A Few Reminders

Happy Friday, Friends!

I hope and trust this post finds you all having a great day as a glorious new day begins to dawn in my Sweet Home Alabama! This day is going to be special; I can just feel it!

 

Only 2 more weeks until the college football season is here! Let’s go!!!

 

This week I simply want to share a few reminders. Nothing I will share will be new to you, nor do I think it will be overly thought-provoking. Appropriate and ironic; it is the little things, done with consistency, that lead to big things. And the most important word in the previous sentence was “done,” and the second most important word was “consistency.” Again, ironically, we like to focus on outcomes rather than the process that leads to them.

 

Reminder #1

I was reading something earlier this week that said a leader's first responsibility is to lead themselves. We know that. Here, however, is the question: what are you doing daily to lead yourself? What are the things you are listening to, reading, and watching? Who are the people you are allowing to speak into your life? And the really key question: is it producing the fruit that you want to produce? Bottom line: it is not mine or anyone else’s job to lead you to make sure that you become all that you are created to become. That responsibility, Friend, lies squarely on your shoulders. The same is true for each one of us.

 

Reminder #2

I was listening to a Jon Gordon podcast, and his guest was Chris Hodges, the founder of Church of the Highlands and current chancellor of Highlands College. During the interview, Chris said something like, “All of us are leaving a legacy, whether it is good or bad.” If you think about it, that is a true statement. Pick any person and think of them. What did you think? That is their legacy. So, and you knew this was coming, what legacy are you leaving? At home? At work? With your friends? At church? Some day when you are gone, what will you be remembered for? I remember Aeneas Williams' Pro Football Hall of Fame induction speech several years ago, and his key point was, “begin with the end in mind.” I encourage us today, Friends, to think about what we want that end to be and then consistently do (those two words again!) the things that will lead to the legacy we want to leave.

 

Reminder #3

I had a situation this week that reminded me of Trey Smith's quote: “If your presence doesn't make an impact, your absence won't make a difference.” We aren’t here to be consumers or observers; we are here to be difference makers! Our lives have value, meaning, and a purpose. Let’s live each and every day as though that statement is true – to the depths of my soul I believe it is!!!

 

Finally, I want to share the lyrics to the song The Long Way by Natalie Layne. For the last few weeks, every time I hear this song, it is like it is the prayer of my Spirit. Hits me hard in a profoundly positive way. I thought you all might enjoy it. I would also encourage you to Google it and listen to it.

 

I'm the kind of heart that likes to know right where I'm going

I would take the highway over dirt roads any day

I would rather speed things up than learn to trust the process

Tell me yes or tell me no, just don't tell me to wait

 

But You see more than I can see

You've got good plans for me

So I'm surrendering

 

Take me down the long way if that's where I'm meant to be

Take me down the back roads, God, You know what's best for me

You're with me every moment, even the ones I wouldn't choose

Take me down the long way if the long way leads to You

 

I have seen Your faithfulness in every mile so far

All that I have needed, You've provided from the start

Your voice is always gentle and Your love is evergreen

Leading me to a kindness that I never would have seen

 

So take me down the long way if that's where I'm meant to be

Take me down the back roads, God, You know what's best for me

You're with me every moment, even the ones I wouldn't choose

Take me down the long way if the long way leads to You

If the long way leads to You

 

You see more than I can see

You've got good plans for me

They're better than I dreamed

So I'm Yours and I believe

 

You'll take me down the long way if that's where I'm meant to be

You'll take me down the back roads, God, You know what's best for me

You're with me every moment, even the ones I wouldn't choose

Take me down the long way if the long way leads to You

Take me down the long way if the long way leads to You

If the long way leads to You

 

Please feel free to contact me if there is ever anything I can do for you or your family. I will always help you any way I can. You can reach me at kevin@whatwillyourinfluencebe.com

 

Have a great day and a wonderful weekend. Please cherish your precious family, be kind, and please stay well!

 

Kev

Everybody Has a Story

Happy Friday, Friends!

I hope and trust this post finds you having a great day as a glorious new dawn begins to dawn in my Sweet Home Alabama!

Having been in higher education my entire career and speaking with thousands of men and women across generations, I have two deeply held beliefs.
1. Everybody has a story. All of us have had times of great joy and sadness; we all have great victories and heart-crushing defeats; and we all have hopes and dreams.
2. We can learn something from everyone.

Now, before diving into what I actually want to share with you briefly this morning, I want to make one key point: to know someone's story and learn from them, we have to listen to them. And when I say listen, I don’t mean hear. We can hear a voice and not listen to the person. To genuinely listen to someone is a great gift to them, and you will be blessed beyond measure yourself.

I was reminded of the importance of my first point this past week – everyone has a story. And they all matter, by the way! I serve at an institution that has existed since 1830, and the building where my office is located was a home that a family lived in during the Civil War. There was a little girl who lived in the house with her family during the Civil War, and she kept a diary. From that diary, we have learned so much about what was going on in our community and what was going on in and around the house I go to every day. It is incredible, cherished by our institution and her family alike. But here is the thing: as a 12-year-old girl living in this house and writing in her diary in the early 1860s, she did not think it would have historical significance, or that people would so deeply value and appreciate it 160+ years later.

