I have always enjoyed the first day of school. I enjoyed the newness. New teachers, new spirals, new pens or pencils, a new start…
I will admit there were parts of the first day of school I was not so excited about, especially in college and seminary. I dread seeing the Syllabus (the big picture), the pieces of paper that would direct my life (as far as that class went) for the next few months. The long list of reading assignments, projects, and papers (the details that make the big picture a reality) seemed so overwhelming on the first day of class. But as the semester went on, the list became shorter and shorter. Chapters were read, projects were completed, papers were turned in, tests were taken… At the end of the semester or the end of the year I could look back and see all I had accomplished. I could look back and see how far I had come and how much I had learned. I could look back and see that what at first seemed impossible and overwhelming had been achieved and completed.
If I had stayed focused on the big picture I would not have been able to accomplish many of the details that would make the big picture a reality. Focusing only on the big picture can be overwhelming if you do not know how to get there. On the other hand, if I stayed focused on the details I would have eventually been discouraged by not seeing where these tasks were leading me. Focusing on the tasks can be overwhelming, with all that has to be done, so much so that we can forget the big picture and forget why we are doing what we are doing.
There is a balance between the two. Luckily, or unfortunately, everyone’s balance is a little different. There are some people who are big picture people. They can see the possibilities; they can see what they want the end product to be, yet too often we have a hard time getting there because they do not want to be bothered with the details. There are other people who are detail people. They can see the processes that can get us “there”, they know what needs to happen and the pitfalls that might spring up between now and making the big picture a reality, yet too often they have a hard time looking up from the details to remember why they are doing these tasks.
Do you have dreams, but rarely see them become a reality? Do you get a lot of stuff done, but rarely know why you do all that you do? We live our lives so fast we forget to take a look around us. If we never see our dreams become a reality, it may be because we never slow down to see what we need to do to get there, or share our dream with other people so they can help us know how to get there or join us on the journey and we get there together. If we rarely know why we do what we do, it may be because we never slow down to see where we are going, or we have not embraced any big picture and so are not going anywhere.
Maybe your big picture, your dreams, need to be shared so they become our dreams and we accomplish them together. Maybe you need to grasp someone else’s dream and show them how to get there. Who knows, maybe that is why we start out our education in classes of our peers, so that we can learn to work together and accomplish more than we ever thought we could on our own…
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Celebration
A few weeks ago when I returned from one of my longer trips away from home my kids wanted to surprise me with a party. They spent time making signs (with a little help from my wife) welcoming me home. I was glad to be home, and it was nice to see how excited they were to watch me take in all that they had done for my return.
My wife recently spent a few days away from us with some of the friends she made while in college. My wife had barely walked out the door when the kids started asking if we could have a surprise for her when she returned home. They kids wanted to decorate our daughters room like a cave (we have recently gone to Carlsbad Caverns in New Mexico, and I think that was still on their minds) with bats and a few leopards. I tried to focus their energy and enthusiasm into something that might make Mom feel more special when she got home. Unfortunately she returned before we had a chance to finish our plans.
This last weekend our Church had a get together to show the staff how much we appreciate all they do as we minister together in our church and to our community. I was a little worried about a small turn out for our get together. I was amazed at the number of people that showed up and the amount of cards of appreciation and food that was brought to celebrate and honor our staff.
We like to be honored. We like for others to tell us and show us that we have done a good job or that we have been missed. I think that we need to be celebrated from time to time.
But I am beginning to think just as much as we need to be celebrated, we need to celebrate others. For our kids it was not just that mom and dad were coming home, but there was a buildup of excitement as they waited for our return. I think those that attended our staff appreciation get together were just as excited as the staff to be there and to enjoy the homemade ice cream and other goodies that were brought.
When is the last time you took the time to show someone else how you feel about them. When is the last time you made a phone call, sent a text message or an e-mail, or wrote a note to someone just to tell them you hope they are having a great day? When we take the time to show others how much they mean to us, we begin to see how truly blessed we are.
Take some time today and celebrate someone. Can you allow the excitement to build as you peek out your window waiting for your neighbor to find the card or baked goodies you left for them… Can you allow the excitement to build as you wait for a phone call or an e-mail letting you know you didn’t have to do that, but it means so much… Can you allow the excitement to build around you as you see how truly blessed you are by your family, your friends, your neighbors, and your co-workers?
