day 543: Hearing Or Listening?

There are no shortages in ways we are communicated to today. In fact, the messages come in so many different forms and so quickly, that we have to really work hard to be sure that we are not just receiving or hearing, but really listening. Listening goes beyond just taking in a message. True listening is about allowing something to sink in so that we internalize it and then when we respond or react we are doing so from a place where we have put the message into context and pulled it through our own filters for a comprehensive response. There are few things that are worse than getting back half an answer or finding out that the communication that we worked so hard to create, deliver, and ensure receipt, fell on deaf or uncaring ears. How we listen to others makes a huge difference in their willingness and desire to communicate with us again. Those who listen with both ears, an open mind and heart, and truly think about a response are the ones that people love to communicate and bring forth ideas, etc. We want to be known as those who go beyond hearing and come to be known as real listeners. We can read in Mark Chapter 4 how Jesus categorizes the different stages of listening in His parable of the farmer scattering seeds. We can also extend out the lesson to how we listen to others. If we allow the seeds that are sown to fall not on fertile ground we are losing a message and potentially alienating a person. Let us open up more than our ears and move from hearing to truly becoming listeners.

Reference: Mark 4:14-20 (New Living Testament)

day 542: Staying Relevant

The pace of change that is all around us can sometimes feel absurd. About the time we think we are up to date, or a just a little ahead, we find out that we are behind. I speak to different groups about the use of technology and I always say, "whatever we think is new is already old." It's true. Every day there is something new that has popped up and we have to consider whether or not we are going to take the time and effort to learn these new offerings, or stick with what we know and see what sticks and what doesn't. There is nothing wrong with this approach as long as we stay really close to what is new so that we can stay relevant and up to date. What we don't want to do is fall behind to a point where we feel like we can never catch up and our attitude slips into a defensive and/or opposing stance. Even worse, we can become cynical and before long we can look like curmudgeons. The risk in this is that we don't stay relevant and we get passed over for opportunities because others don't think we can learn or keep up. We might even find ourselves on the bubble when it comes to be thought of as someone who can keep the pace of change and be a part of the future, versus the past. The same can be said about our ability to influence and be the example to others that we want to be. We always have a new generation coming into the workforce and we need to be sure that we understand where they are coming from and what is important to them. They also need to see us as people who can relate to them. David felt the same way when he prayed to God in Psalm 71:18, "Let me proclaim your power to this new generation..." Today, think about those things and areas where with a little more effort and a little more energy you can stay relevant and up to date. Are there are things that you have been resisting but you know you need to dig into and learn? This time of year and thinking about goals for the New Year is a great time to make the commitment to staying relevant.


Reference: Psalm 71:18 (New Living Testament)

day 541: Thankfulness (Redux)

First published on day 290. I decided to re-run this post as it stands true today, just like last year. Happy Thanksgiving and have a GREAT holiday break.


I am just going to come out and say that there is not enough of a spirit of thankfulness when we are at work. Something not good happens when we put the key in the door or swipe the card key and cross the threshold into our workplaces. Sure, we tell people thank you throughout the day and we finish our emails with "thanks", but do we really, really have a spirit of thankfulness when it comes to our work and the people who we work with and around? When we are truly thankful for something we cherish it, we protect it, and we do whatever we have to do to keep that object, experience or person firmly in our lives. If we were to have everyone go around the room in a business meeting and do like we do in church and point out the things we were thankful for, it would be an interesting exercise to see what people highlight and even more interesting to see what they don't mention. When we do this at church, like I did this past weekend with the kids in my Sunday school class, the words come from the heart; family, friends, a house, food on the table, loved ones who care and pray for us, our church, the ability to freely worship, etc. And in this day and age, from adults you hear a lot more people sincerely thankful to have a job. But, if we come out from under the steeple and do the same exercise in the board room, I suspect the answers would be much different and way more superficial because the spirit of thankfulness is not alive and well in the workplace. Yes, there is a thankfulness for having a job in the first place, but even that is transferable and temporary. The spirit of thankfulness is getting down under the surface and really appreciating and loving something or someone for what they do and how they support us, and in return us caring so much that we would do nearly anything to keep them as part of our lives. This is a week where we should be going about the work of becoming thankful to others around us. Where that starts is with returning to the One who we can all be thankful and asking Him to instill that spirit within us. We read in Colossians 2:7; "Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness." If we want to be known and seen as someone who is thankful we have to position our lives and ourselves to Him first. Someone at your workplace today needs to know that they are appreciated and that you are thankful for them. Can you seek them out, find them today and reach out to them with a spirit of thankfulness and really tell them how thankful you are for them? What you get back in return may be a whole lot more good than you ever expected.

