Monday, February 17, 2014

What Does It Take?

Recently during a supper with my oldest brother, he mentioned that the only thing that separates success from failure is persistence. I'm sure you could fill in your own examples of people you know - famous or not - who stuck it  out, and as a result, they got a better job, moved into a better home, rekindled the fire in their marriage, reunited with a loved one, set up an event for their favorite charity that was remarkable, went on a mission trip or something equally inspiring.

Whatever it was, whomever it was, the challenges didn't determine the outcome.

Of course, there's also the added caveat of: What's your definition of success? What does the outcome look like? Is it dollars raised? Or illness cured? Or converts made? Does a change of heart or strengthening of character also count?

Last week I happened across a thought-provoking article written by a local journalist who made the point that there were enough people out there talking about change; what was needed were people to actually have the courage to initiate it. In other words, actions speak way louder than words.

But is that always true? Would anyone say that Martin Luther King, Jr. was wasting his time by spending time writing and then delivering his "I Have a Dream" speech? How about Abraham Lincoln? Was he in a stall pattern when he gave his Gettysburg Address?

Maybe the answer lies in the blending of the two - action, fueled by a thoughtful process that continually refines the activity of accomplishment.





Tuesday, February 11, 2014

Mom's Passing


My Mom left this earth on January 30. Our family had the memorial service and burial yesterday.

Before the service, there was an opportunity for family and friends to gather. I walked into the reception area where my brother-in-law Barry had posted two photo collages. I saw my recently retired boss looking at the photos and went up to him.

I pointed out my favorite photo among what seemed like a hundred. In it my Mom is sitting on a blanket on the grass, looking down on one of her children, who is just born. There is such a expression of pure love in her face that it's overwhelming.

Of all the words that I could use to describe Mom, that's the first one that comes to mind: loving.

She had a lot of it, and she gave a lot of it away. That was the way Mom lived her life to the very end.

After showing my former boss the photo, I talked about his own retirement and a special event that happened to honor him a few days before. Among the many accolades that evening a co-worker and I presented our perspective. At the very end of it, I found myself choking up and almost crying. I told my former boss, "I realized afterwards why that happened. It's because it was a death." He looked at me and said, "I choose to use the word 'ending.'" Meaning a chapter may be finished but the story isn't.

So, Mom, I'm still grieving but even though the long and beautiful chapter of your life on this earth is now ended, the story goes on!

Liar, Liar, Pants on Fire!

Pinocchio: Art Credit, Disney If ever there were a time for a national "Liar, Liar, Pants on Fire" award, it's now. And certai...