Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Just a thought

While praying and reading the Psalms I ran across a little scripture that packed a powerful punch. Psalms 119:144b "Give me understanding that I may live."
I am a person that desires to live; the other option is not something I would choose. I desire to live the fullest life G-d has for me. However I find myself not living to the fullest in areas from time to time. Why? Maybe it's because I have lost understanding and therefore lost life.
I need to pray for a new understanding for the day I am living.
We can learn a lot but do we understand what we know? Do I understand how to apply what I know? Do I seek to continue to learn and apply?
In every place we walk and interact with others we need understanding. I need it with my wife, kids, family and friends. I may know them but do I understand them.
I need a fresh understanding of my wife to see new life in our marriage. I need a fresh understanding of my kids (they are not babies anymore) to see life today. I need a fresh understanding of family and friends to add life.
Maybe our relationships are struggling because we have lost what it means to understand each other and therefore lost life.
You just don't understand!

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

What About Effort

“Always lead never follow”
Do you have the effort to lead and not follow? As I ride my bike uphill this word comes to mind again and again. Effort, Effort, effort, effort,effort, effort.

Leading takes effort – In a race you hit this idea called “The Wall.’ This is when your body and mind feels like giving up. You feel like you can’t go another step. This is when effort kicks in and you just keep going.
Effort defined is mental or physical energy that is exerted in order to achieve a purpose. Effort in leadership is staying in the leader’s position even when you are tired. Effort is going forward. Effort is taking another step. Leaders that exert this energy to overcome “The Wall” usually go far beyond what they thought they could.
Leaders have to put forth a strong effort.
Remember others are following if you are leading, but forth an effort.

Monday, May 11, 2009

Always Lead



As I strapped on my shoes for another bike ride I noticed a little tag attached to the top of my shoe. It said “Always lead never follow” interesting!
Although I don’t know if I believe in this fully, there are some great thoughts tied with this statement about leadership. We all have a race before us and we need to run it as if we will win. To win you have to lead.
Leading takes energy- There is one thing for sure, to lead in a race, you have to have energy to stay in front. This energy comes from many different sources. The food you take in, the liquid you drink and the rest your body needs. When it comes to leadership what you take in determines your place in the race. If you take in junk all the time you will not have the energy to stay up front. You may have a burst of energy that propels you to the front but that energy does not last. To stay in the leader’s position you have to consider your intake. What’s feeding you? What are you reading and looking to for wisdom? How are you spending your down time? Who are you listening to? Where does your energy come from?
More thoughts later.....