Reference: Colossians 2:7 (New Living Testament)

day 540: Moving To Bigger

As we work through our careers we think about moving up and sometimes moving to bigger companies to establish ourselves and (maybe) to prove that we can work and succeed on a bigger stage. Many people are most comfortable in smaller sized companies but there is certainly an entire group of people who move from one company to another with the hopes and dreams of getting into leadership positions at the largest of the large companies in the world. I've had friends who once they broke into these Fortune 50 senior executive positions would never consider moving down the ladder into a smaller organization. For them, there is challenge and prestige in large scale. For others, that is far less important. But to all the idea of moving to something bigger as it relates to challenge and growth is a common quest. What we have to define for ourselves is what is the correct definition of larger and more expansive. It could be the expanded role we are offered within our own company or it could be the same position in a larger company. It could be expanding and growing what we do now organically and sticking with it as it grows. It is hard to always discern and sometimes we only know by trial and error. We take the risk, we jump into something bigger and if it doesn't work out then we try and find our way back to a similar role that we had before. This can work or we can learn as much about the bigger job from others as we can and then take our own self-assessment as to whether or not this will be good for us, before we jump. Either way we find out somehow where we best fit in the size of company and role thing. This is another place where we shouldn't keep God out of our work. We should allow Him to lead us as we consider the growth of our career and where we should be. King David talked about the larger places and the responsibilities he was given in Psalm 18:19; "He brought me forth also into a large place; he delivered me, because he delighted in me." When we wonder and plan about moving to something bigger, we should not forget that He knows what fits for each of us and if we allow Him to lead and ourselves to follow, we will discover our perfect size opportunities.

Reference: Psalm 18:19 (New Living Testament)

day 539: Who Is Thinking About You?

It's not an unusual statement or thought to hear that someone is wondering if there really is anyone at work who thinks about them. Well of course there is someone who thinks about them, but what they are wondering does anyone "really think" about their well-being, their career development, their dreams, their passions and the impact that the job is having on them at home or in their relationships? This questioning thought usually comes at the time when the person wondering is trying to figure out how they are doing, how they are perceived, or how their career is progressing or not. And no matter where they turn there isn't someone else who is there to talk to them and provide a perspective that is personal. Anyone who has felt this way is not alone. We all have been there and how we come out of our time of questioning can either end up in us moving through to where we are much less concerned about who is watching out for us, or we never quite come through and we end up changing jobs or companies to go somewhere where we feel like we are listened to, appreciated, loved, and watched over. This is real and something that everyone goes through at some point in their career. Here is what we all need to remember. Regardless of what we think, we can know that there is one who is always thinking of us. David writes of God for us; "How precious are your thoughts about me, O God. They cannot be numbered! I can't even count them; they outnumber the grains of sand! And when I wake up, you are still with me!" When we question who is watching out for us, then we don't need to sweat it as God is doing all the thinking we will ever need and He is not going to let us be forgotten, overlooked or misplaced. So, when no one at the office is paying attention to us let's not let it get us down because we can know who is thinking about us!

Reference: Psalm 139:17-18 (New Living Testament)

day 538: The Opposite Reaction

Every once in a while we are fortunate enough to be the presence of someone who has a opposite reaction to what we expect and we are amazed. Usually we don't want opposite reactions. Usually we want a predictable and expected response but in one particular case, the "opposite reaction" is extraordinary and this is when someone is being rewarded, getting thanked, or being showered with accolades. It is at this moment that the opposite reaction is always the best. In fact, if the reaction is genuinely opposite then we will actually go and tell others about it. What I mean is when someone shows full humility and passes their accolades on to someone else and while in that moment puts themselves so far below others that we are all amazed, touched and moved it becomes special. It is because the person's behavior is an "opposite" reaction to what most other people will do. It's amazing how many times throughout the day we have the opportunity to show humility. It starts with when we receive praise for the work we do. Since very little work is done by someone alone, are we taking that moment to show off someone else or show off ourselves? When it comes time to receive the award does it become ours or is it the teams? If we are looking for a role model we have to look no further than In Numbers 12:3 where we are told; "Now Moses was more humble than any other man on earth". Just to read that right, "...than any other man on earth". Yes, the Moses that we now hold up as such a great man and example can also be looked at as the man who must have done the "opposite" all the time as he was known to be a man of humility. This week what opportunities did you have to do the opposite and turn the glory and the spotlight over to others? What opportunities will you have today or next week? Remember, if we have the "opposite reaction" of what others expect from us, and we model humility like Moses, then our opposite reaction for what the world expects becomes then exactly what God expects.

