On My Way

“The man who views the world at fifty the same as he did at twenty has wasted thirty years of his life.”

Muhammad Ali

I hit fifty nearly two years ago, but Muhammad Ali’s quote seems to ring true for me as I draw closer to my fifty-second birthday. I find myself searching. I find myself in a time of rediscovery. I’m learning new things about me. And I’m relearning things about me that I once knew with confidence.

Life is like a long game of hide and go seek.

We can sit on the sideline watching as others play the game. We can be content with stagnating – staying the same, refusing to grow, and resisting the changes that naturally come with life and getting older.

Or we can embrace adventure. We can get in the game constantly finding ways to grow, to move forward, and to discover the newness that awaits us each day.

I started this blog many years ago with the idea of sharing thoughts and experiences on the theme of stretch. How is God stretching me? What stretchmarks are present in my life that are pushing me forward? And how might my stretch thoughts and experiences encourage others?

I haven’t shared here for a while.

Maybe I’ve been on the sideline simply trying to survive the day to day grind.

Maybe I’ve failed to see when and how God is stretching me.

Maybe I’ve been too scared to consider where I need to grow.

Maybe I’ve allowed the busyness or the responsibilities of life to run my life.

I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to live a life on the sideline. I don’t want to be content to stay the same. I don’t want to live a life of regret – regret that I didn’t keep learning, regret that I didn’t risk enough, regret that I stopped stretching.

It’s time to stretch. It’s time to grow. It’s time to be on my way.

“But first and most importantly seek (aim at, strive after) His kingdom and His righteousness [His way of doing and being right—the attitude and character of God], and all these things will be given to you also.”

Matthew 6:33 (Amplified Bible AMP)

Reflections on Hardship

“There is no success without hardship.”

Sophocles

At one time or another, we all endure some time of hardship in our lives. I’m not hear to measure or compare hardships; I’m simply making an observation that from time to time life can seem really hard. I’m kind of in one of those seasons right now. Without going into detail, I feel like I have the weight of the world hanging on my shoulders. I wish I could simply snap my fingers and everything would be fixed, but it’s just not that easy. The hardship I’m enduring will take time to resolve.

Often, hardships take time to navigate and even slog through. Patience is required as we take one difficult step at a time.

When we find ourselves in times of hardship, I’ve found it helpful to do the following:

1. Lean into God’s Word. God’s Word can provide hope and encouragement. I have found that in verses like Proverbs 3:5-6, James 1:2-4, and John 14:27. Look them up! God’s Word can also provide a reminder that we are not alone in our hardships. I have found the book of Psalms to be a tremendous blessing even in the Psalmists laments. God’s Word is a lamp and a light (Psalm 119:105) and will provide guidance and wisdom when times are tough.
2. Lean into helpful friends and family. It’s easy to feel all alone when we face hardships. We often become so self-focused in times of hardship that we forget to ask for help or to accept help. This week I leaned into several friends who took time to listen and to pray. Helpful friends and family members will listen, pray, and lend a helping hand.
3. Lean into God’s faithfulness. God has a record of being faithful. You can find this in the Bible, but you can also find this if you look back in your own experiences. How has God been faithful to you? Learning to process one to three reasons to be grateful each day is a healthy discipline whether your are experiencing hardship or not.
4. Lean into professional help. Let’s face it, sometimes we need to go to the experts when we find ourselves in times of hardship – a therapist, a counselor, a doctor, a mechanic, etc. Asking for help can be really challenging, but it can also be the thing we need to accelerate us through the hardship we are currently experiencing. Help! is one of the most courageous words anyone can proclaim.
5. Lean into a healthy vision of the future. I don’t have a crystal ball, but I have a hope that God will use my times of hardship to grow me closer to others, to draw me closer to Him, to stretch me personally, and to equip me to help others in the future. It’s easy to become hopeless when we face hardships of many kinds. We must fight this natural tendency and learn to put on a more positive outlook for the future.

I don’t know what hardships you may be facing in your life right now. I pray you’d find hope, peace, courage, and wisdom to persevere. If you are like me, you desire the easier, more comfortable road. Perhaps, God’s working through the junk in our lives for a better purpose, a bright future. We may not understand fully the reasons for our hardship, but we do have a God who can work through and redeem the tough times in our lives.

Reflections on Age

You can’t help getting older, but you don’t have to get old.

