an additional 53 seconds to ‘make it right’.

A short interruption.

Which led me to ask this question: How many times do I STOP and take the extra time to ‘make it right’?

It might take longer than 53 seconds in some moments, but really – in the end: isn’t it less time to do the repair work relationally in the immediate moment – versus – waiting for the bill of accumulative damage to be delivered down the road?

Making it right – might not be our instinctive response. We may want to run or flee.

But choosing to do the right thing always helps us grow into the right kind of people.

It inspires others. As I attest, through writing these words. I am the man who watched this unfold behind the store window.

Is there anyone in your life right now – that you need to go and “make it right” ?

Do you have a story to share? (something you did, or was done for you?)

Around the World

When I was a kid we played a game in basketball called: Around the World

Maybe you’ve played it.

Then I grew up. I’ve had the opportunity to travel around the world. And I realized the game never did justice to its name.

Every time I travel – the world gets bigger. My understanding and view of God expands.

I saw this video – a beautiful time lapse video from all Around the World. I’m moved to pray as I watch it unfold. To pray for the people in these countries that their awareness of God’s love break into their ‘world’ in fresh ways. It reminds me that the ‘world’ is much BIGGER than ‘my world.’ It excites me. It humbles me.

Before you watch: remember this -

¹ The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it,
the world, and all who live in it;
² for he founded it on the seas
and established it on the waters. ~Psalm 24:1

Now – pause…

Let the beauty and magnitude of what you just watched sink in.

The God who created all that. Created you. He loves you.

He loves people. Those that know him and those searching to know him…

He went to extreme lengths and the ultimate end to proclaim His love for you.

He now desires us to echo that love so all may know.

People around your world.

People in your country.

People around the corner.

Pause again…

Pray.

Parental Pacing

The Adventure of Parenting can cause us to pace at times…

Maybe it’s the nerves of watching your child perform at a recital or during their sporting events as you sit in the bleachers with nerves turning on the inside. It might be the anxiety that can creep into those nights where they’re driving behind the wheel and you’re not there any more with “vehicular corrective coaching.” It’s these moments and hundreds of others.

Pacing, at times, comes with the parental territory.

We pace because we love. We pace because we care.

There is another pacing that is important to keep in mind. It’s the pace we carry out while parenting…I’m going to suggest 3 parental paces we should be using as we raise children and invest in our grandchildren.

There will be times of:

• Running – those moments as a parent where you’re encouraging and helping your child stretch and challenge themselves. For example: I remember when my kids began walking and we’re having them step toward us, only to take a step back so they have to push themselves a bit. But it expands to those times where you’re having them stretch in what they can accomplish, relational tensions and difficulties they must navigate and even those struggles they have to muddle through. You’re “running” with them, helping them push themselves and stretch in order to grow stronger. In those moments you might not be able to be right there with them or solve their problems, but your watching them run, stretch and grow…praying and cheering them forward…

• Walking – these are those moments where you’re alongside them. Your shadow is intertwined with theirs as you’re a companion in their journey. Moments of partnering together to accomplish or achieve. It’s everything from creating memories to parental nurturing of their character. It’s everything from problem solving situations to a strategy session for current relationships, events or future life decisions. We “walk” alongside so they know they’re not alone. We desire them to know and to feel secure as we become a processing partner and provider of wisdom.

• Pausing – these are the moments of stopping and being still. Those moments where grief, trauma, challenge or hurts have overwhelmed our kids. Sometimes the boo-boo can be covered up with a band-aid, sometimes it takes much more resources and time. As a parent, you’ve “paused” to come alongside to provide comfort. We care. We cry with them. We carry them if needed. We champion their resolve through listening first and coaching second. Sometimes it involves “pausing” to fully savor the joy of a moment. It involves a celebration that stops the blur of life for a few minutes so to enjoy the wedding, the accomplishment, the graduation, the promotion, the achievement, the birth, etc. Pausing to celebrate, enjoy a meal and to savor the relationship and that moment of joy, is just as important as pausing to comfort amidst a painful struggle. Both are needed. (Romans 12:15)

I came across this poem that Rylee had made me for a Father’s Day as I was cleaning my office – it highlights the beauty of Parental Pacing. May you and I be given the wisdom to recognize what pace is needed…

Leadership Lesson from the Sky

Some things go unnoticed. Some things you see and they resonate.

