“You are more than the choices you have made.”
It’s great to hear this because lately I’ve been making some bad choices. Things not worth mentioning but that God knows nonetheless.
Why am I self destructive? Why do I let my thoughts and feelings overwhelm me? Why do I find it hard to trust God? Why can’t I just chill out?
Because I am human. I have to keep reminding myself of this. If I was perfect I don’t think I would need God. It’s my imperfections that keep me from becoming full of myself. It’s my imperfections that remind me of God’s grace and love. My kids can never do anything that would keep me from loving them. I think the same applies to our relationship with God.
God’s love inspires me to be a better human being. It also helps me turn from darkness to light. When my life seems like a series of bad choices, I just need to pause and remember this. This is today's lesson.
Here’s a song that resonates with this lesson.
Saturday, February 26, 2011
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Understanding Life
“Who are you when no one is looking?” That’s the thought I had today.
I wish I could say I’m a saint, but that would be a lie. I’m just a guy trying to understand life and do the best I can is probably a more accurate answer. And on occasion I fail and struggle to forgive myself and move on. Thank God I’m getting better at that.
Life is a strange thing. I wonder a lot about the purpose of it all and honestly it’s hard to answer the “why” questions without reflecting on my relationship with God. Why was I born? Why am I alive? Why am I thinking these things? Without a master plan and creator it all seems a bit senseless.
Through my kids I have seen three human beings materialize out of ether and now those three human beings call me dad. It’s wonderful and a little crazy at the same time. I understand the science behind a human life, but how do you explain my kid’s consciousness? The only thing that makes sense to me is that God breathed consciousness into them.
But why where they born onto this planet and reality? Why do I feel compelled to tell them that there is much more to life than what you perceive with your senses? I think it’s because the God that created them created me too and as a parent His spirit and flows through me to them – and vice versa. Interesting huh?
I’m not sure how this last paragraph ties in with my original thought, but I like it nonetheless. Tonight’s lesson is that it is ok to let your imagination take over when reflecting on wondrous mysteries. It makes you feel alive.
Here’s a song that resonates with this lesson.
I wish I could say I’m a saint, but that would be a lie. I’m just a guy trying to understand life and do the best I can is probably a more accurate answer. And on occasion I fail and struggle to forgive myself and move on. Thank God I’m getting better at that.
Life is a strange thing. I wonder a lot about the purpose of it all and honestly it’s hard to answer the “why” questions without reflecting on my relationship with God. Why was I born? Why am I alive? Why am I thinking these things? Without a master plan and creator it all seems a bit senseless.
Through my kids I have seen three human beings materialize out of ether and now those three human beings call me dad. It’s wonderful and a little crazy at the same time. I understand the science behind a human life, but how do you explain my kid’s consciousness? The only thing that makes sense to me is that God breathed consciousness into them.
But why where they born onto this planet and reality? Why do I feel compelled to tell them that there is much more to life than what you perceive with your senses? I think it’s because the God that created them created me too and as a parent His spirit and flows through me to them – and vice versa. Interesting huh?
I’m not sure how this last paragraph ties in with my original thought, but I like it nonetheless. Tonight’s lesson is that it is ok to let your imagination take over when reflecting on wondrous mysteries. It makes you feel alive.
Here’s a song that resonates with this lesson.
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Tomorrow is Today
Today is my birthday and the 2nd anniversary of my sister’s stroke. Ironically, the day I was born and the day she almost slipped away are the same.
What are the chances of this happening I ask myself? Impossible I think. That’s why I know there is something more at work here.
In between birth and death there is life. Maybe that is what God is trying to tell us through all of this. Celebrate life while you’re alive. Let go of all the nonsense that keeps you down. As long as you’re breathing you have the power to manifest the life you dream of. It might take time but it’s possible.
And when tragedy does strike, let God show you how to be reborn through it. That's what my sister did with Thoughts of a Butterfly. That is tonight’s lesson.
Here’s a song to remind us that that butterflies fly when the sun comes out.
What are the chances of this happening I ask myself? Impossible I think. That’s why I know there is something more at work here.
In between birth and death there is life. Maybe that is what God is trying to tell us through all of this. Celebrate life while you’re alive. Let go of all the nonsense that keeps you down. As long as you’re breathing you have the power to manifest the life you dream of. It might take time but it’s possible.