George Burns

Friday night, I received a bit of a jolt when I went to get our mail. When I opened the mailbox, there was an envelope addressed to me from AARP with an indication on the front “Notification of Member Benefits.” According to the AARP website, “AARP is the nation’s largest nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to empowering people to choose how they live as they age.” In order to be eligible for AARP (which I believe stands for American Association of Retired People), you have to be 50 years of age. Early in December (the 8th if you want to mark it on your calendar), I will be turning 50; hence, the invitation to join AARP landed in my mailbox this week.

Age is a funny thing. When we are younger, we can’t wait to get older. Somewhere in our twenties or thirties, we are happy with our age. In our forties, we just wish things would slow down a little bit. And I’ve heard many in their fifties and beyond wishing they were younger again.

When I was in Minnesota just over a week ago to celebrate my Grandpa Miller’s life, I had the opportunity to spend some time with my parents. My dad, who just turned 75 this week, is no longer graying. His hair is pretty white now, and to be honest he looks more and more like my Grandpa Stolpe. My mom, who is 73, is experiencing the impact of Alzheimer’s. She needs more and more help to manage medication, to dress, and do other things that used to come so natural to her. It is humbling to realize I will be there age in 23-25 years, and I may have my own battles that come with aging.

My Grandpa Miller used to say he still felt like he was 18 years old – even into his early 80’s he would make this proclamation. As he moved more into his late 80’s and early 90’s, his comments changed a little bit. From his waist down, he felt like he was in his 90’s. Above his waist, he still felt like he was in his 20’s or 50’s depending on the day. I had the opportunity to see him in March in person and then again via Facetime in his final days, and it was clear to me that Grandpa was ready to hang up his cleats on his earthly life and continue on with Jesus in Heaven. Grandpa lived to 94 years old.

A couple of years ago, I listed to a book by Dan Sullivan called “My Plan for Living to 156.” After listening to this book, I began to tell people that I wanted to live to 129 years old. This would give me the opportunity to live in three different centuries. It seems kind of idealistic now that I think about it. After all, most people who live into their late 80’s and beyond deal with significant physical and cognitive impairments not to mention they frequently experience more loneliness as friends and loved ones face their own mortality. Watching Grandpa suffer the past few years has perhaps caused me to rethink the goal of living to 129.

As I approach my 50th birthday, I don’t want it to be a reason for sadness. While I may take time to reflect (like I’m doing right now), I want it to be an opportunity to celebrate what God has done in and through my life and what He plans for me in the future.

I recently listened to another book by Michael Clinton called “ROAR into the second half of your life (Before It’s Too Late).” In the book, he encourages readers to embrace their age and to celebrate and use the wisdom gained from age and experience. I shared this with my Dad the other day, and he too talked about the excitement and sense of peace he has at this stage of life. This is how I want to be. I don’t want to look back with regret. I don’t want to look forward with fear or anxiety. I want to embrace the present. I want to live my life to the fullest. I want to keep stretching. I want to keep learning. I want to make a difference.

Meanwhile, I’ll have to do a little more research to see about signing up for AARP.

They will still bear fruit in old age,they will stay fresh and green.

Psalm 92:14 (NIV)

Teach Me To Count

“Every man dies. Not every man really lives.”

William Wallace

I recently watched VAL, a documentary about actor, Val Kilmer. You may remember Kilmer as Ice Man in the hit movie, Top Gun. He’s also played key roles in other movies like Tombstone, Batman Forever, The Doors, and Willow. He had all the success you might expect from a movie start who has been part of many, many movies, and he had the good looks to go with it. Relatively recently, he developed throat cancer which has caused a tremendous interruption to his life and disastrous impact to his voice.

The documentary tells the story of Val Kilmer both before and after his cancer diagnosis, and I think it also provides a glimpse of hope we can find even when life doesn’t quite go as we expect it to. Here’s the trailer to give you a little taste. The documentary is available on Amazon Prime, and I’d recommend giving it two hours of your time.

The documentary was also a reminder that life is fleeting. We don’t know exactly what we might encounter as we journey through life. One thing is for sure, our days on Earth are finite.

