Opportunity Beyond Your Wildest Dreams

4 Take Homes from The Secret Life of Walter Mitty

What are you waiting for?

A couple of weeks ago, I wrote about 3 Essentials for Finding Meaning in the Mundane.  Shortly after writing this post, I watched The Secret Life of Walter Mitty for the first time.  In the movie, Walter Mitty (played by Ben Stiller) seems to be trapped in his own mundane world.  His fear of failure along with his inability to connect with reality keeps him locked in a world of daydreams and unrealized adventure.

I loved the movie.  I think it was inspiring, and I think it is a great reminder for all of us stuck in the ordinary.  Here are a few things I took home from the movie:

4 Take Homes from The Secret Life of Walter Mitty

1. We need to get busy living or get busy dying.  Walter Mitty lived in a daydream world.  He seemed to be withering away as he pulled away socially from reality.  He was missing out on a life worth living.  I don’t want that kind of life, and I think he realized he didn’t want that kind of life either.
2. A life of adventure requires continuous leaps of faith.  Walter jumped on a plane to fly to Greenland.  He jumped in a helicopter to fly out to a ship.  Then he jumped out of the helicopter into the cold waters of the Atlantic Ocean.  These jumps are a great reminder that we also need to take leaps.  A leap of faith can be scary.  And a leap of faith can be exhilarating.  More than anything a leap of faith provides the opportunity to take the next step in the adventure of life.
3. Sometimes what we are looking for is right in front of our faces.  In the movie, Walter goes on a mission to find a missing negative of a photo that is destined to land on the front page of the last print issue of Life magazine.  He travels to Greenland and Iceland in an effort to track down the negative.  Eventually, he discovers that the negative is actually in a wallet given to him by the photographer (played by Sean Penn).  Sometimes we are guilty of going on wild goose chases in an effort to discover our life purpose or to find the next big thing for our lives.  Maybe we need to look around right where we are.  The purpose or the next big thing may be right in front of our faces.
4. What we do matters.  Sometimes it feels like we’re stuck doing the same thing day after day.  We don’t feel appreciated, and we often don’t feel recognized.  At the end of the movie, a photo of Walter Mitty ends up on the cover of Life magazine.  The picture shows Walter looking at pictures for the magazine.  Walter was responsible for handling the photos for the magazine for the past thirty years.  These photos inspired readers for decades, and Walter played a key role in making them part of the magazine.  What he did mattered.  Take time to inventory your impact.  What you are doing matters.  You are making a difference.  Don’t underestimate the amazing impact you are having!

I look forward to watching the movie again.  It definitely found a place on my list of favorite movies.

Did you see The Secret Life of Walter Mitty?  What was one of your take homes from the movie?

What movie from your list of favorites do I need to see next?

4 Keys To Living Out Your Purpose

Yesterday, we talked about building God’s platform.  We mentioned that this was part of our main purpose.  We brushed by the other part of our main purpose.  We are called to bring glory to God.  AND we are called to enjoy Him forever.

Our purpose is to enjoy God forever.

Did you know that was your purpose?

You and I were made to enjoy God forever.

I think we miss it.  I think we are so busy pursuing our agenda that we miss out on what we were made for in the first place.

What does it look like to enjoy God forever?

This is the question that has been spinning around in my head for a few hours, and I’m beginning to realize that it’s a very important question to ponder.  If this is my main purpose in life, I want to be good at it.  I want to make sure I’m getting it right.

The forever part won’t be fully realized until we get to heaven, but I think there is ample reason to believe we are called to enjoy God now in the lives we live.

4 Keys To Living Out Your Purpose

1. Acknowledge God’s provision in your life.  Start by thanking God for your food.  Thank Him for you shelter.  Accept that He is all you need.  (Psalm 16:5-11)
2. Rest in the future hope of eternity with God.  No one knows exactly what heaven will be like.  I believe it will be far more amazing that we can comprehend.  In Revelation 21:3-4, we are reminded that there will be no more death, no more crying, no more pain, and no more mourning.
3. Recognize and accept the good news of the gospel.  Life can get us down.  We mess up all the time.  We face challenges that send us into a tailspin towards depression.  We need good news.  We have good news.  Christ came to bring us good news (Luke 2:10).  Sometimes we need to remind ourselves.
4. Do what you were made to do.  Find your God-given passion.  Use your God-given gifts.  And live a life that honors God.  If it’s writing books, do it with all you have.  If it’s cooking food, cook for the King every chance you get.  If it’s teaching, teach with energy and focus.  We find God’s pleasure and our purpose when we follow through on the passions and gifts he has given us.

