Living Beyond the Dash

We have all likely experienced the passing of some family member or friend.  We've attended their funeral or memorial service which usually begins by stating when they were born and when they died.  At the grave site, their whole life is summarized by this simple little "-" between their birth and death date.

Perhaps you've heard someone speak of the concept of the "dash" or making the most of your dash, also known as making the most of your life. When you spend time in a cemetery, you realize just how short this life really can be.  We don't know when the day will come, but we do know that there will be a day that we will die.

You're probably thinking by now that this is going to be yet another post about making the most of your life. Well, not really.  If you're reading this, you're likely one who has already read, heard, or reflected on what you can do to make the most of this life.  So, I would like to take a couple more paragraphs and challenge you to live beyond the dash.  Live a life so invested in others that even with your physical passing from this life, there is a legacy that is lived out in those who you have invested your time, emotional and relational energy.

To live beyond the dash, you have to first embrace a period of introspection and reflect on a couple of meaningful questions:

• Who am I, why am I here, what is my purpose/passion or what do I want to do with my life?
• At the core, do I just want to "exist" or do I want to exalt others?

If you can get your mind around those questions, then consider the following for ideas on how to live beyond the dash.

• Look for opportunities to encourage someone daily
• Volunteer with a local non-profit organization - preferably one that aligns with your purpose/passion.
• Mentor someone
• Give sacrificially to a cause you that you believe
• Babysit for a single parent
• Adopt a child
• Visit an ICU waiting room at a local hospital for a couple of hours and see how you could serve someone there (Big ears, long arms, or a shoulder to cry on)
• Visit the nearest nursing home and engage a resident in conversation
• and the list goes on..........

The point, the life that lives beyond the dash is a life that is "others focused".  Can you do that? YES, you can!  Will you do that? Only you can answer.

Would love to know your thoughts.

C.H.A.N.G.E. - Courage Having A New Goal Emerge

The end of the year approaches so quickly.  Most people started the year with goals in mind for 2011. How are you doing with your goals?

As you think about your goals for this year, this might be a good time to reassess, reevaluate, and even CHANGE your goals.  So many times, we set our goals and just leave them static for the whole year, even when we know we're not going to complete them.  If a goal is no longer relevant or does not support the overall direction that you're now moving, why keep it as a goal?

Be courageous!  Let the new goals emerge as you continue your journey. Just like the title:  C.H.A.N.G.E. - Courage Having A New Goal Emerge.

What new goals are emerging in your world? Write them down, pray over them, and get to work!

Change is good.  This morning, I was thinking about my goals for the year and how quickly the year has passed.  Don't let this year come and go without continued focused intentionality on your goals.  That requires making sure your goals are relevant and having a renewed focus to finish the year strong.  There is still plenty of time!

What goals do you need to change?  Let's finish the year strong!

Would love to know your thoughts. Share here!

People's Stories Matter

Break from ATV's for quick pic

Anticipating the Memorial Day holiday, my wife and I decided to use the time to go on vacation for a week to Costa Rica.  (I did not anticipate that I'd have to take a midterm exam before the holiday break was over.)  This vacation provided a much needed mental break, but also served to give my wife and I some uninterrupted time away together.  Running our company together keeps us extremely busy, but now with the added time required for grad school, there's not much time left for us.  This trip also taught me some deeper things about myself, as well as others.

I had not prepared for this trip at all.  Antoinette had taken care of all of the details - flights, hotel, transportation, etc...and she did a great job putting that all together!  When we arrived at the airport in San Jose, Costa Rica, we had to wait for 3 hours for our shuttle to come pick us up and take us to Manuel Antonio.  We decided to wait just outside the airport where everyone catches their transportation or crosses the street into the parking garage for their own car.

As we exited the airport to sit on a bench outside, we were bombarded by a dozen men asking us if we needed a taxi or help with our luggage.  They couldn't understand why we were coming outside without catching a taxi or leaving the area, so they'd check with us multiple times to see if we wanted a taxi.  As we sat down on a bench, up walks "Freddy" to explore further about our travel plans and transportation.  Freddy was difficult to communicate with as he knew little English and I knew even less Spanish.  Immediately, I was struck with the wonder of what was Freddy's story and began wondering if the week would involve any meaningful conversations with others, because of the language barrier.  If you know me, you know I like to learn people's stories.

Over the course of three hours, Freddy and I would engage each other in sporadic short questions about one another and then try to figure out what each other was saying.  Freddy is in his mid-50's, a father of 5 children (he showed us their pictures) and would come to the airport to work for tips as he would offer to help people with their luggage.  As I watched Freddy, I saw a hard-working and kind gentleman that was liked by all of the employees working outside at the airport.  At one point I went to buy Antoinette and I bottled waters, so I got an extra one and gave it to Freddy.  I then witnessed the beauty of community when Freddy took a couple of swallows of water then offered the bottle to those around him to have a nice cold swallow as well.  Freddy serves those around him selflessly.

Enriquez w/ Ant & I

My experience with Freddy made me realize that the week could hold endless possibilities in encounters if I was intentional and creative about it.

So over the course of the week, I was able to learn the stories of several people on this trip, both Ticos and Americans.  Some whose stories that will have a lasting impact with me like Enriquez, Maday, Ivania, Alex, Alexander,  Joe & Heidi, Josh & Shauna, and others.

Even with language barriers, showing interest in someone's story will always make them come alive and will open a whole new level of understanding with that person.  The main thing this trip has taught me is that if you want to really know about someone:

• Be intentional
• Show genuine, authentic interest in them
• Listen, Listen, Listen
• Ask probing, but not nosey questions about them
• Be grateful for their time

When we take our eyes off ourselves and invest the time and effort to get to know others, a whole new level of community opens up.  The walls that people typically exist behind are replaced by a vulnerable beauty that is drawn to the surface from authentic meaningful conversation.

Who will you engage today in authentic conversation and listen to the beauty of their story?

Would love to know your thoughts and ideas regarding authentic conversation.