Reference: Numbers 12:3 (New Living Testament)

day 537; Alertness

For most of us, alertness comes after the second cup of coffee or the morning workout. Thinking about being alert early in the AM is hard for a lot of people. I just happen to be wired to be a morning person so I enjoy getting up early, but alertness is not so great for me later in the day and into the evening. Being alert is a skill. Even when our bodies are alert it does not mean that our mind is the same. We can let our minds drift or be caught up in a different thought and totally miss what is going on around us and while we are totally awake, we are not alert. In today's business environment, being alert seems more important than ever. Being finely tuned to what is going on around us and being smartly aware of where the business cycle is going as it relates to our own companies and jobs has become important. If for nothing else, there are many people who feel like they need to be this alert for survival in the workplace. The fear of losing a job is still high and the concerns about what will happen next with the economy and employment remains of great interest and consternation. Staying alert has become an important part of what we need to do. But staying alert to the world is not enough. To be totally in touch with ourselves and what we are supposed to be doing with our work and lives we must be just as, and more so, alert and in tune with God as we are the with world we live within. Jesus told his disciples to stay alert in Mark 14:38; "Keep alert and pray. Otherwise temptation will overcome you. For though the spirit is willing enough, the body is weak." Today, gauge how alert you are and not only how alert you are to the world around you, but to what God has in store for you and what He is trying to say to you. This is the level of alertness that He wants from us and His words are as true for us today as they were for His disciples.

Reference: Mark 14:38 (New Living Testament)

day 536: The Distant Future

Part and parcel to working is the concern and thinking about our future and our career plan. It's a funny thing that we feel like with our work that we have to be thinking not only about our current job, but also about the next one and the one after that and that we get advice to be planning our career at all times. What can happen though is that we become so caught up in the thinking about the distant future that we lose the perspective of the job we are in and being sure that we do the current job well and get the most from the experience, etc. We are not good at living in the moment and being very objective about our current jobs as ones that we can enjoy and from which we can gain great satisfaction. I have a friend who is never in the moment in his job. He is always thinking and talking about the next job and what he can do to further his career and he has little to no regard for the ramifications of him always focusing on the distant future. He can't see that he is not giving his all to the company where he now works, is not investing in the people around him like they need and want him to do, and drives his friends and his family a bit crazy with not settling down. I am not sure what it is that drives this distant future focus versus living and working in the present, but he is not alone in this. Many people are like this. As I was reading the book of Ezekiel, God gives Ezekiel many instructions on what to tell the different countries and leaders about what is going to happen to them in the distant future. This is where the words "distant future" struck me as we cannot ignore what is coming and we must plan and be cognizant of the future, but we can't obsess on it either and miss the life that we have been put here to live. Being present for those around us and being okay in the job we are in today can yield many benefits and positives. Today, as you go through your day, think about how much time you are spending truly in the present and getting the most from it, versus worrying and obsessing about the distant future. It may well be that today, if focused on, could be of such value and worth that it blocks out all concern of the distant future.

