Lessons From A Jump Start

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Because it has been sitting unused for several days while I used another vehicle for commuting, and because we rented a car for our trip to Kentucky, my Mini Cooper wouldn't start on Monday.

It has a 10 year old battery. There may be a short somewhere. Whatever the reason, the challenge was there: My car wouldn't start.

I hunted for my jumper cables. I remember a few years ago that I had three sets. After about 30 minutes of searching I came to a conclusion: I didn't own jumper cables anymore. I later remembered that I gave each of my children one of the sets for their cars.

After I reached this conclusion I still had a challenge: My car wouldn't start.

I mentioned to my wife that I needed to run to Walmart and buy a set this evening. (What I didn't mention was that my Mini Cooper was sitting half in my sloped driveway and half in my street because I attempted to push-start it in reverse.) Her suggestion: Ask my neighbor Darin if I could borrow his.

I have a great neighbor in Darin: He has been a friend for 25 years, we've played in bands together, and he has a garage full of stuff that he constantly offers for my use. So I went into the backyard and sure enough, Darin was working on his yard. I asked to borrow his jumper cables, connected them to my wife's car, jump-started my Mini, and moved it out of the street.

Why do I share this little story? I believe there are a few lessons about jump-starting ideas in there:

• When our minds sit idle and unused, our ideas become stale.
• Sometimes our creativity needs a little boost to get running.
• We may give away a great idea (or three) for someone else to use. That's OK, there's always more.
• Someone near us may have exactly what we need. Don't be afraid to ask for help.
• A little physical and mental maintenance goes a long way toward keeping us sharp and creative.

Need a creative jump-start? Do whatever it takes to get your ideas flowing!

Question: What do you do to jump-start your ideas? Share your thoughts below in 'comments'.

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A Legacy Of Character

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This coming weekend my wife, oldest son, and I will be traveling to Kentucky to celebrate the 85th birthday of my Mother. It will be extra special not only for her, but for myself as well.

My Mom has created a Legacy of Character. Her amazing contribution into my life and the lives of my three sisters can never be measured. Not only are we, her children, the beneficiaries of her incredible investment, but her eight grandchildren and one great-grandchild are reaping those rewards as we model and build those same qualities into the next generations.

These are some of the qualities that my Mom instilled into us that she demonstrates to this day:

• Persistence - Except for the most recent weeks because of a fall, Mom swims daily and does water aerobics. She works hard, and refuses to sit idle.
• Creativity - Mom paints, sews, knits, crochets, and cooks new recipes. Her goal: To beautify things.
• Encouragement - A handwritten note, usually accompanied by a hand-painted card are regular entries in her children's, their spouses, and her grand-children's mailboxes.
• Humor - Her wit is quick, and her laughter contagious.
• Learning - She's an avid reader, and recently took a couple of college courses. Plus, Mom loves to communicate with her children and grandchildren via texting (a new technology she had to master).
• Giving - She lives in a one-room garage apartment, and although she only receives a small fixed-income, she supports missionaries around the world.

By building these and many other qualities into our lives, her legacy lives on through the second and third generations, and beyond. I am blessed!

Question: What are you doing to build a Legacy of Character? Share your thoughts below in 'comments'.

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Where Do You Find Your Creativity?

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Where do you find your creativity? Where do you find your inspiration?

Some people find creativity in reading. Others while listening to music. I know of some who love to engage in conversations and come away with fresh, new ideas as a result.

What about you? Do you find...

• Inspiration in nature? Sunrises, clouds, birds, mountains. Seeing creation the hand of the Great Creator and using it as a springboard.
• Inspiration in people? Watching, listening, engaging. (My sister recently updated the status as: People watching... Best thing ever!)
• Inspiration in art? Literature, music, paintings. Created works that stimulate our mind and move our soul.
• Inspiration inside? Thoughts, imaginations, dreams. Listening to the still, small voice that lives within us, and responding to His promptings.

Question: Where do you find your inspiration? Share your thoughts below in 'comments'.

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Lessons From Kayak Jack

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The other day my wife and I went on one of our kayak trips across the sound (the mile-long body of water near our house that separates the mainland from the barrier island and the Gulf of Mexico). In a rare move, we took our chihuahua Jack.

Although He prefers spending time with my wife over me, Kayak Jack (as we affectionately call him) began the journey with me in my kayak, acting like a confident sea-dog with his nose in the wind and the sun at his back. (Technically the sun was at his side, but that doesn't sound as adventurous.)

Halfway across the sound, Kayak Jack began to look around for my wife. He moved from his position at the front of my kayak to the back, and watched my wife who was about 80 feet behind us in her kayak. He spent a few moments of indecision, then jumped into the salt water and began to swim to her.

After negotiating the current and the chop, my wife pulled alongside of him and lifted him out of the water and into her kayak. We were both surprised that Jack would take the plunge and actually do that. I think he even surprised himself with that move.

Kayak Jack survived the swim, shook himself dry, and spent the remainder of the trip across (and the trip back) with my wife.

There are some lessons about passion in this fun-but-true story:

• Being passionate about something will cause you to take risks. 80 feet is a long way for a 5 lb. chihuahua to swim. But his desire to be in the kayak with my wife caused Jack to risk the distance.
• Being passionate about something will cause you to be uncomfortable. Jack is not a lover of water. He does not like to swim. He hates baths. And yet he was willing to get wet to achieve his goal.
• Being passionate about something will cause you to leave security. Jack felt safe in the middle of a body of water, a half-mile from shore because he was high and dry in a kayak. Still, he left his security to pursue his desire.
• Being passionate about something will cause you to be "all in". Jack wasn't able to reason that we'd soon be on dry land and he could ride in my wife's kayak if he'd only waited. But he did give up everything and made his sole focus getting aboard her kayak and being with my wife.

Kayak Jack reminded me of the need to be passionate about something, and some of the steps one takes to pursue that passion.

Question: What are some other lessons we can learn about passion from this story? Share your thoughts below in 'comments'.

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