To Serve well

Serving with Excellence for a Life of Excellence

Christian

Importance of Community … The Best 2 Minute Sermon

Although it was a severely painful situation.  In the wake of my good friend’s tragic loss/murder of her son and father, at the high school vigil, I heard the best sermon ever- and it was only 2 minutes long.

The Fellowship of Christian Athletes leader spoke out of Isiah. While he did share about the parting of the waters at the Red Sea, there was another instance in the scripture that was equally as important.  God asked that if He were to part the waters that He needed them to take the first step.  

In his short portrayal of the story, this young and amazing man, asked the audience to lock arms with this family and step into healing together as a community.  All I can say is, “WOW!”
We need each other on this journey and it is easier to take the first step if you have a community to join you in both pleasure and pain.  

18 FULL YEARS! Congratulations to my young men.

blog_681667_2730025_1432595379I’m not sure why, but the cliché comment, “it goes by so fast” hasn’t really made its way into my realm  Perhaps it’s because I’m the mom of triplets, or perhaps it’s because we did things differently.  (For the record, I don’t think we did). Perhaps this comment is best reserved for those wiser, older folks who have seen their more recent years go more quickly.  For this post, I have to tell you, my boys and I have had 18 FULL years and I have truly loved pretty much all of it!

We packed each day, month and ultimately the years full of LIFE.  As the mom, single in this case, I have had the opportunity to be the coordinator, the team captain, the drum major… the one who tries to make it all happen.

Some days we do make it “all” happen, some we don’t, but with God’s help (okay he’s really the captain, but I’ll gladly own co-captain), and a village of terrific friends and mentors found in neighborhoods, work, school, soccer fields, books and church camps we have made it….  Made it to the finish line of high school graduation.

Here is what I know, it is an INTENTIONAL affair, to round up three excellent young men and engage them in a full life.   I intentionally spend time on living LIFE, including travel, education and lots of meals and conversations and community engagement.

My prayer is that these boys and their friends (and parents) who have touched my heart in deep ways will go out and INTENTIONALLY live a FULL LIFE in phase 2- “The college years.” My hope is that they will not let a day go by where they are not striving towards God’s plan for their lives of finding their passion. And as their commencement speaker, Mr. Addington said it best, “Find their need!”

Congratulations boys, this mom is well pleased and so in love with your stories and the men you are becoming.

A Big Hello!

If I were meeting you right now, I’d likely give you a big hug…unless you are one of those “I am not the hugging type”, then a friendly hand shake or even a smile is coming your way.  Hopefully I will have the opportunity to meet you face to face and spend time chatting it up and hearing your story.

STORIES, IDEAS, and CONVERSATION are what this blog hopes to deliver! STORIES that are simply about the fun and unexpected people we meet — things and events that make up our days — stories of lives well lived — books that intrigue us, music that moves us, and art that speak to us.  IDEAS about EXCELLENCE that ultimately starts the CONVERSATION. A conversation that CAPTURES our attention, CHALLENGES our thinking, and CHANGES our world.

I am working on my first book, “To Serve Well,” and this blog will be more or less the launch of this adventure.  My hope is to craft insights that will leave you a better person.  Isn’t that what most of us want?  To be better each day?  To use the gifts that God gave us and to shine a light in this world.

So, what can you expect from my blog? (And hopefully choose to subscribe) I want these blog entries to be brief because our attention spans are quickly deteriorating due to the advent social media.  In fact, according to statisticsbrain.com, the average attention span in 2013 was 8 seconds compared to 12 seconds in 2000. Even a goldfish has an attention span of 9 seconds so there’s a chance the statistic means absolutely nothing.

If you have never read one of Seth Godin’s blogs, (sethgodin.typepad.com), I recommend you check him out.  He does a great job of being brief and impactful.  That’s my goal.  HOWEVER, that amazing man does this daily.

I do all things in 3’s so you can expect a post 3 times a week. Seth talks about cultural topics and I will be primarily talking about excellence. I will also be weaving in Christian thinking and hope that you will be one of those free thinking individuals that can apply it to whatever religion you choose.  I’m not sure I have ever met anyone that doesn’t desire EXCELLENCE. After all, it’s all about being the best “US” we can be.  So here we go… Can’t wait to hear from you!