Reference: Ezekiel

day 535: Spreading It Around

Purposed worKING spends a lot of time on trying to help each of us become better and better in living out our work lives in a way that God would want us to so that we can bring glory to Him in all that we do. There are so many lessons from the Bible that it feels like the fountain that can’t run dry. Each day that we face the small and big challenges of our work day and we are given the opportunity to either live, work and walk in the steps of our Lord and the examples and instructions given to us or to ignore and move in our own patterns and those of the world. As believers we know what we are to do, but when surrounded by so many others and the influences upon us, we can fall onto a path that we didn’t want to walk on but just end up there. It’s hard to be in the world. It’s hard to work. And, it’s even harder to work the way we want day in and day out. As disciples of Christ we have big charges put in front us. When Jesus says; “Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples”, He is not mincing words and He is making it clear as to what we are supposed to do. And as we all know, loving one another, all the time and consistently is as about as hard as it gets. But, this is what we are to do. At work we can show our love by being ones who are caring, listening, respectful, encouraging, appreciative and giving of ourselves. Maybe no one will ever describe it at the office as “love” but we will send the same important and powerful message. Today, look around you and think of someone who needs your attention and caring. There is always someone, so find at least one and go a little further with them today so that the descriptive words above would be tagged on you today if the other person was asked to describe you. Spread it around today and also see if it doesn’t catch on too.

Reference: John 13:35 (New Living Testament)

day 534: Clearing the Air

When we show up at a meeting or a presentation and we take stock of the people in the room it is always a more difficult moment if we look around the room and there are people there who we either have some unfinished business, or worse yet, there is someone there who we have a problem with that is unresolved. It can be felt in the air. If we know that one of those people are going to be there, even before we go into the meeting or presentation, it can really throw us off and give us angst. It begs the question why we ever let ourselves get into the situation where we either harbor ill feelings or we allow someone to feel the same about us. I was in a meeting the other day when someone else said something to which I disagreed. I tried to say to her, as politely as possible that I was in disagreement and that I thought we should think of things in a different way. She didn't say anything back, but it was clear that she did not like my disagreeing with her. We went through that section of the meeting and at the break I could just feel the coldness in the air. I got up and went over to her at the other side of the room to say that if I had overstated my disagreement, that I apologize. In a moment, the air was clear and we were back to the good place we were at the beginning of the meeting. If I hadn't done that, then I am sure that the rough patch would have gotten rougher and the bad feelings would have not gotten better. It's a principle we should all follow in that we shouldn't let any bad feelings be harbored or grow and its nothing new as we can read in Matthew; "So if you are presenting a sacrifice at the altar in the Temple and you suddenly remember that someone has something against you, leave your sacrifice there at the altar. Go and be reconciled to that person." We may not be going to the altar today, but we are always stepping in the footsteps of our Lord and He does not want us to be the ones who allow for others to have something against us. We are to be the ones to step forward, reconcile, forgive and move on. We are to be the ones who feel the responsibility to clear the air. As you start this week, is there any clearing of the air that you need to do?

Reference: Matthew 5:23-24 (New Living Testament)

day 533: Dealing

Much of work is about "dealing". Dealing shows up all over the place. We deal when we work with customers and negotiate fees, services, deliveries, etc. We deal with our co-workers when trying to decide who is going to do what and when. We deal with our boss when we figure out pay, hours, assignments, performance assessments, etc. We deal with ourselves when we inwardly decide on how hard to work and how much to put into our jobs. We deal with our family and loved ones over the days and hours we will be working versus be with them. Yes, we are constantly dealing. There are those who are superb at getting the best deal and those that aren't that good at getting a deal closed successfully. Dealing is a skill but it is just as much as an art as the best deals are those that everyone who is involved walks away feeling satisfied and treated fairly. A deal that is one-sided, while at the time looks good for the winner, is not a good deal. Anytime the other side feels like a loser or taken advantage of, then it is almost assured that the deal won't last and the relationship of the people who made the deal will be acrimonious. The art part of deal-making is being able to read and know the emotions of the other person and knowing when to pull-up and stop pushing any further. When in doubt, we can do two things to know where the line is drawn. First, we should apply the Golden Rule. It if it would feel bad to us if we were on the other side of the deal, then we've pushed too far. Secondly, we must listen to God's voice speaking to us through the principle taught in Leviticus 25:14; "When you make an agreement with a neighbor to buy or sell property, you must never take advantage of each other." Today, you are going to "deal" a number of times. Think hard about what God has said to us about making those deals. If we become one who always makes a fair and equitable deal, then we will also be known as one who others can approach and gain learning. We never know when we might get the opportunity to tell others about the most marvelous and fantastic deal of everlasting life and when that chance comes, we want to be able to do so as a person who consistently and credibly reflects in our work lives and rest of life the ways and the principles of our Lord.