This fact has been hitting home for me on a much more personal level these past two or three weeks as my family watches my Grandpa Miller in his last days. At 94 years old, he has lived a long life. He is a retired USPS mail carrier (he loved his job). He served in the U.S. Army in Germany in World War II. He was always very particular about his lawn and his cars for which he always paid cash. Grandpa was frugal. He was a meat and potatoes guy. More than these things, he loved Jesus, and he loved introducing people to Jesus. Over the past few years as his physical body has been failing, he has remained committed to praying (I wrote about this in a recent blog post).

Grandpa is tired and worn out. He is ready to go home – to his heavenly home.

What will you do with time you have left? How will you live your life? Will you live with regret always looking in the rear view mirror of your life? Or will you live with hope anticipating the good things yet to come?

I love how the Apostle Paul encourages us to make the most of every opportunity:

“Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.”

Ephesians 5:15-17 (NIV)

It’s important for us to consider our lives and to make the most of every opportunity.

What are you waiting for?

“Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.”

Psalm 90:12 (NIV)

Iron Sharpens Iron

“For everybody in their busy lives, you need to invest in sharpening your tools, and you need to invest in longevity.”

Ryan Holmes

This morning on my walk (today is day 1,226 in my 10,000 steps a day streak), I crossed paths with one of my neighbors. He commented on how I was looking thinner. Honestly, I was flattered, but I explained to him I’d like to lose 10-15 pounds. (My height hides it pretty well.) He indicated that he also needed to lose 15 pounds, and he went on to tell me that he really needed to give up his daily Pop Tarts. I explained that I would have the same problem with Pop Tarts and an even bigger problem with ice cream if we kept them in the house on a regular basis. He then stated that he was going to get rid of his Pop Tarts. Five minutes later, I received a video text message from him crying as he threw his Pop Tarts in the trash. Our exchange ended with a text message back from me, “Be strong and courageous.”

We all have things to work on in our lives. We could be better in our eating habits, our exercise habits, our reading habits, our television viewing habits. I could go on. We each benefit when we take take to sharpen our skills and improve our habits.

In some cases this sharpening or improvement can happen with our own efforts.

But sharpening or self-improvement happens in a better way when we involve others in the sharpening process.

King Solomon said “As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend.”

We need friends in our lives who will sharpen us, who will encourage us, who will call us on the carpet, who will spur us on toward love and good deeds (Hebrews 10:24-25).

Who are those friends in your life? Who sharpens you? Who helps you become a better person?

If you don’t have an answer to these questions, I’d encourage you to search it out. I have found these kinds of friendships through my marriage, through my involvement at church, through my community at the gym, through a variety of community groups, and right in my own neighborhood.

I have also found sharpening through the Stretched Men Group, the mastermind group I founded to help men take the next steps in their journey. If you are interested in stepping into this kind of sharpening relationship, leave me a comment. I plan to launch the next semester at the beginning of 2022.

I’m thankful I ran into my neighbor this morning. Together we both have a shot at reaching our goal of losing 10-15 pounds and in improving ourselves for the future.

Keep stretching one step at a time!

“As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.”

Proverbs 27:17 (NIV)

Renewed Through Accountability

“Accountability breeds response-ability.”

Stephen Covey

We all need a little accountability in our lives – that necessary kick in the butt necessary to keep us on the right path.

I’m working on my High Performance Leadership project necessary to earn my Distinguished Toastmasters (DTM) for Toastmasters International. For those unfamiliar, Toastmasters International is a world-wide organization of local clubs designed to help people improve their leadership and communication skills. And the DTM is the highest level of achievement in the organization (kind of like the Eagle Scout Rank associated with Scouting). In order to earn the DTM, I’ve given over 50 speeches and completed many leadership activities and roles.

The High Performance Leadership (HPL) project is the capstone necessary to earn the DTM, and I’ve been putting off my project for over a year. With a deadline of June 30, 2021 (which was extended a year thanks to the COVID pandemic), I only have a month to finalize the requirements of this project and to submit my paperwork which is required to make the DTM official.

To help move me along in this process and to ensure I meet the requirements by the deadline, I asked a couple of co-workers and fellow Toastmasters to hold me accountable. Last week, I made significant progress towards my goal thanks to the timely and repeated “prodding” of these individuals.

We need accountability in our lives.

