Strategery

"Paralysis by analysis". In business we can spend days, even weeks, strategically visiting an opportunity. I personally have over-visited issues on many occasions. Now, don't get me wrong, strategic thinking is a good thing. But I am convinced that it can prove stalling if momentum and work are not ready and waiting with baited breath—knocking at the door—pounding. In business, but mostly in life.

I did a quick search in Biblegateway.com for the word strategy. It turned up once. Isaiah 8:10 states "Devise your strategy, but it will be thwarted; propose your plan, but it will not stand, for God is with us." Now the Bible is laden with wisdom, and work.

I am not sure Jesus strategized. Perhaps when He was a boy working alongside his dad in the carpenter shop, they planned out a project. Determining which would be the best size board, and which wood should be used for project X. Then they had to hit the nail with the hammer. Vocationally we should plan, think, and perhaps strategize—then hit the nail. Additionally, when it comes to life, sometimes we become so darn paralyzed by our own planning. I think Jesus was so rooted in God's strategy and His wisdom, that all He could do was act, or move, or go about the work of teaching, healing, loving.

I know the wrist band of the WWJD thing is a bit overused, but during the strategy/planning areas of our work and life, let's make sure we are thinking like Jesus and recognize where its time to know what we know, then act, move, work, teach, heal, love.

Open House

I have become a major Donald Miller fan. He's an author/blogger. He wrote a book entitled A Million Miles in a Thousand Years. Could be the best book I've read. I actually have been rereading it via my ears. And have found that a listening to an audio book is altogether a different experience than the printed page. I can't reread a great sentence, but I can get lost in a book in a different way. Anyway, in Million Miles I was introduced, through Don, to a man by the name of Bob Goff, who's a pretty amazing and creative familyman. Bob has a unique way of creating memorable experiences through the act of hospitality. Inspired by this, last weekend I was determined to make something special out of what had the potential to be a run-of-the-mill Saturday.

Last weekend my wife was away with some college girlfriends and it was just me and the boys. I wanted to figure out some sort of Goffian experience for the day. Some imagination later, we decided we'd open a restaurant for the evening where we'd play host, chef and sous-chef to the neighborhood.

Figuring we wanted to keep this pretty simple (we are guys after all), we thought we could grill up some burgers and some dogs, fill a couple of bowls with chips, some bottled water in an icy cooler, and call it a menu.

We wrestled with names, but landed on Three Guys Burgers and Dogs (we are three guys after all). The invitation was designed. Neighborhood mailboxes were stuffed Ground beef was spiced Patties were formed The garage was transformed into a makeshift front-of-house Music was cued. And we waited.

It's hard to wait for a couple of hours when you're excited.

My oldest invited a couple of friends from his bus route. My youngest—a key player amongst the neighborhood kids (and by player, I mean the kid really likes to play)—was on and about ensuring the best attendance from the community.

Now it was an interesting experience for my oldest. He really enjoys cooking and playing host. But on the cusp of being a teenager, this sort of event sits on the border of "embarrassing" and pretty darn cool. To ensure we staved off the "embarrassment", when his friends arrived, I immediately put them to work—pulling them into the event. One was on chip duty. The other bun duty.

In total we had about 15-20 people show up over the course of the evening. And, it turns out it was pretty cool. There was laughter from the kids. Some great conversation amongst the adults who dropped by. A good bit of eating. And a memorable day.

Outside of the enjoyment of watching and participating in others' enjoyment (which was very evident) was the final moments of the day when I was asking my "guys" if they had fun. They both said, yeah, let's do that again.

I plan to.

Hopefully there will be no cease and desist letter coming from the folks at Five Guys....

Where've I Been?

I guess you can say I've been busy. But busy isn't it. I mean, I have been busy, my mind and body that is. But my spirit has not—at least not as it ought. Not in the Word. Not in a great book. Not in prayer. At least, not much. A lot has gone on—some very good, positive stuff. But the good, dialed-in, state of affairs has been on vacation a bit.

I guess we all (I know I have before) go through these seasons. Times where we are preoccupied with work and other things. But I've always discovered that the more dialed-in I am, the better things go along. Or better yet, the more consistent. I've been existing a lot on my own strength. It's been going fine. But I know and feel the difference.

I've shared before about a piece Chuck Swindoll wrote on Attitude, wherein he writes, "I am convinced that life is 10% of what happens to you, and 90% how you react to it." I have found that the 90% has had to be more forced, more deliberately called upon. When I am "dialed-in", it shows up more naturally. Sometimes like breathing.

Gotta get my breath back.