Reference: Leviticus 25:14 (New Living Testament)

day 532: Master Key

When I was a boy I saw a custodian at our school who had one of those huge key rings with what appeared to be a hundred or more keys attached hanging off of his belt. I said to my Father, "When I grow up, I want to have that many keys to carry too." My Father replied to me, "No son, when you grow up, you want to be the person who only has to carry one key." I was too young then to understand the message, but over the years, I learned that he was correct. When you are the person who only has to carry one key, that being the master key, then yes, that is what you want. When given the master key, every door is yours to open and to lock. The master key comes with responsibility and accountability and it is a privilege not a right. The master key is a great metaphor for leadership. Leaders open, shut and lock doors for others. They must learn to do so with wisdom, caring and grace. Decisions made are like doors opened or locked. Decisions unmade are like doors that are left open but must be shut. Having the master key is a big responsibility. Fortunately for us, as we bring God to work with us today, we have with us the One who carries the true master key. In Revelation 3:7 we read, "He is the one who has the key of David. He opens doors, and no one can shut them; he shuts doors, and no one can open them." Today as we walk through the doors of our offices, let's be reminded that those doors that are open and shut for us in our careers are because He wants them open or shut for us. Let's pray to Him for the continued guidance and wisdom for the opening and shutting of the doors that are within our own control. Let's also remember that we have been entrusted with our own set of master keys that affect and influence others and may we each use and wield those keys wisely and for His purpose.

Reference: Revelation 3:7 (New Living Testament)

day 531: Recognizing What You Already Have

Consultants, which are everywhere it seems, are many times a function of the principle that we just don't believe we have good enough ideas or expertise inside of our organizations and that we must go outside of the company to get what we need. It's the grass is greener on the other side thing. So, consultants are brought in to tell us what to do and give us their big ideas. How many times though have we sat around during or after the consultants' presentations and say to ourselves sarcastically, "yeah, like tell me something I don't already know!". What is clear about this, so many times, is that the ideas and the expertise is already in the house, we just haven't figured out how to unlock those or we have put constraints on allowing people the freedom to express their opinions or implement their ideas. But, if someone comes from the outside, they don't carry any baggage and they don't feel any inhibitions to bringing forward their ideas, even though those ideas may not be anything new. We as believers know an account of a man who was not listened to in his own hometown. I often think of the people who were in Nazareth who missed out on being able to be up close and personal with Jesus because they just couldn't see past the familiarity of who he was. The same may be happening within your own company today. Are there people who have the answers and the ideas but we are looking past them because we are familiar or we don't listen to them because we don't like the way they say it, or we have heard it before? Today would be a great day to stop and see if you can recognize what you already have inside your organization and see if there aren't already people within your company who aren't yet being listened to, or need to be heard. Maybe one of the areas we are to lead is in being the person who can unlock those people and give them their voice!

Reference: Mark 6:1-6 (New Living Testament)

day 530: Condemning

I was sitting in a meeting the other day and I listened to one person condemn another (of course the person being condemned was not in the room) and without hesitation another person jumped on the the bandwagon to be shortly followed by another person. It was a bit of a bloodbath. With one small push back that maybe this wasn't a fully fair assessment that was taking place, everyone backed down and adjusted their stance. This interaction reminded me of how easy it is to tear someone down and how hard it is to get people to instead build others up. We are quick to condemn and we are fast to pass the blame and tag others for maybe what we should be stepping up and owning ourselves. I've found that those who fluidly condemn others are not the same people who take accountability and accept their lumps when they should. These are also the same people who others either fear or even avoid because they worry that whatever is being said about others is also said about them when they leave the room. Paul knew how easy it is for people to be condemning when he point blank denounced it in Romans when he was talking to those who he was working with; "So let's stop condemning each other. Decide instead to live in such a way that you will not cause another believer to stumble and fall." That Paul had to say such a thing to the believers he was working with, only reinforces how he knew that we easily condemn and do so without the regard we should have for others. Today, think about how much condemning is going on around your office and reflect on what part you might be playing or what you can do to bring the condemnation down.

