Ok I admit it, I love a great quote. They have the ability to make you stop, rethink things, and move you. I found this quote on the Twitter feed of a famous entrepreneur who uses it as a reminder to himself, and I  had one of those “stop” moments.

“The sky is not my limit…I am.” TF Hodge

I am by no means a college basketball aficionado, far from it. I don’t have any idea who the top teams are in the NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association), but I am familiar with the name John Wooden. True to my word, I knew he was coach, but clueless of what team he coached. A truly inspiring article written by Don Yaeger in Success magazine paid tribute to his life and what a life it was.

Yes, he was a remarkable leader, leading his team to 10 national championships. But more than that, he was a remarkable person who left his mark on countless lives. The article features four such lives; but one snuck in making it a total of five. One of those featured is Cori Close; she is the current head women’s basketball coach for the UCLA Bruins.

She spoke in glowing terms of the mentoring relationship with Wooden. It’s obvious that he never tried to make people feel “less than”. Coach Close shares a very powerful moment, “One of the most profound things he taught me was how he made really complicated things very simple.” She went to him with a troubling issue, his response, “What are you committed to? Know who you are. Stick to your principles, make choices that are in line with your principles, and deal with the results.”

She continues and says, “What strikes me most about Coach Wooden was that, besides winning games, what he really did was help build amazing men.” She tells a story of a former player she didn’t know, who introduced himself to her at a charity event, “I’ve been married for 38 years because of what coach Wooden taught me. I have opened three successful businesses because of what he taught me. I have conquered cancer three times because of what he taught me. I even survived the death of my 12-year- old daughter because of the tools he gave me.” (This is the fifth life that snuck in).

WOW, you talk about legacy and shaping people’s lives. Now, it would be easy to read about this remarkable, gracious man and begin the comparison game. But the key is to go back to what Wooden said to coach Close, “What are you committed to? Know who you are. Stick to your principles, make choices that are in line with your principles, and deal with the results.”

You and I have a circle of influence. We may not coach a championship winning sports team, but our life speaks loudly to those around us. What is it saying? What do you want it to say? I am really liking coach Wooden’s advice…

I suppose most people have heard the expression hindsight is 20/20. We look back on a situation that didn’t go so well or as we thought it should and we start the shoulda, woulda, coulda game. You know how it goes… we shoulda done this, or we coulda done that and if we had… it woulda turned out differently…maybe.

When I look back at some of my own experiences, I see a person who was not fully engaged. As a matter of fact, to be painfully honest, in some situations I see a person who was just coasting. If you think being you is enough and that things will just work out because you are you…think again. You must be prepared and coasting is never a plan that gets you where you need to be.

I spoke to an old friend who lost his job. When I asked what he was looking for in a new position the reply was more about desperation than design. Sometimes in fear we settle instead of reaching for the best and what we are really doing is coasting. Play to your strengths and use this given opportunity to fly.

You being you with a plan, giving it your full energy and attention are a force to be reckoned with. There is no one like you!

I started writing a new song some time ago that was inspired by people’s faces.

Yes, I am a people watcher. I noticed how way too many adults just looked jammed up. They don’t smile; they look troubled and may not even see you when you are in their space. Jammed Up became the working title of my yet unfinished song.

The late Mike Yaconelli penned a book giving insight to this issue; it’s called “Dangerous Wonder”. In the intro he writes about the day his childlike wonder died and the book works through the possibilities of re-capturing what was lost. With refreshing (and sometimes painful) honesty he writes, “The day of enlightenment was a very sad day. I know now that something inside me died that day…it was the stuff of dreams and imagination-the place where dancing, singing, laughter and playing lived. Even at six, I understood that the possibility of flying wasn’t the point; it was the aliveness I felt when I thought I could fly; it was the voice I heard deep inside-a warm and loving voice, a living believing voice. Every time I heard that voice, I recognized who it was; God. But that day when I was just six years young, my God hearing went bad.”