This clip from Chariots of Fire is worth watching.  It talks about honoring God, and it provides a terrific glimpse into what it looks like to enjoy God and to find our purpose here on earth:

What is your purpose?  How are you living out your purpose?

Donald Sterling, The NBA, The Clippers, and The Zipper

Have you been following the news in the NBA this week?

I’m not talking about the playoffs, wins, losses, or Lebron James.  This week, the news has been filled with reports and opinions about Los Angeles Clippers owner, Donald Sterling.  I don’t know all the details, but Sterling apparently made some significant racial comments that were caught on tape and broadcast across the country.

His comments set off a firestorm of calls for him to be removed from the NBA.  His own players protested before their last game by taking off their Clippers shirts and wearing black wristbands and socks.  Sponsors have quickly been pulling away from the Clippers organization unwilling to be associated with a team owned by such a bigot.

Clearly, Sterling’s remarks were completely wrong, and the NBA has dealt swiftly by banning him from the NBA for life and fining him $2.5 million (which is the maximum fine permitted by the league constitutional bylaws).

Do you think Donald Sterling would like to take back his words?  Do you think he was really thinking when he spoke?

It’s easy to point the finger at public figures like Donald Sterling – after all, leaders are expected to be above reproach, and they should know better.  And they are easy targets.  Upon further thought, I know we’re all guilty of this kind of speaking without thinking.  Hopefully, we don’t say things with such hatred, but I’m sure we say things we regret.

I was reminded today of a time when I was in junior high, and I was at a dress rehearsal for a musical that I was in at our church. Believe it or not, I was selected to sing a solo (who would have thought).  As a result, I was equipped with a wireless microphone. During one of our breaks while I was in the men’s room, I said some things that I later regretted.  When I returned from the break, I discovered from one of the sound people that my initial words were shared loud and clear in the sanctuary thanks to the wonders of wireless technology.  Thankfully, they quickly muted my microphone.  But it didn’t stop the feeling of embarrassment and regret that swept over me when I found out.

In all the cases above (including mine), the regret came after being caught.  Did we ever stop to think that God can hear us even if no one else can?  Did we ever stop to examine our hearts?  I’m reminded of two passages that speak to this. First, in the first few verses of Psalm 139, we’re told that not only does God know our words, but He even knows our thoughts:

O LORD, you have searched me and you know me.  You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar.  You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways.  Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O LORD.  Psalm 139:1-4

Secondly, in the first chapter of James, instructions our given that we should be slow to speak:

My dear brothers, take note of this:  Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires.  Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.  James 1:19-21

Sounds easy?

I’m not so sure.

I know that my thoughts and words are not always what they should be. So where do I go from here? I think it starts with being more in tuned to God, becoming more aware of times we think and say things that aren’t appropriate, and seeking God to help make a change.

Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Psalm 51:10

Have you tasted shoe leather recently?  How’s it taste?  What did you do to get that taste out of your mouth?

3 Essentials for Finding Meaning in the Mundane

Saturday night, I had the privilege of attending the Grove City College Touring Choir and Alumni Touring Choir Retirement Concert honoring professor and director, Dr. Douglas Browne.  Dr. Browne is retiring after teaching at the college for over 30 years.  The concert was truly amazing.  It gave me a small glimpse into the beautiful sounds of heaven.

At the end of the concert, Dr. Browne received a very long (and well-deserved) standing ovation.  I was moved by his deflection of personal praise as he commented that the praise belongs to God.

As we were standing in the lobby, a friend asked me about becoming a professor at Grove City College.  This would be quite an amazing job, but I’m not sure I have the credentials for such a position.  I responded how great it was to see someone being sent off into retirement with such fanfare.

After working at the same place for over eighteen years, I can say that I haven’t seen anyone sent off with such celebration with the exception of our previous branch manager who retired after working for the company for over forty years.  Maybe I’m a little jealous realizing that my send off from my current employer will most likely be met with a retirement watch, a pat on the back, and a simple thank you.

