This is Glenn

This is Glenn.

I’ve known Glenn now for about 16 years.

Glenn was a teacher for his professional career.  A really good one at that.  One of those individuals who are underpaid, dismissed by most, but passionate about education and seeing kids succeed at life. He has a wide scope of influence as he relentlessly poured into and shaped young minds (and colleagues too). 

Glenn is finishing his race here on Earth.  He’s heading for the tape, about to cross. 

His love for life, family, and Jesus is real.

He’s walked through some of the most trying times as a parent, loving his children with the upmost of dignity, care, and compassion.  He’s loved his wife, Rita, always seeming to bring a smile to her face or making her laugh.

At this point in reflecting, I can only think of the good times. I know there were times where he wanted to be better.  He wanted to have another opportunity to handle something or a situation in another way.  As we all do.  

But as I’ve walked with him and his family over the last 8 months as he has battled Leptomeningeal Metastatic Melanoma, the grace and courage he has demonstrated is what great men of history have shown while knowing their time was short and coming to an end.  Never cursing God or wallowing in his circumstance, but asking the question of what else might he be able to do with the time he has left. 

As I peruse my Facebook feed, I’m reminded that life is short… it really is a vapor.   Here in the moment and gone the next.  While this may seem like a depressing thought, I find it liberating and focusing.  We’re granted only so much time to experience what we can.  There are things we stress about that are really, in reality, nothing.  

True greatness, sucking the marrow out of life, comes from serving and loving others.  Especially those that can never repay you.  

The encouragement is to be in the moment.  Celebrate those small accomplishments (along with the big ones), victories, engagements, successes, graduations, plays, ventures of faith, births, and even those family reunions.  They are awkward, but… if nothing else, they make for good stories.

When in doubt, love.  Especially when someone doesn’t deserve it or have been unkind.  It's a choice. 

Forgive.  Lack of forgiveness causes bitterness. Bitterness will rob you of life.  I don’t know who said it, but bitterness is like drinking poison and waiting for your enemy to die.  Forgive those who have wronged you.  It will set you free. 

Thank you, Glenn, for your life and sharing it with me.  I’m a better man, husband, and dad because of you.  I’ll see you soon.

Greatness in Leadership

Leadership… that’s a loaded word.  

In order to be a great leader, one has to learn to be a good follower. 

Jesus said it this way, “If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.” (Mark 9:35) 

He also said this, “A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like his teacher.”  (Luke 6:40) 

This is the great paradox of leadership.  If you are to be great, you must first know what it means to be able to follow.

When we follow well, we learn a few things along the way.  We learn humility.  We learn how to remain teachable. We learn the power of “team”. We learn our own limitations and weaknesses. We learn that “us” is always greater than “I”.   We have a front row seat of what not to do.  We have an opportunity to see what to do.  

If no one is willing to follow you, you’re not a leader. 

Where you are right now, seek to be a good support, serve them well.  Seek to make yourself indispensable to the people around you.  Follow well.  Your time will come when there is an opportunity to take the lead and people will WANT to follow you.

"I could have gotten one more..."

“I could have gotten one more person... and I didn’t!”

- Liam Neeson in Schindler’s List as Oskar Schindler.

Schindler’s List… wow.  I haven’t thought of that movie in a very long time.  What a fascinating, powerful, and sobering movie.  If you have not seen it, Steven Spielberg directed this masterpiece that will shake you to your core… if it doesn’t, I don’t think you are human.  It is the movie that tells the story of a particular group of Jews during the Holocaust of World War II and a man who becomes concerned for them witnessing their persecution.  This movie highlights one of the most vivid and heart wrenching times in recent human history where the depths seemed to be reached regarding wickedness and depravity of the human race, and it is on full display.

I saw it in High School (loooooong time ago), and once or twice since then, but not recently.  The story surrounds a man by the name of Oskar Schindler. It is based on true accounts by those who were saved by Mr. Schindler and close surviving family members.  Oskar is a business man looking to make money off of the war in Poland during the height of the Nazi occupation.  While witnessing the persecution of the Jews, in the ghettos and concentration camps, Oskar seeks to use the resources at his disposal to save as many as he can from being murdered. 

A colleague of mine had just watched the movie for the first time.  He shared with me the quote above where Schindler was weeping, realizing he could have done more in his efforts to save these people.  My colleague continued about how that moment in the movie impacted him in a powerful way (as he was saying it, it was hitting me too).  “I could have gotten one more person… and I didn’t!”.

As we look at our great affluence and privilege, the question will be and needs to be asked, “How did we use it?”.   I confess, this doesn’t always cross my mind.  I’d like to think it does, but I know by the power and the depth in which this thought hit me, there is room for much improvement and self examination. 

When this life is over and we are accountable before God, will these words pour forth from our lips?  It may not be saving individuals from genocide like Oskar Schindler, but maybe pulling children from the brink of starvation. Or maybe we will regret not even trying to be about providing the common needs shared by all people like clean water, food, shelter, clothes, education, or even love. 

You are responsible for you, and I have to take responsibility for myself.  As we examine our hearts, weigh the blessing and privilege we experience, see the need before us, and it’s my prayer that God will lead us in being His hands and feet to those in our sphere of influence.  That as you sense that leading or feel that prompting, that you would be obedient, extending His grace, love, and kindness meeting needs that are within our power. 

Oskar didn’t save them all.  He knew he couldn’t.  What broke him at the end were those people that he could have saved, but didn't.  May we spend our lives for the things that matter.  May we use our resources and skills to improve lives, sewing peace, giving thanks to God, being ready to share about the Hope that lies in each one of us as we are asked. 

Be empowered!

The Small Things

"For who has despised the day of small things?”   Zechariah 4:10a

It’s the small things that make a difference. 

Sometimes I think that the little acts of kindness here and there, don’t make much of a difference.  Those seemingly little insignificant moments of forgiveness extended to someone who has done me wrong.  The bits of time given here and there to those who ask of it.   Even the small compliment to an unsuspecting stranger.  Seemingly insignificant and innocuous, these intentional choices can be the balm for deep emotional and hidden wounds. 

I’ve received a text today from a friend whose family I’ve known for 16 years. We haven’t always had consistent contact over those 16 years, but as of late, we’ve been walking through some difficult times together.  After visiting him today he texted me later, “Thanks for being such a blessing to me. I will text you sometime for prayer. BTW: the quality I most admire in a person, especially one In leadership is HUMILITY. You have it in spades.” At the risk of someone reading this and judging me on posting this, it reminded me, again, that it’s the little things over time that make a difference. 

Those closest to me would be able to tell you that one of my personal struggles is pride.  It doesn’t (I don’t think) always flesh itself out in the most obvious and verbose of ways, but it’s there.  While I don’t dismiss this kind and heartfelt text, I know the default position of my heart is not humility.  In this instance, in receiving the text, it is a reminder that when the opportunity comes for me to take a position, humility is one that I should and can be intentional about.  

There are attitudes and choices we can intentionally make that foster love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control.  Those are life giving attributes!  Not only for the recipients, but it fosters life in those whom the acts originate.  A bit naive, but how amazing would it be if we all sought to foster that in our life and the lives of others?  I want to see that happen.  I can’t control others, but what I can control is me. 

Being intentional to do what we can, within the scope that we have, with a steady consistency, and an unrelenting tenacity can reshape our landscape.  It changes lives, it will change our life, and will shape the landscape of our community.  We sow these seeds of life and in time they will bear fruit and give life to others.  

This is not a new concept, but one if we take with urgency and forethought, can bring life today.

What does this look like in your context?