Reference: Romans 14:13 (New Living Testament)

day 529: Layering

No one gets to be good at what they do without layering one skill and experience on top of another until they come to a place where they are really good, or even a master of what they have been working towards. As much as it would be great to get good by just showing up, we have to layer and layer until we finally have built up enough to draw upon so we really know what we are doing. There are many people who are not willing to spend the time and energy to build the layers. Either they don't believe that they should have to put in the time and efforts, or they are just too lazy to put in the hard work. Layering takes time. Layering takes patience. Layering takes an attitude of not believing that we don't need any more experience, any more practice, any more coaching, or any more discipline. Those that do layer and understand the importance of this are the ones who are able to have a few layers peeled back or punctured and still have much to work with going forward. We must learn to layer and learn to do so with each and every opportunity given to us. Peter tells us this as well when he writes; "In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God's promises. Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge." Peter is saying that we must layer our faith with our moral excellence, but even that is not enough. He says that we then must add the layer of knowledge. Peter wants us to continue to grow and grow through adding these layers into our life. Today, think about whether or not you are layering as you should.

Reference: 2 Peter 1:5 (New Living Testament)

day 528: Sucession Planning

Succession planning is a funny thing. All organizations at some point get asked (or sometimes by a Board of Directors, required) to do succession planning and articulate ideas about what would happen if the boss got run over by a bus and there was no time for planning, developing, grooming, etc. It's never a fulfilling exercise because choices are made, but not really, and no one really knows for sure what would happen, and everyone goes into the exercise thinking that none of this will ever happen anyway. I have never been part of a succession plan that had to be "triggered" because of a disaster or unforeseen change, but I have had friends who have been the executive in charge of the succession plan when the CEO or another top executive has died unexpectedly. What these friends have said is that when the succession plan has to get pulled out and looked at in this circumstance that they wish they would have paid a lot more attention to what was being put on the piece of paper, than they did when it was created. Many times a succession plan becomes a "formality" and we just do it, to do it. It doesn't have much teeth to it at all. One of the reasons why is because even if the decision is firm as to who the next leader will be, not much effort is put into getting that person ready as if they would have to take over tomorrow. The military actually does do this because they truly do have to have a real plan in place so that someone can take over without hesitation, within battle and never miss a beat. I many times wonder what is our responsibility to other believers within our work organizations and what are we doing to ensure that if we leave the company or something changes that those other people remain strong, courageous and enthused to bring glory to God in their own work? If they are looking to us as role models (someone always is) what are we doing to provide our own succession plan for them? Are we doing the things today that we should to make them stronger and more capable or are we taking for granted that they will always be there, or that we will always be there for them? David says; "Now that I am old and gray, do not abandon me, O God. Let me proclaim your power to this new generation, your mighty miracles to all who come after me." Let's not wait until we are old and gray or until the time is too late. Let's find those around us and help them "move up" and be ready for what is to come. That in itself could make all that we do today worthwhile.

Reference: Psalm 71:18 (New Living Testament)

day 527: Knowing The Wind

Work consultants use wind analogies a lot. They talk about having "wind at your back", being able to "tack with the changes of the wind", how to battle "headwinds', understanding "turbulence", etc. The wind is a good metaphor for lots of things that are in our work lives because it is invisible but very forceful and it can either be a huge help or a real hindrance and the fact that the wind changes so often and unpredictably, it becomes even that much more relevant with the way our work and jobs can seem. Within our jobs there are many unseen factors that affect how we work and how we feel about our work. It's like when we walk into a meeting room and there is a chill in the air or a heaviness in the air that we know, without anyone saying anything, that this is going to be a tough meeting or we are getting ready to deal with a subject that no one really wants to talk about. And the opposite can happen when the boss comes bouncing down the hall, in a good mood and just wants to drop in and "catch up". Whatever it is, it's like the air and the wind and it shifts, swirls, and moves like its' own force throughout work. Knowing the wind is a smart thing but even smarter is knowing where and how we stand within the changing winds. What we want to make sure we are not doing is spending our precious time trying to figure out always where the wind is going, but instead, know where we are going and how we are getting there, regardless of the where the wind is blowing. Those who only follow the wind will be known as being political or indecisive. But, those who know who they are and where they are going and then manage the wind will be known differently, in a very positive way. This starts with knowing what is important for us to be doing and sticking with it. Solomon talks about his own work when he was "lost" and was not focusing on what he knew to be important; "But as I looked at everything I had worked so hard to accomplish, it was all so meaningless. It was like chasing the wind. There was nothing really worthwhile anywhere." No, we are not to "chase the wind". We are to be strong, firm and able to withstand whatever the wind may bring. Today, let's take a look at what we are doing and making important in our work lives and be sure that we are focused on the right things and like the wheat and chaff that separates with the wind, we are staying focused on the things that the wind can't carry away.