Somehow adulthood brings too much stuff to the table. Let me rephrase that, somehow WE ALLOW adulthood to bring too much stuff to the table. You know, that stuff we are told we need and we MUST have, and blah, blah, blah.  It all results in the loss and even makes foolishness of the possibilities of hearing that Still Small Voice.  Yaconelli gives some of his own reasons, “Our lives become louder… with the increasing crescendo of our possessions and the soul smothering volume of endless activity” the hearing fades. Sound familiar?

There is a verse that says, “When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child. But when I grew up, I put away childish things.” 1 Cor 13:11 nlt

There is a big difference between being childish and childlike. Being childish, in my opinion is not acceptable for an adult. Childlike, on the other hand, is an entirely different, life giving, life breathing story.

“…the possibility of flying wasn’t the point; it was the aliveness I felt when I thought I could fly.” When was the last time you felt that alive? Maybe it’s time to make some changes…maybe it’s time to play…I wonder?

I continue to hear people say the reason they didn’t get THE job was because of their age. Now I know because of my age certain things have changed. The days of being a teen heart throb (yes I am delusional) are in the rear view mirror. If I go to a club to hear a friend’s band play they don’t ask to see by ID…you mean I look older then 21? And if I tried to enlist in the US military they would laugh, perhaps respectfully, but they would laugh none the less.  The truth is I have gotten older and there is no changing that.

Do I define myself by my age? I do not. I think, believe and define myself as a vital person, and simply… because I am. Proverbs 23:7 reminds us, “For as a man (or woman) thinks in his heart so is he”.  In my 50’s I landed two of the best jobs I have had in my adult life. I read somewhere recently that 50 is the new 50. (I feel better don’t you…)

My 50’s have been to date perhaps my most productive years, I completed my Bachelor’s degree, with distinction I might add, I also finished a music CD of ten original songs that I wrote, sang produced and engineered. Please understand I am not writing this to get some type of “that a boy Joe”. The point is allowing age to define your creativity, your purpose, your identity, can be deadly. Life is about living and being productive no matter WHAT…and that includes your age.

Truth be told, your experience and work ethic are invaluable, but your age can become a detriment if your attitude is… my way is the best… or worse, my way is the ONLY way. If that describes you, then you may have discovered a stumbling block to landing that new job regardless of your credentials. If a perspective employer senses a closed mindedness to change, the interview is over. If this is a tough area for you, humble yourself and resolve it. C S Lewis wrote, “Humility is not thinking less of yourself, it’s thinking of yourself less.” Good advice.

In closing I want to encourage you, don’t fear…get focused.  Fear will suck the life out of you and sabotage your hope. Trust yourself, renew your mind, and don’t be afraid of change. AND please don’t be afraid to make a mistake or two, or three…learn from them and grow.

We have all heard this phrase or some variation of it used during a game show.
You know the deal…the question is asked to the panel of contestants to see if their answers match. There is excitement in the air as the game show host says…”and the answer is…”
Life, however, is not a game show.

So what happens in life when the question is asked, and it is received with dread, the excitement long gone? The answer comes, but it is not really the answer to the question being asked or is it? Where did this lukewarm answer come from, and what happened to the passion, the goal, the dream?

Jesus asked a man who had an infirmity for 38 years if he wanted to be made well.
Simple question…right? The man replied not with a yes or a no, but with a list of reasons
why he had not been healed. One might even say a list of excuses.
Though he did not answer the question being asked, his reply spoke volumes.

38 years is a long time, and the disappointment of “no change”, not being any closer to his goal created a loss greater than the physical. Why had this man gone to the pool in Bethesda in the first place? Had he forgotten? Perhaps defeat and loss robbed him of his memory, clouded his vision and destroyed his faith.

Look at this quote from Paul Nitze,
“One of the most dangerous forms of human error is forgetting what one is trying to achieve.” We need to keep our goal in front of us at all times.
If we have forgotten it…we might as well forget it.

How about you? When someone asks you about your goal, your plan, your vision, what is your answer? Is it still vibrant and alive, or have the years taken its toll? Does your reply sound like a eulogy of someone or something you were once close to?

