We Sure Do Talk A Lot

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We talk a lot. Sometimes with our mouths, oftentimes with our fingers (on our smartphone keyboards).

We can't get away from it: We live in a world of talking heads, talk radio, smartphones, Facebook, chat rooms, Twitter, texting, instant messages, status updates, comments on tagged photos, comments on updates, and comments on comments. Whether we use our mouths, our MacBooks or our thumbs (pro texters will follow that), countless words leave us and move through the atmosphere and through cyberspace.

Sometimes what we have to say is important. Sometimes what we have to say is complementary to what another has already shared. But a lot of times what we have to say is about ourselves, and doesn't really benefit anyone. (Here's a test: Look back at your posts and comments and see how often you use the words I, I've, me, my, mine.)

In the end, it is up to us to determine if what we have to say is really worth saying.

I remember one time getting caught by my mother in a lie (I was a young boy of eight). After she confronted me on the issue and asked if I had done the deed, she said, "Before you answer, think about what you say." Well I didn't think about what I would say, and Mom knew it wasn't the truth. Needless to say, I paid the price. (I can't remember what I did - I just remember the consequence for my lying.)

Maybe Mom's advice isn't just for eight-year-old boys who have the opportunity to lie. Maybe before we speak, text, or type, we all ought to stop and "think about what you say." Is it truly benefiting, encouraging, and challenging to someone, or is it simply about me?

Maybe we'd say a lot less, but it would mean a lot more.

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Protect Your Valuables

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What have you done to show value to those whom you work with? How can you say to someone, "You matter!"?

I have learned over time that valuing others is one of the greatest encouragements we can give. Here are four ways I use to show value:

I expect the best, and assume it will happen. Expecting mediocrity or failure is very de-valuing. Expecting excellence isn't a demand, but rather shows belief in a person. I work with singers, musicians, and technical-types at my day job. My heart is to raise everyone to the next level in skill. My heart is also to immediately see maturity among the "learners" (new team members).

We recently transitioned to new presentation software for our worship services, and preparing for the first use, I never mentioned that there might be some glitches. Rather, I told the team that I believed in their abilities to handle the learning curve, and that the service would be seamless. (It was!)

I seek to focus my attention on individual people. A gentle word of encouragement during a rehearsal, or taking someone aside to speak truth (while looking them in the eyes and smiling) is a big valuing move. I try not to be distracted during conversations. 

Recently while having lunch with my Orchestra Director, I received a text message from my sister (I knew it was her by the exclusive ringtone). Normally I would have ignored the text, but because I knew it was from my sister (who rarely texts me during the day), I asked permission to read and respond.

Also, I seek to be interested, rather than interesting. (How often, after reading a FaceBook post where someone shares something they have done, we respond with "I've done that too!" or "I've eaten there also... Love the sliders!", instead of "Good job" or "Good for you!"? We make it about us instead of them.)

I seek to keep team members informed, and provide resources to support them. I have worked with volunteers (usually), and paid personnel on teams, and they all have one thing in common: They deserve resources to improve their skills and do their jobs with excellence. Again, I am seeking to help others improve, be better, and achieve their goals and visions.

I regularly email blogs and articles to our Tech Team. Some of the time they know the information I am sending. Some of the time they don't and it becomes a help. All of the time it communicates that I think they are important enough for me to take the time to share it.

I regularly praise and thank, but I do so privately. I may be a bit over the top on this idea, but I believe that private thanks and praise goes much further than public thanks and praise. Yes, it's much easier on us to publicly recognize someone for their work, but taking the time to privately say "thank you" and "great job" shows that we truly value their work.

I write hand-written notes and mail them in the traditional way. A lot of time and effort yes, but the people I send the notes to are worth it. (Our "click-culture" doesn't leave room for effort and sacrifice. Convenience is king!)

After major productions and services, I send everyone involved a personal, hand-written thank-you note. Sometimes I enclose a gift. It takes many hours to do this, but again the participants are worth it.

What do you do to value those you lead?

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React or Pro-Act

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In my last Blog post I asked if you were a "History Maker" or a "History Reader". I summarized by asking the question,  "Do we sit back and watch the life around us go by, or do we write the story of the life around us?"

Stated differently, do we react to situations, news, and people, or are we proactive?

We have all seen the Facebook memes: Like and share if you'd vote for this person. Copy and paste this into your status. #PrayForOrlando (and France, and Boston, and Nigeria, and Israel, and Fallujah... Click here to see the list of terrorist attacks around the world so far in 2016).

Are we shocked, stunned, and astonished when we read or hear about things that happen in our world? (Did you click the link in the above paragraph? What was your response as you read?) Do we ever get overwhelmed? Do we ever get to the place where logoff and yell, "Make it stop!"

What can we do to get ahead of the curve of all the "news" that continues to bombard us? Are we stuck in the place of like & share, or are we establishing the ground rules for the life that we are allowing to affect us?

I am a follower in Jesus Christ, and as His follower I am exhorted to be salt and light, to do good deeds, to live holy, to love my enemies, to give to the needy, to not store physical treasures, to not judge, and to not worry about the future. I must then, be vigilant to make sure my life is truly following the Lord.

I think I get it: If I am active about being salt and light, doing good deeds, living holy, loving my enemies, giving to the needy, storing treasures in heaven, not judging, and not worrying about the future, then I have adopted a Proactive lifestyle. 

When we aren't grounded we react. When we don't have convictions we don't think for ourselves. But, if we can find our rootedness in our relationship with Christ, and if we can have a global vision along with a Christian perspective, then we can be Proactive.

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Are You A History Maker?

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I love history. I love to learn the why that determines the what. I love to discover the struggles of people as they shaped their destiny.

I believe that all of us can all learn from history: Our nation's past, from our family's past, our Biblical heritage.

But are we simply History Readers, or are we History Makers? Do we sit back and watch the life around us go by, or do we write the story of the life around us?

When we get to the end of our lives, will it show that we were simply passive and indifferent, allowing events to happen, and following those events like sheep? Or, when we get to the end of our lives will it show that we actively shaped the course of our destiny?

Will we be a David who fought a Goliath, or will we simply be one of David's brothers who watched? Will we be a Paul who preached to the Ephesians and saw a powerful church rise up, or will we simply be a Eutychus who fell asleep on the window sill while Paul preached?

Know that I believe our destiny is closely tied to God's plan for us. But also know that I believe we ought to ask God about that plan, and get in on it!

Don't just read about what is happening... Write what is happening. Be a History Maker!

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