And when tragedy does strike, let God show you how to be reborn through it. That's what my sister did with Thoughts of a Butterfly. That is tonight’s lesson.
Here’s a song to remind us that that butterflies fly when the sun comes out.
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Love without Condition
“Why do I love God,” I asked myself today?
Because He loves me just as I am. Because in His eyes I am perfect.
With all the mistakes I’ve made in my life, with all the evil I have committed, with all the times I’ve hurt others, God continues to let me know that He still loves me.
And sometimes He does so in ways I would never have expected.
How?
Through you. Through random acts of love. Through people I don’t even know but that I see God’s compassion and love flowing through. I see and feel God’s presence when I choose to look with my heart. I see and feel God’s love when I stop judging, but instead love as He loves – without condition. That’s tonight’s lesson. Love as God loves so that you too may know His love.
Here’s a song that resonates with this lesson.
Because He loves me just as I am. Because in His eyes I am perfect.
With all the mistakes I’ve made in my life, with all the evil I have committed, with all the times I’ve hurt others, God continues to let me know that He still loves me.
And sometimes He does so in ways I would never have expected.
How?
Through you. Through random acts of love. Through people I don’t even know but that I see God’s compassion and love flowing through. I see and feel God’s presence when I choose to look with my heart. I see and feel God’s love when I stop judging, but instead love as He loves – without condition. That’s tonight’s lesson. Love as God loves so that you too may know His love.
Here’s a song that resonates with this lesson.
Saturday, February 12, 2011
Aligning Stars
“He’s amazing.” That’s the thought I had yesterday as I watched my son walk into his school.
Lately I’ve been thinking a lot about my purpose in life at this moment in time. I’ve been so consumed trying to “make things happen” and “keeping up” that I sometimes miss what’s right in front of me.
I believe in chasing dreams and doing the extraordinary. I love pushing myself to realize deeper truths about life. I love sharing my passion for life with others. But none of this compares to my purpose right now – to guide my children into discovering and living their own purpose.
With a 4th baby on the way in a few weeks I’m struggling to align stars. But do I really have the power to align stars? I don’t know. But I know God does. Maybe I need to let Him do His thing. Maybe all I need to do to live my purpose right now is love and trust. This makes sense to me.
Today’s lesson is to remember the power love has to align our life around the purpose God placed in our hearts when He created us.
Here’s a song to inspire this lesson.
Lately I’ve been thinking a lot about my purpose in life at this moment in time. I’ve been so consumed trying to “make things happen” and “keeping up” that I sometimes miss what’s right in front of me.
I believe in chasing dreams and doing the extraordinary. I love pushing myself to realize deeper truths about life. I love sharing my passion for life with others. But none of this compares to my purpose right now – to guide my children into discovering and living their own purpose.
With a 4th baby on the way in a few weeks I’m struggling to align stars. But do I really have the power to align stars? I don’t know. But I know God does. Maybe I need to let Him do His thing. Maybe all I need to do to live my purpose right now is love and trust. This makes sense to me.
Today’s lesson is to remember the power love has to align our life around the purpose God placed in our hearts when He created us.
Here’s a song to inspire this lesson.
Monday, February 7, 2011
Blowing Up
This past weekend was not one of my most graceful. In short, I lost it. Why? Too much internal stress bottled up and exploded like a soda bottle that has been violently shaken.
So what did all this drama teach me? That I am human. That I have my physical and emotional limitations. That I need to start running actively again and burn out the stress hormones that are causing my nerve endings to rattle.
The crazy thing is I started off the weekend listening to an inspirational song and I felt I was on the verge of a breakthrough. A blowup is more of what I got. But such is life.
Tonight’s lesson is to remember to be patient with yourself. It’s ok to be human. It’s ok to hurt. It’s ok to lose it on occasion if you have to. After all we are spiritual beings living a human experience. This fallen world can take its toll on the spirit. That’s why God invented tears. The trick is to pick yourself up again and trust God’s plan for your life.
Here’s the song I was inspired by. “I’m coming home…”
So what did all this drama teach me? That I am human. That I have my physical and emotional limitations. That I need to start running actively again and burn out the stress hormones that are causing my nerve endings to rattle.
The crazy thing is I started off the weekend listening to an inspirational song and I felt I was on the verge of a breakthrough. A blowup is more of what I got. But such is life.
