Archive | May, 2018

Strengthening Yourself

30 May

 

 

img_3545-2

I walked up the steps to my third day teaching middle school.  I took the job in what is deemed a “hard to serve” setting, which means serving kids who do not have access to many of the resources; economically and emotionally that other kids do. Many kids were out side running around and playing ball.  Football to be exact.  I am a football coach.  It would stand to reason that I may have encouraged the boys to keep playing; or give them a coaching tip on arm slot while throwing; or catching the ball out in front of their body.  On this day, I was angry and irritated at 7:30 am because I faced a daunting day of managing these young people to completion of a daily educational objective that I could not communicate with ease to them, nor were they enthused about learning the English language.

As I walked up the stairs to the school; I got hit in the leg by an errant football throw. And, I yelled out to the boys,” learn how to throw the ball!” This event started a season of my life where I became mentally, emotionally, and spiritually exhausted.  My emotions were right at the surface and could be irritated easily.  At the end of a school day I was so mentally fatigued that I could not focus conversations with my family.  My wife, Carrie refused for this season to interfere with our family and our marriage.  She could see the weariness and frustration in my being. At that moment, I realized, it was time to strengthen myself.

As a follower of Jesus Christ, I could look to scripture to read the hardships and anguish Jesus endured, which is my model for strengthening myself.  Many times, Jesus retreated to a place of prayer and contemplation out of the public eye to strengthen himself, and align himself with the will of the Father.  This practice helped me get started, helping me, help me”.  Every morning; before work, Carrie and I would sit in our little nook off the master bedroom and read morning meditations; specifically, for me the word of God.  After reading I would do 100 push ups in 10 minutes while listening to music.  Reading the Bible, especially, the epistles,  my heart started to change for my situation.  Doing 100 pushups in 10 minutes, helped get my body started and inspired a physical response that gave me strength.

These practices helped, yet, I still had to face the day, that included barriers, emotional weight, and unruly behaviors.  I had to change the climate my classroom.  By encouraging myself and strengthening myself, I started to become a source of encouragement and love for these young people; it had nothing to do with school or educational objectives.  Carrie and I delivered turkeys during Thanksgiving week to all of my students; there were 50 plus kids who signed up to receive them.  Delivering the turkeys to all of their homes, gave me a different perspective on the kids.  It gave me a sense of purpose led satisfaction that fostered more strength inside, so I could be a source (starting point) for these kids to experience care and vigilance.  For them to experience teaching to their hearts and maybe changing their minds.  I brought in a spread from Chic Fil A when we were able to get through a week’s agenda with minor difficulties.

We ended the year, by reading the book “Monster”. A story about a young man accused as an accomplice to a murder and his journey through judicial system and prison system.  After reading the book, we filmed our own re-enactment of the book in full costume.  The kids thoroughly enjoyed it!

By entering into the fire of my self pity gap, my pride gap, my control gap, I was able to strengthen myself through reliance on The Source of life, changing my perspective by serving and becoming a generating force for the lives of others.  This experience helped roots grow in this maturing Oak Tree.

The Mission Statement

29 May

img_3545-2

 

For weeks now; I have been telling people about the project, The Oak Tree. And, I have explained in many different phrases and terms, what it means to be an Oak Tree and a Source.

None of it was ever clear and concise. I have taken some time to zero in on the mission statement for the project…I think I hear a drum roll somewhere: The mission statement of the Oak Tree.

“To be a Source of life giving encouragement, love, and strength, which leads to an undeniable substance in the way we live and act that leads to a purpose led satisfaction that is rooted deep in one’s heart; like an Oak Tree coming to full growth.

There it is! Clear, coherent and concise. The principles included in the statement above are part of the evolution and growth that continues to occur inside of me and come to fruition outside of me and around me.

Do you ever feel a sense of satisfaction when you encourage someone in a way that hits their heart? That shows them you know them?

Do you ever feel a purpose led satisfaction when you have endured a difficult season in your life and grown closer or more aware of who you are becoming?

Have you ever been a source of strength and emotional stability for someone? Or strengthened yourself through a valley and come out on a mountain top?