The other night, driving home – Amy and I witnessed something from the sky that reminded me of a simple lesson. We live in Arizona, known for its astronomy rich night sky, but I’d never seen something like this. It lasted about 6-8 seconds. A meteor burning up through the atmosphere as it descended toward the earth a few miles in front of us.

This brilliant green light streaking across the sky.

At first I thought it might be a plane, helicopter, maybe even a firework? But the brighter it burned and its strikingly fast acceleration eliminated those options. Then it was gone. Nothing left to see.

It’s a simple leadership thought that struck me: Atmosphere & Altitude make a difference.

Leaders that spend too much time, too close to the trenches – burn up and burn out. Leaders must recruit, train, encourage, vision cast and then release others to make things happen. Main leaders must raise up others. They must spend more time in an upper atmosphere – keeping a view on creating correct culture/systems, developing other leaders and encouraging the teams. Here’s a quick post about raising up more ‘staff’ with no budget from Ron Edmondson.

Now, don’t miss understand me: leaders must serve! They aren’t the ones who are to be served – they are to model serving. They should fly lower at times and be “in the trenches”. I love the show ‘Undercover Boss’ because it allows leaders to be put on the front lines to recognize new leaders, assess culture and see the good, bad and ugly within their created systems.

But even more than modeling service, leaders must motivate others to carry out the actions of the organization. One leader can make a difference. But a leader that establishes and builds others, accomplishes more. Leaders can NOT do all they need their entire teams to do.

Good leaders spend some time in the trenches – but also maintain a strategic altitude.

Fly too low for too long and you’ll burn up. Altitude for leaders matters.

It was a simple lesson – a reminder from the sky.

Q) How have you ever experienced a boss/leader flying too low, too long? Or found yourself there…

3 words for 2012

As this new year launches you might have some resolutions you’re laying out. I’ve thought of some. But I’m trying something new this year – I’m approaching it not with resolution, but rather with a 3 word lens. I got some advise from an online friend Chris Brogan, who tried this the last few years. You sum up some resolutions and goals into 3 words and you let those 3 words frame out and give you a lens in which to see your world this next year. So, I’ve been thinking and praying through what 3 words I’d choose that will help direct some of my actions this 2012.

Give it a try. Here’s my 3 words fleshed out a bit.

Creation

This year is all about creation and creativity; creation in writing projects. I’m wanting to blog more and begin work on a book I’ve had circling around within me for the last year. Creation of an excellent “culture” within guest services and effective systems/tools within communications at Casas. It’s also continued goal to stay creative within sermon and lesson development. I want to create some more ‘memory marker moments’ within my family – moments that will build their character and give them found memories of growing up a Schull.

Consistency

I desire to become more consistent/disciplined in a healthy lifestyle, self-care, marriage care and deepening my relationships with friends. I want to establish a consistent structure of leadership development for myself and those I lead. Also, continuing to initiate  consistent patterns of study and writing [*producing at least 2 blogs a week, an eBook by Spring of '12 and my first full book by the end of 2012 (this based off my study of the book of Haggai)]

Call

I’m finishing up a book (recommend it) by Mark Batterson entitled The Circle Maker. It has resurfaced a desire to grow in my prayer life this year. So this year is more about the CALL – calling out in prayer to the Mighty One on behalf of myself, my family, our church and friends. I want to create an increased prayer and conversation with God through scripture and solitude.

So – that’s my 3 words for 2012. Here’s to God directing, dreaming and growing me within this focus. Now, it is a bit intimidating to put this out there, but I hope it might stir something within you. Dream Big – we follow a Big God who wants to do Big things in you and through you. Perfection isn’t the goal. Progress is.

What might your 3 words be?