I want my years of service to mean more.  I want to know that I left a legacy.  I want to be remembered.

Is this response legitimate?  I think so.  But it made me think a lot more about finding meaning in the mundane.

Don’t get me wrong.  I like my job.  I like what I do most days.  I like the fact that I get to help people succeed every day.  And I like the fact that I get to come in and help people make decisions that honor the company and our customers.  But am I doing something that matters?

I think it’s important to have a perspective of humility when we think about leaving a legacy.  With this in mind, I kept coming back to these thoughts that are essential to finding meaning in the mundane.

3 Essentials for Finding Meaning in the Mundane

1. Don’t seek the praise of man.  This is tough.  I’m a people-pleaser.  I want people to say good things about Jon Stolpe.  This is misdirected desire.  Jesus warns against those who seek the praise of man:  “Yet at the same time many even among the leaders believed in him.  But because of the Pharisees they would not openly acknowledge their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue; for they loved human praise more than praise from God.”  John 12:42-43
2. Seek to build a treasure that lasts.  We strive after success.  We strive after wealth.  We strive after material items.  We strive after fame.  These things don’t last.  They fade away.  We can’t take them with us when we leave this life.  We need to come at life from a different perspective.  What we do matters.  We can point others to Christ.  This matters far more than a fancy retirement watch.  Jesus reminds us of the importance of building up a treasure for heaven:  “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.“  Matthew 6:19-21
3. Do it all in the name of the Lord.  It doesn’t matter what you do.  You may be a garbage collector.  You may be an operations manager for a construction company.  You may be a teacher, a policeman, a cashier, a farmer, or a librarian.  You have a choice to make.  Who are you going to serve?  And how are you going to serve?  My challenge to you (and me) is this:  Serve God, and serve Him with everything you have.  And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.  Colossians 3:17

Are you struggling to find meaning in the mundane?  I challenge you to look at what you’re doing with these three things in mind.

How do you find meaning in what you are doing each day?

On Track – Life Lessons from the Track & Field is now available on Amazon in paperback and for Kindle.  Click the link below to get your copy today.

As a reminder, I am offering a FREE pdf copy of the interior of the book to subscribers of The Stretched Newsletter.  Head over to the main page of the blog and sign up on the right hand menu bar to get your copy today for FREE!

Learning To Embrace Life’s Milestones

Life goes by pretty fast.

This was so obvious to me this weekend.

Leanne and I took the day off on Friday, and we took the kids out of school for the day, so we could pay a visit to Messiah College and Grove City College for Hannah’s first college visits.  This hardly seems possible.  It’s a little early as Hannah is finishing up her sophomore year in high school, but we had some connections at Grove City College, and the timing was right to begin this journey.

The weekend was spectacular.  Both of the visits went very well.  We felt welcomed at these beautiful campuses.

I remember visiting Grove City College with my Dad.  It was the summer, so there weren’t any students on campus.  I didn’t know very much about the school, but there was something that seemed to fit just right when I visited to the school. My Dad and I drove seven hours to and from the school which gave us opportunity to talk about the college and about the college decision.  I remember my interview in Crawford Hall.  And I remember a feeling of excitement and fear.  I’d imagine this is what Hannah was feeling this weekend.

I need to get my parents perspective on the whole college visiting, selection, and sending process.  I’m starting to understand that there was probably a mix of thoughts and feelings related to the whole thing.  On the one hand, there is such excitement.  Our daughter will be ready for this.  She is smart.  She is a hard worker.  She is well-rounded.  And she is becoming more and more independent.  On the other hand, there is a mix of feelings that include fear and sadness.  How could it be that we are looking at colleges already?  Why does it seems like life goes by so fast?  Once we send Hannah to college, I know that things will change forever.  Am I really ready for this change?

Life is full of milestones.  These milestones represent a life well-lived.  It’s not always easy approaching these milestones.  It can be scary, and it can be thrilling.  Yet, we must learn to embrace these milestones.  These are the things that STRETCH us.  These milestones cause us to grow, and they take us to new places in life.

I’m thankful we still have a couple of years before Hannah goes to college.  I want to make the most of the opportunities during these years.  I want to celebrate at her track meets.  I want to soak in the sound of her orchestra concerts.  I want to watch (and help) as she approaches some challenging decisions along the way.  And in just over two years, I want to rejoice as we send her off to college to learn and experience new things.

