We live in a very busy, fast-paced time! Everything is instant gratification. I need this, and I need it now – not five minutes from now, but NOW!
What’s more, everything that has been promoted as saving us time has actually gobbled up more time that it has saved. Take email, for example. It was said to save us time in communicating with others. Initially, a reply was expected within 24 hours. Now, if you reply in 24 minutes, everyone wants to know why you didn’t reply sooner.
As I was finishing up a divine slice of tiramisu for breakfast (don't judge!) a meme I recently saw flashed in my mind. It read: “I want a hot body, but I also want tacos.”
As I chuckled, it occurred to me that this is the age-old struggle for all of us. And I don't mean the choice between a fit body and tacos, or in my case, tiramisu. This silly meme represented the struggle between our deepest, long-term desires and the impulses for immediate gratification that always seem to stand in the way.
Being an agent for good isn’t difficult. Every human on this planet has the ability to do good to his or her fellow human. A smile. A warm meal. A kind word. Many, many people contribute to the well-being of their neighbors each day through large and small selfless acts of kindness. By their good works they influence others.
Leadership is influencing others.
If what you do, say, or how you live influences others… you’re leading. You are a leader.
An Afghan proverb says; “if you think you’re leading and no one is following, then you’re only taking a walk.”
It was never God’s intent for us to live isolated or alone. The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him (Genesis 2:18).”
It was never God’s intent for us to live isolated or alone.
“Choose your friends wisely,” my mom said.
At the time her advice sounded overprotective and patronizing, but the older I grew, the more appreciative I became of this simple truth. I’m now repeating the same mantra to my 7- and 9-year-old sons in hope they will understand the power of this choice—sooner rather than later.
Choosing and empowering the right people within a leader’s organization is as critical as choosing the right friends and influencers in his or her personal life.
I recently signed up to be a mentor in the women’s ministry program at my church. The first time I met my mentee, I asked her what she’d like to accomplish through our time together. Almost the first word from her was that she need to be encouraged. She’s a single mom with an early teen boy, and her 84-year-old mother lives with her.
So much to do, so little time!
Each evening, some of us lay our heads on our pillows and attempt to sleep guilt-free as we leave an unfinished to-do list. No wonder we have insomnia! It is most difficult to live from a place of resting in God.
“You will NOT get in here,” they gloated from behind their city walls. “Even the blind and the lame can ward you off.”
In the fifth chapter of 2 Samuel, we see that the art of trash talking is as old as time itself.
When my granddaughter, Abbey, was about two years old, she already loved going to the beach. My daughter and her husband would take her, and Abbey would be saying, “beach, beach” as soon as she saw the water. As they all three began to walk toward the ocean, Abbey would sit down with her sand bucket at the first tide pool, where the ocean had filled a small hole in the sand, content that she had arrived. She stopped short, seeing only the small pool when the entire ocean was available.
One of my Christmas traditions happens after the holiday hustle and bustle has calmed down. I anticipate the peace and quiet after the constant stream of seasonal visitors have gone home, and I’ve run out of creative ways to serve ham and turkey leftovers.