I had a similar “ah ha” moment at a previous institution. This was an academic health center where I served. At that time, I met physicians who were the first to have specialties like pediatric cardiology – they literally developed the specialty. Please think about that for a moment. I remember speaking with one elderly physician, and I asked him about the early years when this idea of pediatric cardiology was born. You could still see the pain in his eyes of the precious souls lost in the early years that he stated could easily be saved today. These physicians, similar to a 12-year-old little girl, did not see the significance in their story, in their life journey. They were just living life, doing the very best they could, and trying to selflessly serve others.

It was at that same academic health center that I first learned of the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute. The course I cherished most was what they called “My Story.” The concept is for everyone to write out their life story so it can be passed down to their children, grandchildren, friends, etc. Many of those who participated in the course actually had the books bound. The books were priceless; they were the life journey of the one who had written it.

So where am I going with all this? I guess there are two things I really want us all to take away this morning.
1. As boring, routine, tiresome, or whatever adjective you might like to use to describe your life, I want to tell you it matters. You are so valuable, so precious, and you are irreplaceable. Sure, others can do some of the things you do; perhaps they can perform your work or whatever; however, nobody ever has been or ever will again be you. While I am sure that you have things you want to improve, change, etc. – we all do! – I simply hope you will be grateful for the life you have…I am! And please give some serious thought to writing your story…it matters!
2. I want to encourage you to take the time; actually, I want to encourage you to intentionally make the time, to listen to people’s stories. I’m telling you, having sat and listened to literally thousands of them, it will inspire and bless your soul! And in the process of having your own life blessed, you are offering another one of the greatest gifts we can give them; we are letting them know they matter.

Please don’t hesitate to contact me if there is ever anything I can do for any of you. I will always help you any way I can. You can reach me at kevin@whatwillyourinfluencebe.com.

Have a great day and a wonderful weekend. Please cherish your precious family, be kind, and stay well!

Kev

Why Not?

Happy Friday, Friends!

I hope and trust this post finds you all having a great day as a glorious new day begins to dawn in my Sweet Home Alabama! How is it possible that this is the last day of July? Wasn’t it just Christmas?

 

This morning I want to share a couple of quick thoughts and a quote.

 

Earlier this week our church lost a giant – a great man who served as one of our Pastors. His sudden death reminded me once again of the brevity of life. I don’t mean that as a point of sadness but rather a moment of inspiration to genuinely value and appreciate each day and to live them, one at a time, to the fullest.

 

Also, this week, during my prayer time, I was thinking about the Serenity Prayer. Here is the prayer:

 

"God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference. Living one day at a time, enjoying one moment at a time; accepting hardship as a pathway to peace; taking, as Jesus did, this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it; trusting that You will make all things right if I surrender to Your will; so that I may be reasonably happy in this life and supremely happy with You forever in the next. Amen."

 

The part that convicted my spirit powerfully was “to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can.” Maybe it is just me; however, I tend to spend a lot of time thinking and worrying about things I cannot change, and I forfeit the power I do have by not changing the things I can. Is it just me? I really have to get better at that!

 

Finally, I want to share this great quote from Steve Maraboli with you. It is titled, “Why Not You?” and it absolutely makes my spirit soar!

 

“Why Not You?

 

Today, many will awaken with a fresh sense of inspiration. Why not you?

 

Today, many will open their eyes to the beauty that surrounds them. Why not you?

 

Today, many will choose to leave the ghost of yesterday behind and seize the immeasurable power of today. Why not you?

 

Today, many will break through the barriers of the past by looking at the blessings of the present. Why not you?

 

Today, for many the burden of self-doubt and insecurity will be lifted by the security and confidence of empowerment. Why not you?

 

Today, many will rise above their believed limitations and make contact with their powerful innate strength. Why not you?

 

Today, many will choose to live in such a manner that they will be a positive role model for their children. Why not you?

 

Today, many will choose to free themselves from the personal imprisonment of their bad habits. Why not you?

 

Today, many will choose to live free of conditions and rules governing their own happiness. Why not you?

 

Today, many will find abundance in simplicity. Why not you?

 

Today, many will be confronted by difficult moral choices and they will choose to do what is right instead of what is beneficial. Why not you?

 

Today, many will decide to no longer sit back with a victim mentality, but to take charge of their lives and make positive changes. Why not you?

 

Today, many will take the action necessary to make a difference. Why not you?

 

Today, many will make the commitment to be a better mother, father, son, daughter, student, teacher, worker, boss, brother, sister, and so much more. Why not you?

 

Today is a new day!

 

Many will seize this day.

 

Many will live it to the fullest.

 

Why not you?”

 

Please don’t hesitate to contact me if there is ever anything I can do for you or your family. I will always help you any way I can. You can reach me at kevin@whatwillyourinfluencebe.com.

 

Have a great day and a wonderful weekend. Please cherish your precious family, please be kind, and please stay well!

 

Kev