My wife recently spent a few days away from us with some of the friends she made while in college. My wife had barely walked out the door when the kids started asking if we could have a surprise for her when she returned home. They kids wanted to decorate our daughters room like a cave (we have recently gone to Carlsbad Caverns in New Mexico, and I think that was still on their minds) with bats and a few leopards. I tried to focus their energy and enthusiasm into something that might make Mom feel more special when she got home. Unfortunately she returned before we had a chance to finish our plans.
This last weekend our Church had a get together to show the staff how much we appreciate all they do as we minister together in our church and to our community. I was a little worried about a small turn out for our get together. I was amazed at the number of people that showed up and the amount of cards of appreciation and food that was brought to celebrate and honor our staff.
We like to be honored. We like for others to tell us and show us that we have done a good job or that we have been missed. I think that we need to be celebrated from time to time.
But I am beginning to think just as much as we need to be celebrated, we need to celebrate others. For our kids it was not just that mom and dad were coming home, but there was a buildup of excitement as they waited for our return. I think those that attended our staff appreciation get together were just as excited as the staff to be there and to enjoy the homemade ice cream and other goodies that were brought.
When is the last time you took the time to show someone else how you feel about them. When is the last time you made a phone call, sent a text message or an e-mail, or wrote a note to someone just to tell them you hope they are having a great day? When we take the time to show others how much they mean to us, we begin to see how truly blessed we are.
Take some time today and celebrate someone. Can you allow the excitement to build as you peek out your window waiting for your neighbor to find the card or baked goodies you left for them… Can you allow the excitement to build as you wait for a phone call or an e-mail letting you know you didn’t have to do that, but it means so much… Can you allow the excitement to build around you as you see how truly blessed you are by your family, your friends, your neighbors, and your co-workers?
Celebration
A few weeks ago when I returned from one of my longer trips away from home my kids wanted to surprise me with a party. They spent time making signs (with a little help from my wife) welcoming me home. I was glad to be home, and it was nice to see how excited they were to watch me take in all that they had done for my return.
My wife recently spent a few days away from us with some of the friends she made while in college. My wife had barely walked out the door when the kids started asking if we could have a surprise for her when she returned home. They kids wanted to decorate our daughters room like a cave (we have recently gone to Carlsbad Caverns in New Mexico, and I think that was still on their minds) with bats and a few leopards. I tried to focus their energy and enthusiasm into something that might make Mom feel more special when she got home. Unfortunately she returned before we had a chance to finish our plans.
This last weekend our Church had a get together to show the staff how much we appreciate all they do as we minister together in our church and to our community. I was a little worried about a small turn out for our get together. I was amazed at the number of people that showed up and the amount of cards of appreciation and food that was brought to celebrate and honor our staff.
We like to be honored. We like for others to tell us and show us that we have done a good job or that we have been missed. I think that we need to be celebrated from time to time.
But I am beginning to think just as much as we need to be celebrated, we need to celebrate others. For our kids it was not just that mom and dad were coming home, but there was a buildup of excitement as they waited for our return. I think those that attended our staff appreciation get together were just as excited as the staff to be there and to enjoy the homemade ice cream and other goodies that were brought.
When is the last time you took the time to show someone else how you feel about them. When is the last time you made a phone call, sent a text message or an e-mail, or wrote a note to someone just to tell them you hope they are having a great day? When we take the time to show others how much they mean to us, we begin to see how truly blessed we are.
Take some time today and celebrate someone. Can you allow the excitement to build as you peek out your window waiting for your neighbor to find the card or baked goodies you left for them… Can you allow the excitement to build as you wait for a phone call or an e-mail letting you know you didn’t have to do that, but it means so much… Can you allow the excitement to build around you as you see how truly blessed you are by your family, your friends, your neighbors, and your co-workers?
My wife recently spent a few days away from us with some of the friends she made while in college. My wife had barely walked out the door when the kids started asking if we could have a surprise for her when she returned home. They kids wanted to decorate our daughters room like a cave (we have recently gone to Carlsbad Caverns in New Mexico, and I think that was still on their minds) with bats and a few leopards. I tried to focus their energy and enthusiasm into something that might make Mom feel more special when she got home. Unfortunately she returned before we had a chance to finish our plans.