My wife is one of my accountability partners for life, marriage, and family. I meet with a group of guys weekly who also hold me accountable in areas of faith, fitness, and finances. I meet with a group of entrepreneurs bi-weekly who hold each other accountable to moving forward in our businesses and side pursuits. And I meet with a group of leaders in my company on a monthly basis to hold each other accountable to leading well in our organization.

The idea of accountability can be scary. After all, we have to be transparent in order for accountability to be effective. We have to be willing to share our fears and our failings with others. Accountability is worth overcoming these fears.

Accountability is powerful. It can push us over obstacles holding us back, and accountability allows us to rise to our full potential.

One of the reasons I started the Stretched Men Group several years ago was to provide a place where men could be held accountable to stretch and take steps forward to become better husbands, better fathers, better leaders, and better men. If you are interested in joining this kind of a group, let me know (or visit StretchedMenGroup.com) by leaving a comment below.

“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”

Hebrews 10:24-25 (NIV)

Renewed By Change

“If we don’t change, we don’t grow. If we don’t grow, we aren’t really living.”

Gail Sheehy

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, I used Sunday morning before church as a time for writing. I took my laptop to a local Starbucks or business that offered free WiFi, and I wrote my weekly blog post.

When the pandemic forced me to write from home, I noticed my writing time was becoming more interrupted and less consistent. My wife noticed this trend as well, and she recently encouraged me to get back out to write.

This morning, I’m writing from the back patio of the Sunshine Cafe in Limerick, PA. (By the way, this is a fantastic place for breakfast. The food is good. The waitstaff is friendly. This morning, I tried the avocado toast which was delicious along with my usual decaf coffee.) The change in scenery and routine has been just what I needed.

I spent my first 30 minutes reflecting on the past week and planning for the week ahead. Then I opened up my laptop (actually my iPad) to write this post. And I’ll have some time to do some reading before heading to church at Christ’s Church of the Valley this morning.

This is just the change I needed. In this year of renew, we may need to change things up from time to time. While I’m a proponent of disciplines, routines, and habits, I’m realizing it’s okay and even healthy to change things up every once in a while.

What change do you need to make to find renewal in you life? How has change been a good thing for you?

A Renewed Outlook on Mondays

“There are two tests in life, more important than any other test. On Monday morning, when you wake up, do you feel in the pit of your stomach you can’t wait to go to work? And when you’re ready to go home Friday afternoon, do you say, ‘I can’t wait to go home?’”

Chuck Schumer

It’s Monday night.

How was your Monday?

For many of us, Monday has become a curse word – a word that implies dread, stress, and hopelessness.

Why is that?

I’m thinking Monday has taken on such a negative reputation because so many fail to find work that brings fulfillment. Instead, many workers simply take on a job that pays the bills.

Our work matters. What we do every day for over 1/3 of our days during the work week has the possibility to leave a lasting mark. It also has the potential to simply be a waste of our time.

I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to waste my time when it comes to my work.

As I approach my 50th birthday at the end of this calendar year, I’ve begun doing a lot of self examination. While I intend on keeping busy contributing to society for the rest of my living years, I’m realizing that I probably have 10-15 years left before I “retire” from work as I know it. I want those 10-15 years to matter. I want to do work that fulfills me and encourages others. I want to do work that utilizing my gifts, my talents, my skills, my knowledge, and my experience, and I want to do work that helps others along the way. I want to do work that contributes to my community and my world.

I’ve begun doing more homework to help me navigate this period of self examination. Specifically, I’ve most recently been reading through Halftime: Moving from Success to Significance by Bob Buford, 48 Days to the Work and Life You Love by Dan Miller, and The Proximity Principle by Ken Coleman.

I don’t want to dread Mondays. I want to be excited about my work. I want to pursue work that aligns with my vocational calling – the place where my skills meet my passions meets my opportunities.

How are you feeling about Mondays? What steps do you need to take to have a better outlook on your work? How could an improved work outlook make a difference in your life?

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 (NIV)

Renewed Through Celebrating Work Milestones

The safest road to hell is the gradual one – the gentle slope, soft underfoot, without sudden turnings, without milestones, without signposts.

C.S. Lewis

On Friday, I celebrated a work milestone. January 8, 1996 was my start date at what is now Siemens. That means I have been working for the same organization for the past 25 years.

I still have working years ahead of me, and I trust there will be other milestones along my career pathway. Nonetheless, it’s healthy to pause for a few moments to celebrate this milestone.

