Learning from the older and wiser

So I was cruising through downtown this last week. I was with my wife, son, and Father who was in town visiting. We were heading up this hill when I spotted a homeless man with no legs in a wheel chair trying to make it up this busy road. He was about halfway up the hill, and he was stuck. He no longer had the strength to make it the rest of the way. In fact he was exerting energy trying not to roll backwards. I was stuck at a light and cars were starting to line up behind and besides me. I wanted to do something, but was trying to figure out what to do. There was no were to park, this is downtown one way street kind of traffic. I told my wife I wanted to help but I wasn't sure what to do. I was actually struggling because I can be a rule follower. I can be a rule follower to a fault. There can be a greater good that needs to be done, and I will get paralyzed because the law says you can't do this or that. My wife in her wisdom said pull up behind him and put on your hazards and you can jump out and push him up the hill. Genius. I pulled up behind him and my dad jumped out of the car and pushed him up. I was impressed at my dad's just make it happen mentality. It was a great lesson for me. It actually made me think about the book wild at heart. Following rules is fine and good, but when there is a man in need of help you risk a traffic ticket and just park illegally. You risk pissing off all the other drivers and you just handle business. I probably should read wild at heart again and combine that with the social justice gospel. Anyway, thanks dad for demonstrating a Nike "just do it" attitude. And thanks Mr. Elderidge for giving me something to reference that is about the heart of God and ballsy at the same time. Moral of the story- I want to learn to understand the greater good and be willing to break laws and rules when it is to live out the gospel.

Leadership

Sometimes being a leader is really hard. Sometimes it's great. But other times it can kind of suck. Most of you know that I am on staff at a church. Most of the time I enjoy what I do. There are other times though when it's not so fun. Times when you experience resistance from those on your team. When everybody questions you and you just wish people would follow. There are times when you feel like you are not liked, but merely tolerated. Times when you want people to be hungry and willing to change...but they are not. I am actually not a very good leader. I don't think I am poor leader, I am just aware that "leader" is not one of my primary gifts. That being said, if I was a gifted leader I probably would have a strategy for the things listed above. I would know how to get people to follow me and make them feel empowered at the same time. Sometimes though I just want to lead like Denzel Washington in "remember the titans". I want to just say, "this is how it is, take it or leave it". But I don't because that's not me. At least not yet. :) I am contemplating various leadership styles though and am contemplating being a little more direct in my style. I don't want to be a dictator, I just want to be moving my team toward something better than stagnant. Don't get me wrong, stagnant is much better than we were a couple of years ago. That just doesn't cut if for me though. After a while, I start feeling like if I am not growing and stretching, I am dying. Anyway, thanks for listening my faithful blog.

Boredom

So, I have been realizing that one of the things I am missing in my life is adventure. Maybe it's more like danger. Living for a purpose and a mission that is a little risky if you will. Honestly, sometimes I feel like I am experiencing death by boredom. I have been trying to find ways to to live out the gospel, to be more generous with my finances, my energy, and time. But sometimes I still feel bored. I want passion. Excitement. The weird thing, is that I am not alone. As I am talking to friends and co-workers, I realize something is changing. A lot of people aren't satisfied with just working for money any more. People want more than just material possessions. I know some people are just fine moving to the same beat that they have always moved to. It just seems I am noticing some common trends. People no longer want to tolerate the large gaps of injustice. People are recognizing that it is not okay for one group of people to indulge while there neighbors suffer under a cycle poverty and a system of oppression. People are starting to realize that some of the things that we love so much can end up being a curse.

Not really sure what I am trying to say. I just know that I continue to want to live for a cause greater then my comfort. But I am comforted knowing that I am not alone.

-peace.