This last weekend our Church had a get together to show the staff how much we appreciate all they do as we minister together in our church and to our community. I was a little worried about a small turn out for our get together. I was amazed at the number of people that showed up and the amount of cards of appreciation and food that was brought to celebrate and honor our staff.
We like to be honored. We like for others to tell us and show us that we have done a good job or that we have been missed. I think that we need to be celebrated from time to time.
But I am beginning to think just as much as we need to be celebrated, we need to celebrate others. For our kids it was not just that mom and dad were coming home, but there was a buildup of excitement as they waited for our return. I think those that attended our staff appreciation get together were just as excited as the staff to be there and to enjoy the homemade ice cream and other goodies that were brought.
When is the last time you took the time to show someone else how you feel about them. When is the last time you made a phone call, sent a text message or an e-mail, or wrote a note to someone just to tell them you hope they are having a great day? When we take the time to show others how much they mean to us, we begin to see how truly blessed we are.
Take some time today and celebrate someone. Can you allow the excitement to build as you peek out your window waiting for your neighbor to find the card or baked goodies you left for them… Can you allow the excitement to build as you wait for a phone call or an e-mail letting you know you didn’t have to do that, but it means so much… Can you allow the excitement to build around you as you see how truly blessed you are by your family, your friends, your neighbors, and your co-workers?
Celebration
A few weeks ago when I returned from one of my longer trips away from home my kids wanted to surprise me with a party when I returned home. They spent time making signs (with a little help from my wife) welcoming me home. I was glad to be home, and It was nice to see how excited they were to watch me take in all that they had done for my return.
My wife recently spent a few days away from us with some of the friends she made while in college. My wife had barely walked out the door when the kids started asking if we could have a surprise for her when she returned home. They kids wanted to decorate our daughters room like a cave (we have recently gone to Carlsbad Caverns in New Mexico, and I think that was still on their minds) with bats and a few leopards. I tried to focus their energy and enthusiasm into something that might make Mom feel more special when she got home. Unfortunately she returned before we had a chance to finish our plans.
This last weekend our Church had a get together to show the staff how much we appreciate all they do as we minister together in our church and to our community. I was a little worried about a small turn out for our get together. I was amazed at the number of people that showed up and the amount of cards of appreciation and food that was brought to celebrate and honor our staff.
We like to be honored. We like for others to tell us and show us that we have done a good job or that we have been missed. I think that we need to be celebrated from time to time.
But I am beginning to think just as much as we need to be celebrated, we need to celebrate others. For our kids it was not just that mom and dad were coming home, but there was a buildup of excitement as they waited for our return. I think those that attended our staff appreciation get together were just as excited as the staff to be there and to enjoy the homemade ice cream and other goodies that were brought.
When is the last time you took the time to show someone else how you feel about them. When is the last time you made a phone call, sent a text message or an e-mail, or wrote a note to someone just to tell them you hope they are having a great day? When we take the time to show others how much they mean to us, we begin to see how truly blessed we are.
Take some time today and celebrate someone. Can you allow the excitement to build as you peek out your window waiting for your neighbor to find the card or baked goodies you left for them… Can you allow the excitement to build as you wait for a phone call or an e-mail letting you know you didn’t have to do that, but it means so much… Can you allow the excitement to build around you as you see how truly blessed you are by your family, your friends, your neighbors, and your co-workers?
My wife recently spent a few days away from us with some of the friends she made while in college. My wife had barely walked out the door when the kids started asking if we could have a surprise for her when she returned home. They kids wanted to decorate our daughters room like a cave (we have recently gone to Carlsbad Caverns in New Mexico, and I think that was still on their minds) with bats and a few leopards. I tried to focus their energy and enthusiasm into something that might make Mom feel more special when she got home. Unfortunately she returned before we had a chance to finish our plans.
This last weekend our Church had a get together to show the staff how much we appreciate all they do as we minister together in our church and to our community. I was a little worried about a small turn out for our get together. I was amazed at the number of people that showed up and the amount of cards of appreciation and food that was brought to celebrate and honor our staff.
We like to be honored. We like for others to tell us and show us that we have done a good job or that we have been missed. I think that we need to be celebrated from time to time.
