...I can't stop thinking about it...

Sue (my lovely wife) had this thought on her mind, and she just couldn't shake it.  She shared it with me, now I've got it!  So...tag, you're it.....

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At our small group meeting last Friday we were talking about unconditional love (Fireproof the Movie), caring as much (or maybe even more?) for others than we do for ourselves. You’ve heard the drill:  humbling ourselves, sacrificing, being intentional. But hearing and doing are two different things.

Anyway, back to the story that I can’t get out of my head.  One member of our gathering told us about her brother and his small group. A young dad in her brother’s group has lost his job (and health insurance) and learned he’s facing a life threatening illness all within the last couple months. Everyone is feeling the pinch of these tough economic times, but these circumstances have put this young family into a tailspin. Now they’re facing losing their home.  So, the rest of the group has gotten together and decided to pay the monthly mortgage payments for their friends while they go through this challenging time.  Wow, what a great example of following the golden rule.

So why does this act of kindness keep entering my thoughts? Maybe it’s because I think about the groups that I’m involved in and wonder if we would be willing to make such a sacrifice for each other. And if one of us was in that situation, would we accept the help? But I sense the main reason the story caught my attention is that I want to be like that group of caring people. I want to be able to put someone else first and maybe even sacrifice a little in doing so.  I’m sure there is no shortage of people I interact with everyday whose burdens could be lightened by some of my time, talent, or resources. But in the activity and routine of each day do I ever pause to really consider the needs of others? Hearing and doing are not the same. Am I really looking?

I can’t stop thinking about it.

…less is more…

Simplicity.  Less is more.  I am always amazed how the simple solution is often the best.  My old boss, Mr. Kroc, had a plaque in his office that shouted K.I.S.S (Keep It Simple, Stupid) on which he based his business strategy for his little hamburger joint.  Hey, if $23 billion in sales doesn’t impress you, then you only have to watch the movie “Contact” and the reference to Occam’s Razor to feel really confident that it must be true….hey, it’s in a movie! 

Here are a few ways “less is more” seems to win out in my life:

·         Play-Doh – it starts out in those nice, vibrant colors.  Then it happens…(as it did right before my eyes as I did my “shift” at childcare at Good Shepherd)  Someone gets the idea to mix the blue with the yellow…da daaaa, you have green.  Next thing ya know colors are added, and added and then you end up with everything looking brownish, kind of ugly and boring.  In fact, kids stop using it far before it begins to dry-out.  Less is more!

·         Food – the natural flavors are so much better when they are simple.  Doesn’t pepperoni pizza really taste better than the combo.  Sure, the combo might fill you up, but you’re dealing with quantity over quality.  I find myself craving the taste of a good old Quarter Pounder with Cheese…before lettuce, tomatoes, bacon, guacamole, peppers, partridge & pear tree were additional options.  The sloppiness factor itself is enough to make you want to stop the madness.  Less is more!

·         Mission Statements – every good organization has a clear mission statement…Ken (who was my incredibly talented boss at the McDs Innovation Center) drove our team to agree and verbalize our mission “We innovate, design and integrate systems that deliver a Forever Young Experience in all our restaurants”  (I don’t think I’m revealing any major secret, if so…sorry Ken).  It drove everything we did.  In fact, each Director was charged with owning either Innovate, Design or Integrate.  A day didn’t go by when someone would ask if what we were doing was getting us closer to our mission.  It was easy to remember, easy to recall, easy to explain…so it was easy to use as an alignment screen.  Less is more!

·         Jesus did it (I saved the best for last) -  yeah, lately, you might call me a Jesus freak (but hopefully in a good way).  After people messed up the 10 commandments for centuries, Jesus came to make it easier for us flawed humans to understand, to focus, to get it righter.  He boiled it down to two (2).  Love the Lord and love your neighbor.  If these 2 things were done, really done…the world would be in a much better place (this was a topic of discussion at my small group Friday night).  Hey, does this mean Jesus was the first to use the 80 / 20 rule.  .  Less is more!

Hope I will act on this life lesson instead of seemingly being anxious to relearn it over and over.  Maybe writing about it will keep it in the front of my mind.  I need to keep telling myself “Keep it simple, stupid”, “Keep it simple, stupid”…“less is more”.

 

In the words of Albert Einstein "Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler."

...unknown caller...

In his recent post "Best Phone Call Ever", Mark Borgetti refers to taking a call from a number he didn't recognize.  It turned out to be an unexpected surprise.  My phone lists them as "unknown caller" which usually causes a reaction similar to a gag reflex.  The timing of Mark's blog couldn't be more perfect as I was asked (and accepted somewhat nervously) to lead a devotion at the women's Growth Group this Tuesday on "the Woman at the Well".

One of my "learnings" from this John 4 story is how Jesus stopped for an unknown caller, the Samaritan woman, when most would not even consider such an action.

Who are the unknown callers in your life?  Is it the co-worker that you know in name only and exchange a nod the first time (and only the first time) you approach them in the hall.  Or is it the neighbor who's husband is out of town when 4 inches of snow (that heavy wet stuff) is deposited on the driveway.  Or maybe the person at the Redbox that is having trouble getting the machine to spit out a $1 DVD.