In my year of renew, I have actually discovered renewal by thinking about my experiences so far. Reflecting on these experiences remind me that we can find joy and satisfaction in our work. Sometimes we lose sight of this when we dwell on the day-to-day challenges we face.

With this in mind, I wanted to list here some of the things I’ve experienced as a result of my time at Siemens:

• High Performance Leadership (HPL) Siemens Leadership Excellence (SLE) – A few years ago, I was nominated to participate in which I traveled to Chicago for a week to meet with 23 other participants from North and South America. This week gave me the opportunity to learn more about leadership and about me. It also gave me the opportunity to establish important relationships with five other participants who have virtually met together monthly ever since. This was probably the best week of my 25 years at Siemens.
• Professional of the Year Award Trip in 2002 – I had the blessing of traveling to Hawaii with my wife to be celebrated along with other award winners. It was such an incredible experience to enjoy the beauty of Hawaii with colleagues and their spouses.
• MBA from Penn State University – While it took a lot of time and effort, I’m thankful for Siemens support in my journey to earn this degree back in 2005.
• Professional Engineers (P.E.) License – This also took a lot of time and effort, but I’m thankful for Siemens support to earn this licensing in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
• Speaker at NSPE Conference – Siemens was extremely supportive in sending me to Atlanta, GA to speak at the National Society of Professional Engineers annual conference. I spoke on the topic of Engineers Managing Engineers to an audience of ~100 engineers from around the country.
• Winner of first Siemens Shark Tank competition – I had the opportunity to present an idea in front of 400+ top Siemens leaders. As the winner of the competition, I was awarded $50,000 to implement my idea. What an incredible experience!
• Annual Management Meetings (AMM) – I’m thankful for the opportunity to attend these meetings in Boston, Palm Springs, Fort Lauderdale, Phoenix, and Tuscon. These multi-day meetings have given me the chance to meet with other leaders from the company and to be recharged on the technology we use to serve our customers.
• Toastmasters and Rotary – Siemens has been very supportive of my involvement in these two organizations that have helped further my leadership and communication skills and allowed me to connect more broadly with the community.
• Countless building automation project experiences – As an engineer, project manager, and operations manager at Siemens, I’ve had the privilege of working on all kinds of different projects for a wide variety of customers: Princeton University, Merck, Philadelphia Museum of Art, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Sharp, Agere Systems, Lucent Technologies, North Penn School District, and the list goes on and on. It’s remarkable to think about the different buildings I’ve seen throughout the years.
• Interviewing, recruiting, and representing Siemens at various job fairs, colleges, and conferences – Most recently, I’ve had the privilege of talking directly to students at Drexel University, Lafayette College, and Grove City College. I’m thankful for the opportunity to connect my work experience and company with students and young engineers. I definitely could see myself growing into greater roles related to these kind of connections and interactions.
• People, people, people – Siemens has afforded me the opportunity to meet and interact with so many people – my peers, my team members, my customers, my industry colleagues. The people is what I will remember and cherish most in my experience at Siemens.

I’m sure I could list many other specific experiences from my time at Siemens so far. This list will do for now. It has reminded me of the blessing of my job. I’ve had a place to grow, to learn, and to leave my mark. While I don’t know what the next 5, 10, 15, or even 25 years may bring as I continue down my career path, I’m excited to step back into the office tomorrow as I continue on at Siemens.

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.

Colossians 3:23-24 (NIV)

What blessings have you experienced as a result of your job?

On Track: Life Lessons From The Track & Field – Introduction – Audio Version

People learn and digest information in different ways. Some learn well by reading the written word. And some people learn better by listening to the written word.

I fall somewhere in between. I like to read, but I also love to listen to podcasts and audio books.

Several years ago, I released my first book, On Track: Life Lessons from the Track & Field. It’s a short paperback book available on Amazon. You can order your copy today by clicking here.

Since releasing this book and my second book (Rooftop Reflections), I’ve had several inquiries about the availability of my books in an audio format. The thought of recording an audio book scared me a little bit as I wasn’t sure of the technology to use to make this happen.

With the help of some good friends, I learned some important information about the tools I needed to record an audio book. I recently ordered these tools, and I have begun recording the audio version of On Track.

Today, I share with you the audio Introduction to On Track. I hope you enjoy! And with a little time and hard work, my audio book will be available for Audible.