Reference: Ecclesiastes 2:11 (New Living Testament)

day 526: At The End Of The Day...

All day long we go back and forth from issue to issue, disagreement to disagreement, debate to debate. It's a pretty good chance that today at the coffee bar there are polarized debates that could happen, and maybe they will as winners and losers align and take their sides. It's not always pretty but it is real. The same thing happens in offices all across the country over all kinds of issues. Disagreements are just part of work and that's okay as if everyone agreed on all things then there wouldn't be new ideas or the needed tension to challenge the status quo. But, what can't happen is what happens too many times when people move beyond the issues and begin to take disagreements personally or turn an issue into a personal attack on someone else. I was recently at a dinner where new people were seated with each other and during the conversation one person began to move from a good debate to moving the conversation into a personal challenge. I had to intervene and tell the person, who I did not know, that that level of language and attack is inappropriate and unacceptable. The dinner was pretty cold after that. It is always easy to let a conversation or disagreement devolve into something that is not healthy. Here is what we need to remember. While it all seems so important right now and it seems worth fighting for, when the times change, or we move on, it is likely that what seemed so important will have dissolved or disappeared. But let's hold on to the things that do last and put our focus there; "There are three things that will endure-faith, hope, and love-and the greatest of these is love." Let's today focus on these three things and let the other stuff go. And if the greatest focus can be on love, then the disagreements and arguments should stay just at the place where they should be.

Reference: 1 Corinthians 13:13 (New Living Testament)

day 525: Decision Day

Today, all across America, people will be taking time before, after, or during their workday to go to an election poll and cast their vote. This happens in some form each year, but it's only during the Presidential elections and the two-years after that the country starts paying much attention. On election day we are given the opportunity to exercise our democratic right and we choose our elected officials and take a stand on issues that are up for vote. We stand in a booth, or we fill out a ballot and we make decisions. It's not unlike work and the jobs that we do where we make decisions all day long. The difference here is that we make a decision that no one really knows that we made unless we tell others when we are asked. Nonetheless we are forced, all at one time as a country, to make a decision. I sometimes wonder if one of the reasons we have such a low voting percentage in our country doesn't hinge on people's unwillingness, or fear, of making a decision. If our jobs and workplace are any indication, then this could be a real factor to low voter turnout. I have observed how hard it is for people to make decisions. I know that more people are indecisive than not, because when someone is decisive, they get called out and recognized for being so in a very favorable way. We are to be decisive and know where we stand on things. James tells us just this in his letter; "People like that should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. They can't make up their minds. They waver back and forth in everything they do." Decisiveness does not come naturally to us. Many of us have to be forced into it before we will make a decision. That is probably why there is an election day process; to be a forcing function for a collective decision. Today, consider if you are being decisive or not? Are there decisions that others are waiting on from you? If so, also consider that today would be a good day to get those decisions behind you. Make them and move on. Election day is a decision day, so let this be a decisive day for all of us.

Reference: James 1:7 (New Living Testament)

day 524: Leading By Example

Who do we look up to? Who is it in the company that we pattern ourselves after and would like to be like? Everyone has someone that if we think about it hard enough we will put in this category. Even if we are at the top of company, or a functional leader, there are still bigger companies and more distinguished peers that we can look up to and try and be like. There was a time that even the CEOs of the largest companies across America, when asked, would mention people like Jack Welch as their role model. We all look up. But, what we need to understand is that we may also be the role model of someone else. In fact, it's a pretty good chance that this is true and we probably don't even know that this is so. Just like we may have never told our role models that they are such, the same is true of someone else not talking to us. Wow, this leaves us with responsibilities and accountability that we don't even know about. But, it is does not absolve us of this responsibility. We can't be like certain professional sports athletes who think it is cool to make this counterclaim of not being a role model. It is what it is and we need to make the most of the opportunities provided to us. David talks about this in Psalm 71:7; "My life is an example to many, because you have been my strength and protection." Yes, we are the examples to many and today would be a great day to check in and ensure that we are leading by good examples. If others are watching and patterning themselves after us, then we need to do all we can to be an example to others that we should be. Moment after moment today, those opportunities will present themselves. Now, we just need to watch and lead by example.

Reference: Psalm 71:7 (New Living Testament)