Are these some of your "unknown callers" ?  Why are they on the end of the line at that exact moment?  Is HE trying to make a connection? 

Rrrrrriiiiiiiinnnnnnggggggg!

...a degree in grocery...

Since I retired in May, I find myself with more time on my hands to broaden my horizons.  That coupled with an urge (guilt) to contribute more around the house drove me to the decision to take over the grocery shopping.  Heck, how hard can it be to swing by Jewel for food, drink and other supplies. Boy, do I have a lot to learn.  My first few months have exposed me to some interesting learnings:

1.       Shopping begins at home – I have to have a list.  Your mind works great when you are looking at the fridge or cupboards, then freezes-up like a Naperville January when you’re rolling down the aisles.  Oh, I regain my steel trap memory the minute I set foot in the house.

2.       Getting a basket – Come on, a baskets a basket.  They all seem to have some interesting thing going on with one of the wheels.  I’ve learned to be ok with any type of noise as long as they can steer in the general direction I point them.  I initially enjoyed using the little “shelf” to place my wallet, list, pen (which I often hold in my mouth) and of course my tender vegetables.  Then I saw a TV special that did a swab test and found my little shelf had as much bacteria growing as a toilet lid.  I never would have thought parents might put their diapered kids there.  Care for a carrot?

3.       Pricing – I’m sure Jewel has a cross promotion going on with the Neuqua High School math department.  Every stop is like a different question on the SAT test.  They usually list the standard price and cost per oz (good idea), but then they add these different twists just to entertain you. 
- There is often a Jewel preferred card price (which they will usually give you if you look lost which I usually qualify for).
- then you have the “fers” 2 fer $5.55, 3 fer $8.88 or 4 fer $11.00.  These all require some ciphering.  They’ll even post a special “1 free if you buy 4” offer just to add a layer for you.  Oh, you don’t have to buy any certain quantity; the discount is good if you buy just one.
- Buy one get one free is an old school approach.  Don’t make the mistake of buying just one and expecting the discount, you got to take 2
- coupons, I’m not even going to go there
  I’m sure the employees take their breaks in front of the security  cameras watching their patrons doing math equations with calculators, fingers and toes.

4.       Aisle chaos – It’s worse out there than Rome at rush hour.  It chaos.  It’s out of control!  There are no rules, so anything is fair.  I’ve had to learn the hard way that the center of the aisle is only the passing lane and leaving the cart in the middle as you grab something will gain you a few stares and “accidental” cart bumps.  Be careful leaving an aisle and making the turn to the next one, it’s like making a left hand turn onto Naper/Plainfield from Bailey road.  You’ve got to peek out, then floor it.

5.       Check out – This is when I realize that I left my “green” reusable shopping bags in my trunk.  Drat, foiled again.  You always want to give them your Preferred Card to scan as I found out the hard way that the store’ / employee’s version doesn’t give you all of the discounts and you would probably never know.  They always seem to have the gum, candy, mags and assorted stuff that I forgot while shopping.  What a coincidence.

I’m going to get my degree.  As Henry Ford said “if you think you can do a thing or think you can’t do a thing…you’re right”.

...why do I use my body for advertising...?

…people use their bodies to advertise. I'm not talking like the guy on the corner in the "King" or "Hamburglar" costume. I'm talking about the average Joe, you and me.

…a glance at my closet reads like a series of 30 second commercials. Between my shirts, hoodies and hats, I cover the wares of many of the stores on Route 59 (a street I avoid at all cost because of my dislike for traffic lights.) I'm willing to give free shout-outs to the Chargers, Padres, Aztecs, USC, Purdue, McDonald's, Guinness, the MMA, Xyience, Habitat for Humanity, Kiva and Feed My Starving Children. There is proof (if a piece of clothing suffices) that I've been to Hawaii, London, Oklahoma (don't ask), Israel, Los Angeles, Greece, and Orlando to name a few.

…in the last couple of years I've added Jesus, the cross, Iron Sharpens Iron, Good Shepherd Church, Mens CRHP 21 (pronounce "chirp") and Dodgin' 4 Dough...but it does feel kinda weird. Why? Certainly Jesus is as important to me as the Padres (they came in last place.) God means more to me than Guinness beer (I'm required to go the light route as my metabolism slows to a near stop.) The cross and what it represents is so much more powerful than the Oklahoma Electric Company.

...but I feel a bit leery when I decide to wear any of my Christian garb. What if people think I'm some kind of Jesus freak (I know I am.) What if someone asks me a tough question like "Is Gandhi going to Hell"? What if a non-Christian feels offended (like wearing a Sox cap to a Cub’s game.)

…i want to be bold. I want to share the joy I've gotten from my relationship with Jesus. I want to be asked the tough questions, and believe listening to the question is just as valuable (if not more) then having a great answer. I want to be a willing lump of clay in the Master’s hands...and advertise to that effect.

...I'm not going to get rid of all my other 30 second spots...it's nice to relate to other "fans". I do want friends to know that I am a fan of Christ, His grace and how cool the "fish" looks on a baseball cap.

…thank goodness we don't give free press on cups, mugs and car bumpers...