What milestone are you facing soon?  What thoughts or feelings are you experiencing about this milestone?

On Track – Life Lessons from the Track & Field is now available on Amazon in paperback and for Kindle.  Click the link below to get your copy today.

As a reminder, I am offering a FREE pdf copy of the interior of the book to subscribers of The Stretched Newsletter.  Head over to the main page of the blog and sign up on the right hand menu bar to get your copy today for FREE!

Be Aware of Bad Yeast – 4 Ways to Help You Find the Good Yeast

Yesterday for our Easter celebration brunch, I decided to make cinnamon rolls.  My Mom is the queen of cinnamon rolls, and I figured it was time I give it a try for my family.  I have such great memories of smelling and tasting Mom’s famous cinnamon rolls when I was growing up.  Living so far away now, it has been a long time since I indulged in this delicacy.

I started out by following the recipe in one of our cookbooks.  I combined flour and yeast.  Then I added warm milk, sugar, and butter.  I mixed the dough for a few minutes before adding more flour.  I then proceeded to knead the dough for several more minutes.  I was started to dream of the smell and flavor of the cinnamon rolls.

Then my plans started to unravel.

I set the dough aside for an hour to let the yeast do its work.  According to the recipe, the dough should have doubled in the hour.  When I came back to check on the roll dough, I was disappointed to discover that the dough did not rise.

The yeast was bad.

In the book of Matthew, Jesus warns his disciples to be aware of bad yeast.

“Be careful,” Jesus said to them. “Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”  Matthew 16:6

It’s a great reminder.  We need to be careful about how we fill our minds and hearts.  Here are some ideas to get you thinking:

4 Ways to Help You Find the Good Yeast

1. Use God’s Word as the standard.  It all starts here.  Be careful not to take God’s Word out of context.  The Pharisees and Sadducees were known for taking parts of the Law from the Old Testament and forgetting other parts.  In their focus, they missed out on the coming of the Messiah.
2. Surround yourself with people who will help you grow.  It’s important to find people who will build you up and point you in the right direction.  The wrong people will drag you down and point you towards the wrong way.  Who do you have in your life who helps you grow?
3. Get rid of the bad yeast.  When you discover a bad influence, you need to do some pruning.  What is the bad yeast that you need to remove from you life?
4. Be intentional about seeking out the good yeast.  In Philippians 4, Paul charges believers to think about things that are just, noble, trustworthy, and praiseworthy.  This doesn’t happen by accident.  It takes focus.  It requires us to be intentional.  How are you being intentional about finding the good yeast?

I ended up making the cinnamon rolls anyway.  They actually tasted pretty good, but they just weren’t the same as the ones my Mom makes.  Time to throw away the bad yeast in our refrigerator, and time to get new yeast – good yeast!

Tomorrow is the big day!

On Track – Life Lessons from the Track & Field officially launches tomorrow on Amazon.

Five Things To Know About Goodbyes

It’s time to say goodbye, but I think goodbyes are sad and I’d much rather say hello. Hello to a new adventure. 

Ernie Harwell

Today, our family says goodbye to Cody.

If you remember from a year ago, our family welcomed Cody to our family.  To read about his entry into our family, you can click here.

Cody joined our family when he was seven weeks old.  He was a tiny light-yellow fur-ball.  We knew he would be only joining our family for a short time.  He had a purpose, and we were assigned a role in helping him prepare for his purpose.

Cody is a Seeing Eye Puppy.  He was bred for the purpose of helping blind or visually impaired people.  Our assignment has been to help him grow through his early puppy stages.  We were responsible for getting him acclimated to the public.  And we were supposed to teach him basic commands like sit, rest, and down.

We’ve taken him to New York City, to our local Target, to the library, to church, on a bus, and on a train.

It hasn’t always been easy.  He has chewed a couple of window sills.  He left a couple of pee stains.  And his yellow hair is dispersed throughout our house.

Today, Cody heads to Morristown, NJ where he will begin the next phase of his journey.  He will go through a medical exam.  He will be placed with a trainer.  He will learn all the essentials for guiding someone who cannot see.  And if all goes well, Cody will be matched with a blind person.  And Cody will become a guide and friend for someone special.