Tonight’s lesson is to remember to be patient with yourself. It’s ok to be human. It’s ok to hurt. It’s ok to lose it on occasion if you have to. After all we are spiritual beings living a human experience. This fallen world can take its toll on the spirit. That’s why God invented tears. The trick is to pick yourself up again and trust God’s plan for your life.
Here’s the song I was inspired by. “I’m coming home…”
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Relationships Matter
“Get at it.” That’s the thought I had tonight as I recapped my weekend in NY.
This past weekend I had the good fortune of spending time with people I love. We ate bagels at Murray’s, visited St. Patrick’s church, went to the top of the Empire State Building, ate some wonderful cuisine, laughed, drank wine, laughed, exchanged dreams, challenged dreams, went to an insane bowling club, walked through Times Square, popped in the M&M store, took a break at Applebee's, and finally ate official NY pizza (I loved that stuff since I was a kid).
I was actually in NY in pursuit of my dreams (more on this later), but in the end the greatest lesson I was reminded of was the only thing that really matters in life are relationships.
“Get at it,” would seem to imply doing something or making things happen. Yes, I think that’s important. But not as important as nurturing and developing relationships with people I love. Life has become hectic lately. Dreams are on the verge of coming true. Mortgages are due. But you know what? Life means nothing without people to share it with. That’s tonight’s lesson. "Get at" spending time with people is what I'm taking away from all of this.
Here’s an ‘80s tune that reminds me of spending time in NY as I grew up.
This past weekend I had the good fortune of spending time with people I love. We ate bagels at Murray’s, visited St. Patrick’s church, went to the top of the Empire State Building, ate some wonderful cuisine, laughed, drank wine, laughed, exchanged dreams, challenged dreams, went to an insane bowling club, walked through Times Square, popped in the M&M store, took a break at Applebee's, and finally ate official NY pizza (I loved that stuff since I was a kid).
I was actually in NY in pursuit of my dreams (more on this later), but in the end the greatest lesson I was reminded of was the only thing that really matters in life are relationships.
“Get at it,” would seem to imply doing something or making things happen. Yes, I think that’s important. But not as important as nurturing and developing relationships with people I love. Life has become hectic lately. Dreams are on the verge of coming true. Mortgages are due. But you know what? Life means nothing without people to share it with. That’s tonight’s lesson. "Get at" spending time with people is what I'm taking away from all of this.
Here’s an ‘80s tune that reminds me of spending time in NY as I grew up.
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Behind the Scenes
“The real magic happens behind the scenes.” That’s the thought I had today.
My wife used to be a professional ballerina and over a 12-year period I watched her on and off stage and got to learn what it takes to put on a professional ballet performance. When I used to sit in the audience the dancers looked so poised and fluid on stage. On occasion I would go behind the scenes and there I’d see exhausted and sweaty dancers doing the best they could to catch their breath. But without fail, they would glide back onto the stage and perform with grace and beauty again and again and again. After the show they would glow that warm glow that accompanies a job well done. This always amazed me.
Behind the scenes of every great performance or success is a tireless pursuit to make it happen. The spotlight moment is but a brief instant compared to the work needed to get there. If the spotlight is all you aspire to have, you’ll never do the work needed to get there. Life is not that easy. That is what I learned from my beautiful ballerina wife. It’s also the lesson I share with you tonight.
Here's a behind the scenes video at the Washington Ballet. It features my friend Jonathan Jordan who plays Peter Pan. Jonathan is one of the most disciplined people I know that lives the lesson above.
My wife used to be a professional ballerina and over a 12-year period I watched her on and off stage and got to learn what it takes to put on a professional ballet performance. When I used to sit in the audience the dancers looked so poised and fluid on stage. On occasion I would go behind the scenes and there I’d see exhausted and sweaty dancers doing the best they could to catch their breath. But without fail, they would glide back onto the stage and perform with grace and beauty again and again and again. After the show they would glow that warm glow that accompanies a job well done. This always amazed me.
Behind the scenes of every great performance or success is a tireless pursuit to make it happen. The spotlight moment is but a brief instant compared to the work needed to get there. If the spotlight is all you aspire to have, you’ll never do the work needed to get there. Life is not that easy. That is what I learned from my beautiful ballerina wife. It’s also the lesson I share with you tonight.
Here's a behind the scenes video at the Washington Ballet. It features my friend Jonathan Jordan who plays Peter Pan. Jonathan is one of the most disciplined people I know that lives the lesson above.
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