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The Mission Statement

29 May

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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?

Welcome to the Web Log world!

14 Jun

Wow!  Here I am, June 13th, 2012.  I have been kicking around the idea of starting a blog for a couple of weeks now.  Currently, I am trying to maximize my presence in a job market that is very difficult.  I am an educator, I finished student teaching may 23, 2012.  I received my Bachelor’s degree in Social Sciences on May 5, 2012.  What a journey going back to school was.  The healing and learning I experienced was unbelievable.  I am highly qualified to teach social studies, mandated by the “No Child Left Behind Act.”  My experience showed me that teaching is a fine balance between being highly qualified (knowing your content) and connecting with the kids, so an amount of trust is gained, and learning can be strengthened.  Preparation is the key, I had to learn that the hard way, early on in student teaching.  The growth that occurred for me in the area of preparation was truly evident in the classroom on a day to day basis.

I have been on 4 interviews, my experience was different in each one.  It felt like I was searching for the magic word to say that aligned with the schools philosophy.  I think I will continue to search if this is the approach I take.  Topics like assessment, being part of the community, charting growth, IB programs, technology have all been part of the questions.  I can speak intelligently on all of those topics.  To date, there has been something missing during the interview.  That is why I started this blog, so that I can convey my knowledge and expertise of the industry, and humanize myself so that I have another dimension to present to employers.

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