These types of events and stories give life! They inspire those around us to act and see themselves differently, while strengthening the life giver with substance and purpose.

This humbling mission fires me up and gives me life.

As a life long shameful pride performer who took life away from himself; at every turn, to garner sympathy, and avoid showing up just as he was; I need to pour life into this thirsty spirit.

As I pour life in; the life that comes out is a Tree trunk filled with substance and sturdiness that gives purpose.

The Mission Statement

29 May

For weeks now; I have been telling people about the project, The Oak Tree. And, I have explained in many different phrases and terms, what it means to be an Oak Tree and a Source.

None of it was ever clear and concise. I have taken some time to zero in on the mission statement for the project…I think I hear a drum roll somewhere: The mission statement of the Oak Tree.

“To be a Source of life giving encouragement, love, and strength, which leads to an undeniable substance in the way we live and act that leads to a purpose led satisfaction that is rooted deep in one’s heart; like an Oak Tree coming to full growth.

There it is! Clear, coherent and concise. The principles included in the statement above are part of the evolution and growth that continues to occur inside of me and come to fruition outside of me and around me.

Do you ever feel a sense of satisfaction when you encourage someone in a way that hits their heart? That shows them you know them?

Do you ever feel a purpose led satisfaction when you have endured a difficult season in your life and grown closer or more aware of who you are becoming?

Have you ever been a source of strength and emotional stability for someone? Or strengthened yourself through a valley and come out on a mountain top?

These types of events and stories give life! They inspire those around us to act and see themselves differently, while strengthening the life giver with substance and purpose.

This humbling mission fires me up and gives me life.

As a life long shameful pride performer who took life away from himself; at every turn, to garner sympathy, and avoid showing up just as he was; I need to pour life into this thirsty spirit.

As I pour life in; the life that comes out is a Tree trunk filled with substance and sturdiness that gives purpose.

Becoming: From the Inside Out

23 May

Why?

I have asked this question; often, over the last 13 years.  Why do I uncover the behaviors, hurts, insecurities, and fears that hold me back? Is this journey of self discovery and self creation an exercise in futility? There are times when I just want to forget the call on my life to examine how fear and insecurity keep me from showing up as the dignified individual I was created to be so I can be a ‘Light in the world” as Jesus speaks of in His Sermon on the Mount.    I just want to forget that a message was placed on my heart to share how the valleys of life have brought me to a satisfaction that surpasses temporal understanding.  Becoming integrated in your mind, body, and soul is a volatile and vaporous adventure that hurts like hell and can be as elusive as finding purpose when you don’t know your why.

So…why do I keep going with this inquiry, inspection, investigation? Because I hear too often, “There is no need to harm anyone”, “Everything is great”, “I am fine”, “Can’t we all get along?” Men, do you detect a pasivity in these statements? If so, you may have taken the first step in Becoming: From the Inside Out. If you desire to create a satisfaction in your life that surpasses your temporal understanding; if you have an appetite for creating substance in how you relate to people, places, and things; the concept of Becoming from the Inside out may be appealing to you.  This is why I keep Becoming from the Inside Out, because,  I cannot claim ignorance anymore to the substance and satisfaction that is available to all of us.  I cannot claim ignorance to my gaps and behaviors that do not recognize everyone that I come in contact with authenticity; I cannot claim ignorance to the lack of a mental, emotional, and spiritual anchor that plagues men today.  I refuse to not “stand for something, lest I fall for anything” as the authoratative civil rights activist Malcolm X once proclaimed.

In the immortal words of Elwood Blues from the Blues Brothers, “We are on a mission from God”, whether it is a higher calling, a burning desire to show up for your life in a different way, it starts from the inside out.  My greatest hope comes from internalizing the fact that I am becoming ingtegrated from the inside out in a messy, yet, actualized way that is phenomenal.

Men, if you want to take a first step in examing your insides; an easy way to do it is; to take 5 minutes at the end of your day and reflect on all of your interactions duirng the day and ask yourself; How did I “affect” those around me today? What “effect” did the day have on me?