Why…

…can’t we just be who we are?

Drought

Pardon me. I'm currently experiencing a bit of a creative drought.

I'm praying for rain!

RIGHT NOW

just live in it.

Help-Portrait Tulsa

Had the pleasure of working with the Help-Portrait event here in Tulsa. It's become a global movement to bring some piece of joy to those who tend to get overlooked. Our group focused on the homeless population here in Tulsa at the Day Center downtown. I think we ended up taking photos of about 130 "clients". The team that came together to make it happen were great. They were professional and compassionate. Whitney Ford lead the charge and her enthusiasm kept things going, especially early on as it seemed really hard for the project to get any traction. This coming Thursday the photos are going to be delivered to the Day Center for everyone to pick up. Hoping to be a part of that as well.

The Help-Portrait website if you want more info: www.help-portrait.com

A Day of Infamy

Today is a day that lives on in infamy for us as Americans. The infamy of that moment 68 years ago has faded some as we have been attacked once more since that time (September 11, 2001). The invasion of Pearl Harbor was a momentous occasion. Not just because it dragged a sleeping giant off to global war, but because after that war our countries position in the world was radically altered. At the close of World War 2 we literally were the last ones standing. The only ones left to oppose the rising threat of communism. American president’s from Truman forward all defended the continued need for American engagement on a global basis. Some argued better than others, but Democrat and Republican all sought to use American influence to save the world from the evils of communism. It is no secret that communism lost that war. Certainly communism is not dead, but it has been largely tamed by the capitalist beast known as the United States.

Today is important for us to reflect back not just on the events of December 7, 1941 but for us to also reflect upon the importance of a globally engaged force of freedom and democracy. I know. I know. America is a terrible nation. Look at all the devastation and harm we are responsible for. Helping to defend freedom. Promoting democracy. Despite the many good things we have accomplished on a global scale there is a growing sense of weariness among Americans. A recent article touted the fact that Americans are returning to isolationist roots. I’m not advocating the unabashed use of American military power on a global scale. I’m more concerned that in a down economy during a time of year that everyone is focused upon feeding the materialistic needs of their closest acquaintances our stamina and resolve for global involvement and perspective are fading fast.

In 1941 most American’s were taken off guard by the impressive show of Japanese military might. The same was true in 2001 as terrorist re awoke us to the fact that there is the need for a moral and democratic movement around the world. How many more times will we have to relearn this lesson?

What can you do?

Get informed. News (particularly global news) is way to accessible nowadays. There is no excuse for any American to not know what’s going on around the world. Even in Timbuktu.

Get involved. There are so many organizations focused on harnessing American wealth, ingenuity, resources, you name it to make a positive impact on a global scale.

So hop to it skippy…and my we all remember the infamy of ignorance and indifference especially on a global scale.

Choking on Coaching

I read this post from Catalyst as it crossed my twitter feed the other day.

http://www.catalystspace.com/catablog/full/you_must_start_a_coaching_network/

It's interesting as I have seen a couple of these coaching networks start over the last few months. I have even considered and applied for a couple of them. They all have some things in common. 1. They typically involve a "personality". This person or persons becomes the "selling" point of the coaching network. 2. They typically involve a price. Often a very high price. One charges about $1200 plus you have to travel to the southeast US at your expense for the "mandatory" monthly meetings. I understand that basically you are paying for face time with the "personality". (It kind of cracks me up because most of them will tell you that it's not about them its just the cost of doing business.)  Inherently I see some dangers with this. 1. It continues to promote and elevate "personalities" over content. Granted I've never fully participated in a coaching network like those advertised here, but even with limited enrollment you probably only get an hour a month face to face and even that may be with several others present. Given the already busy schedules of these "personalities" my guess is that most of the time is spent covering material already printed in a book or presented in another conference presentation. (They all advertise a Q&A session as it seems to be the magic piece.)

I have taught in a community college for the last 5 years and so I know that in any learning environment the attitude and perspective of the student is just as important as the information presented by the teacher. There must be both a desire and humility to learn. I also have learned from some of those specifically mentioned in the Catalyst posting.

But…

I have a question. What if coaching networks didn't charge?

Fall Foliage

This tree caught my eye this morning as I was jogging. I went back later in the morning to take a picture…doesn't really do it justice. Our fall colors have been UN BEE LEAVE ABLE!

God Weeps.

I have been slowly (very slowly) working my way through the book of Revelation in the Bible. Today I read a very interesting passage:

Then I saw in heaven another marvelous event of great significance. Seven angels were holding the seven last plagues, which would bring God’s wrath to completion…Then one of the four living beings handed each of the seven angels a gold bowl filled with the wrath of God, who lives forever and ever. The Temple was filled with smoke from God’s glory and power. No one could enter the Temple until the seven angels had completed pouring out the seven plagues.

Revelation 15:1,7-8 (NLT)

“No one could enter the Temple until the seven angels had completed pouring out the seven plagues.” We like to read these passages and think about the cruel and ruthless wrath of God. This passage is changing my mind a lot about that perception. I think that God shuts himself in the Temple because of the pain, the rejection, the suffering that He knows could have been avoided if only those who have not repented would repent. I think that at this time God is in His Temple weeping, bitterly over the inevitable loss. Sure He could fix it in an instant. Just make all humans robots. MAKE us love Him. But how much deeper a love that is chosen than a love that is forced.

I was told about a Hasidic story related to the day of Exodus when the Israelites were delivered from the Egyptians.

“What is the most joyful moment in the Torah? It might very well be the moment when the Jews made it across the Red Sea, only moments ahead of Pharaoh’s soldiers. Just then, the great walls of water that had arisen to divide the sea collapsed, swirling Pharaoh’s army to its doom. The Jews were safe! They were free! They sang their joy and thanks to HaShem. Even the angels in heaven sang in joy.

“But the rabbis of old tell us that HaShem spoke sharply to the angels: ‘No! Do not sing thus.’

“Astonished, the angels replied, ‘But are your children not free and safe?’ “HaShem said, ‘And those drowned soldiers? Are they not also my children?’ And the angels wept.

The Fire of Joy by Doug Lipman

I maybe wrong, but I believe that a God of love is consistent with His love…even to the very end.

45 years ago

Thanks to @soverpeck for the link.

Mama’s don’t let your babies grow up to be airline pilots…