Get honest with yourself. What is really going on?
Remember why you started and renew your passion.

Note to self: Are you listening?

A few years ago I wrote “Let’s Celebrate”, a song to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus. The week of Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday, culminating with the resurrection of Jesus Christ on Sunday, is considered by Christ followers to be the holiest time of the year. The resurrection is truly an event to be celebrated. W.T. Purkiser stated, “Without the resurrection, Jesus was a martyr; with it, He is ‘declared to be with power the son of God.’ (Romans 1:4 NIV)”

One of my favorite songs is “Make My Life a Prayer to You.” The song rings powerfully with timeless and life changing truth. A few years ago during an Easter sunrise service I shared the song. It was captured on video by someone in the crowd, Donna Lingenfelter who was good enough to send it to me. (Thank you again Donna!) My post this week is to share it with you…Let’s Celebrate!

Did you ever have one of those days at work when you are asked a question that you are more than qualified to handle, but for some unknown reason your mind becomes the proverbial blank slate? The person asking the question gestures politely…walks away and you feel momentarily brainless. It’s as if you’ve been drugged with a stupid pill.

A stupid pill day is one of those days when your rhythm is out of sync, you keep missing the beat and you don’t know why. It is not necessarily a bad day; it’s just an off day. Allow me to offer some possible reasons.

Is it the lack of sleep caused by your late night Netflix binge watching? Or your focus took a vacation day, but didn’t consult you. Possibly St. Arbucks gave you decaf coffee by mistake this morning and you are still asleep.  Maybe it’s a full moon??? I don’t know… but whatever the reason, it’s annoying. (I would enjoy hearing some of your possible reasons.) So what is the antidote for this dastardly potion?

As one who has known the effect of this pill, let me offer some advice. Do not acquiesce to how you are feeling. Get a grip, this condition is not your norm and it will only last for as long as you allow it. Some words of positive affirmation may help at this point.

Another avenue to pursue is self examination. Is there some thing or event that is stealing your attention? Identify it and deal with it. Relax; work on regaining your focus and get back to work. If however there is something really serious going on in your life, this is more than a stupid pill day and perhaps going to work wasn’t the best idea.

So on behalf of all of us who have experienced these moments of stupifidity (Is that a word? It is now.) it is nice to know these days don’t last, and if they do… that’s a different blog!

Some time ago I was at the funeral of a friend’s dad. I was standing with a guy I went to high school with along with one of our former teachers.The three of us stood talking engrossed in some very profound discussion like…the weather, when a woman approached who was also a former classmate; as a matter of fact she had dated my buddy in our circle of three during high school. We greeted her warmly, and she said, “Don’t you see anything different?” Now please understand it had been well over 25 years since our graduation. We looked at each other puzzled… and she blurted out, “I got my nose job.” We all smiled and said “Oh”. My buddy remarked after she walked away “I didn’t notice it.”

As I left that evening I thought wow isn’t that crazy that she thought it would be the first thing we would zero in on. And sadly she must have thought that’s what other people noticed during her pre nose job days, “Oh there is so and so with the big nose.” As I reflected, I was taken by the sadness of it, the fact she felt that’s how people remembered her and how it must have affected her own self image and worth.

It’s amazing the multitude of messages we received about ourselves growing up and how they shaped us. Those messages came from so many different places and in many flavors, creating all sorts of hormonal disturbances. I mean we are infinitely more than the sum of our body parts…right? And we did not believe those lies hurled at us by those hurting people who themselves had been infected by similar lies…right?

We all need to answer those questions for ourselves. I once heard a very wise man say, “When does a lie stop becoming a lie? Answer: When we believe it to be true.”

So what do you believe about yourself? Is it the truth or is it a lie? Has it held you back from your potential? Perhaps you should re-think who you are and who or what you have allowed to define you. Let me give you a truth to nibble on from a Psalm, “I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.” Psalm 139:14

Please grasp tightly to the value you have and allow the truth to work in you and through you. The healing part of our journey takes time, there are no short cuts, but it will be well worth the investment.

I wonder how people really remember you…