But I am beginning to think just as much as we need to be celebrated, we need to celebrate others. For our kids it was not just that mom and dad were coming home, but there was a buildup of excitement as they waited for our return. I think those that attended our staff appreciation get together were just as excited as the staff to be there and to enjoy the homemade ice cream and other goodies that were brought.
When is the last time you took the time to show someone else how you feel about them. When is the last time you made a phone call, sent a text message or an e-mail, or wrote a note to someone just to tell them you hope they are having a great day? When we take the time to show others how much they mean to us, we begin to see how truly blessed we are.
Take some time today and celebrate someone. Can you allow the excitement to build as you peek out your window waiting for your neighbor to find the card or baked goodies you left for them… Can you allow the excitement to build as you wait for a phone call or an e-mail letting you know you didn’t have to do that, but it means so much… Can you allow the excitement to build around you as you see how truly blessed you are by your family, your friends, your neighbors, and your co-workers?
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Imitation
I am always amazed when my children imitate my mannerisms, or copy something I do or say. I have a black Texas Tech hat that is usually attached to my head. During my slacker days of college I would get up throw on my hat and go to class. As I matured I and left with my wife for seminary in Kentucky, I would get up and throw my hat on and go to class. Now, on days away from the office, that hat is usually plastered to my head. Until recently…
Our 20 month old son has developed a liking for MY hat. In fact, I am not really sure it is my hat anymore. If I am wearing the hat, he points at the hat and “asks” (ok so it is really a string of grunts, but I know what he means) to wear his daddy’s hat. He will walk around for hours with my hat on.
He is starting to imitate phrases that my wife and I use. I frequently see our other children in him as he learns to climb or say new words. I guess I also see a little bit of myself and Rebecca, after all, they all have imitated us at some point. I guess if you think too much about it, I can see a little bit of my mom and dad, and Rebecca’s mom and dad in my children’s mannerisms.
Our children imitate us because they want to be more like the grownups. We rarely think about it but they watch us to see what we do or how we do something, then they go and do likewise.
Sometimes it can be humbling to be a parent. My kids think so much of me that they want to imitate me, they want to do the things that I do, and they want to spend time with me. It happens more often than I would like, but there are times I act in a way I would be very embarrassed for my children to act. There are times I say things that my kids would be in trouble for saying, and it doesn’t make these things any better when my wife lovingly points out I would not want them to be imitating me at that particular moment…
Are we careful about how we act, because others are watching us, not in some creepy stalker way, but there are those who respect us and we may never realize it? They watch and they imitate. Eventually someone is going to watch and imitate those that watch and imitate us. Are the lives we are living, are our actions, or words worthy of being imitated? We can strive to do and be someone whose life encourages others do strive for more, or we can do whatever we want no matter how it affects others, and there will be those who do likewise.
Our 20 month old son has developed a liking for MY hat. In fact, I am not really sure it is my hat anymore. If I am wearing the hat, he points at the hat and “asks” (ok so it is really a string of grunts, but I know what he means) to wear his daddy’s hat. He will walk around for hours with my hat on.
He is starting to imitate phrases that my wife and I use. I frequently see our other children in him as he learns to climb or say new words. I guess I also see a little bit of myself and Rebecca, after all, they all have imitated us at some point. I guess if you think too much about it, I can see a little bit of my mom and dad, and Rebecca’s mom and dad in my children’s mannerisms.
Our children imitate us because they want to be more like the grownups. We rarely think about it but they watch us to see what we do or how we do something, then they go and do likewise.
Sometimes it can be humbling to be a parent. My kids think so much of me that they want to imitate me, they want to do the things that I do, and they want to spend time with me. It happens more often than I would like, but there are times I act in a way I would be very embarrassed for my children to act. There are times I say things that my kids would be in trouble for saying, and it doesn’t make these things any better when my wife lovingly points out I would not want them to be imitating me at that particular moment…
Are we careful about how we act, because others are watching us, not in some creepy stalker way, but there are those who respect us and we may never realize it? They watch and they imitate. Eventually someone is going to watch and imitate those that watch and imitate us. Are the lives we are living, are our actions, or words worthy of being imitated? We can strive to do and be someone whose life encourages others do strive for more, or we can do whatever we want no matter how it affects others, and there will be those who do likewise.
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