Saying goodbye is bitter-sweet.  It’s tough to say goodbye to our four-legged friend who has certainly captured our hearts.  And it’s exciting to know that Cody may have the opportunity to change someone’s life forever.

Cody’s departure is a reminder that there are several things we can learn about goodbyes.

Five Things To Know About Goodbyes

1. Goodbyes are part of life.  We all have to say goodbye.
2. Goodbyes stretch us.  A goodbye can teach us many things.
3. Goodbyes are not always fun.  It’s not always easy to say goodbye.  Sometimes goodbyes hurt.  And sometimes goodbyes make us sad.
4. Goodbyes provide an opportunity for new beginnings.  Goodbyes often open the door to new adventures.
5. Goodbyes don’t have to be the end.  Even if we won’t see someone again, we will always have memories.

What have you learned through your goodbye experiences?  How have you been stretched by the farewells of your life?

6 more days until the release of On Track – Life Lessons from the Track & Field!

No More Buts – Another Lesson from the Track & Field

I spent most of the day on Saturday at the track helping out at the 7th Annual Viking Track & Field Invitational hosted by my daughter’s track team.  The day was absolutely beautiful and perfect for a track meet.

I was recruited to help out with checking in runners and handing out lane assignments before each of the races.  With twenty-five teams participating, it was a pretty busy job.  I had a great time working with the other “clerks” who had also volunteered in an effort to support their kids and the track team.

A minor mix-up happened at the end of the day that resulted in a relay team being assigned a heat and lane that didn’t necessarily match up with their seeding time.  The coach of the team came over to express his frustration with the situation, and I initially jumped in to explain what may have happened.

Eventually, I sent the coach to the officials tent at the finishing line.  I did not hear from the coach again, but our team’s track coach came over to find out what have happened at check in.  I told the coach how I made a mistake checking in the team after the team was late in checking in for the race.  I took partial blame for the problem, but I pushed it back at the team for failing to check in on time.  After I explained the story, our coach said something like, “That was our fault.  We screwed up.”

The coach didn’t push blame on the other team.  He took responsibility.  And he moved on.

What a great example!

So often when confronted with a problem, we seek to shift blame.  We don’t want to take responsibility.  We are typically looking to blame someone else.  We say things like, “I didn’t check them in correctly, BUT they were late checking in.”

It’s time we took responsibility.  We must learn to take the BUT out of our responses.  My story should have simply been, “I didn’t check them in correctly.”  Period.  No BUT….

I should have apologized to the coach and sent him to the officials tent (the officials were the only ones who could change the lane assignments).  Mistakes happen.  We need to take responsibility for our mistakes.  And we need to move on.

Hopefully, this didn’t ruin the day for the coach and his team.  It was a beautiful day for a track meet, and the rest of the meet seemed to go very well.

Do you struggle with shifting blame?  How can you take responsibility today?  What suggestions do you have for taking the BUT out of your responses?

8 more days until the release of On Track – Life Lessons from the Track & Field!

Enjoy the Journey

Focus on the journey, not the destination. Joy is found not in finishing an activity but in doing it. 

Greg Anderson

Last night, I posted a picture of the proof copy of my new book, On Track – Life Lessons from the Track & Field.

It came in the mail yesterday.  Actually, I received four copies.

Part of the self publishing process includes an opportunity to review an actual copy of your book before it goes public.  Honestly, I’m not sure I knew this was part of the experience until recently.

Writing a book has brought about a lot of new experiences.  I am doing my best to enjoy each aspect of this journey.  Believe me, I’m looking forward to the actual book being complete and available to the public, but there is so much that happens along the way.  I don’t want to miss it.

Most of life is the same way.

We have goals.  We have dreams.  We have targets.

One day, we’ll get there.  We’ll reach our dreams.  We’ll achieve many of our desires.  We may also miss out on reaching some of our targets and goals.

But there is a lot that happens between now and the achievement of our dreams.  These happenings aren’t meant to be missed.  They are meant to be experienced and enjoyed.  To quote Billy Joel (sorry David), “This is the time to remember, ’cause it will not last forever.”

Enjoy the journey!

What’s happening on the journey to your dream?  How are you making the most of the experience?