I have been found wanting, for sure, on leading my family spiritually. I think one effective and not-so-difficult step I’d like to take is to establish a dedicated time of family worship. I was encouraged recently to do so, and caught this post last week that helped me align my thinking.

Does your family do this? Mine did, growing up, at times. Impactful! One forum in which I was shown God in an intimate, real-life way that gave me reason to believe He really is real.

Wasting Time.

Related to making time, but kind of the opposite (like Ebony and Ivory! The #1 song the day I was born). As opposed to making sure you have time to do some good and to be kind, I mean you need to make sure you have regular times of nothing. No expectations, no agenda, no guilt. Think about the past few days–if you’re like me, you had very little time wherein you really did nothing. I think that’s not a good thing.

My Dad practices this pretty well. We were talking, not too long ago, how my Mom would get worried when Dad would just sit in his chair and look at the wall.

Not this:

More like this:

Anyway, we discussed the benefits to allowing the mind to wander, to letting your brain and soul follow new paths or old. That really is the place where some really great things can happen!

But, we have some work to do. Like making time, wasting time actually takes effort, especially if you are media-saturated (who isn’t) or prone to busyness. I really enjoyed Peter Bregman‘s post today about returning his iPad. Read through to the last bit–that’s my favorite part of the day, too!

C’mon, folks! Get bored!

Childhood.

And, parents’ roles in protecting it. I feel very strongly that this is one of my most important tasks–to create an environment and life for my kiddos that exemplifies “just being a kid.” Watch this!

I’m trying, Sage Man. I have to agree with Zach about TV. We’re down to no cable, and I’m wondering if that’s enough. Though, Madagascar is really, really hilarious…

Waddya think? Not just media–where do you stand on the consumerism bit? Is it all too much to handle? Not a biggie?

Making Time.

I’m still reading Pete Wilson‘s book Plan B. Almost knocked it out on the flight back home last week. I’m digging it. And I just saw that Pete is speaking at ICRS later this month–and I’ll be there! Cool. Today, Pete blogged a word about margin. I’m caught up in this “going out of your way to be nice” stuff, and this clearly speaks to the crux of the matter: allowing time to be nice. Not finding time. I mean, not doing things in a way that shove you through the motions–that leave you always searching for the quickest route or most efficient path.

When Jason and I were backpacking, we continually cursed “those guys” who created the Appalachian Trail. What the heck were they thinking? Up down up down. Is summiting that ridge really necessary? What if we just follow this freaking flat VALLEY, huh macho mountain man from the 19th century?!? Completely and absolutely ridiculous that we were thinking this way, of course. Hiking is kind of the opposite of a point A to point B strategy. But we seemed so caught up in our sheer exhaustion desire for efficiency that we were missing it! And that is one of the top things I love about backpacking–purposefully not being wholly “on task” or productive. I get to have that thrilling opportunity every weekday.

So, I say: seek out ways that allow room for God to work. Do things that make you wait longer than necessary–and you might make a real, inefficient, difference.

“In a dramatic race with death!“

Number one!

Being nice.

I flew to the lovely little state of Connecticut (it’s in New England. the United States) over an extra-long Memorial Weekend. Visited my very goodest friends and did some hardcore manly backpacking with Jason. I’d never flown alone before–I realized as a buddy dropped me off at the airport in Arkansas and asked “any pre-flight jitters?” and I said “no. Rochelle always just tells me when to get on the…wait OH NO I’M SO SCARED!” Anyway, got on the plane okay, and did the “wait in the aisle for like 14 minutes while that older gentleman tries to stow a dead yak into the overhead compartment.”

(if you must, skip to minute 4) oh, this is YOUR world!?!

As I mentioned like months ago about running nice, I’m trying to be intentional about it. Going out of my way to be extra nice isn’t something I’ve been about. So, I gave it a shot. When I thought all hope was lost, when my legs were giving out and my neck would snap (yeah, I have to bend my 6’3″ self over on those puddle jumpers) the guy with the dead yak gave up and sat down. When I shuffled by him, I caught his eye and said “Ya moron!” no, I said “I thought I booked a flight on a BIG PEOPLE plane!” with my neck craned over. He chuckled! And so did the lady behind me. Crisis averted!

Being nice matters. And makes a difference. It’s fun to fly!

Really–let’s cut this bologna in half, people: does anyone in the whole world not like to run around a small court and hit other people? With no repercussions! God bless America…

It was great. Bunch of co-workers and I playing some dork-o corporate games for a good cause. I noticed at several points tonight, though, how grownups really screw this kind of thing up. Some things you should avoid. I saw:

1) Whining and complaining to the refs

2) Lots of sweating and out-of-shape grunting

3) Running to Schotzky’s after the very 1st game and wolfing down a jalapeno BBQ chicken pizza (us)

4) And the Biggie: Hyper competitiveness–one of the teams we played actually had a pre-game warmup/smack talk routine

Kids really know how to cut through all the adult baloney, don’t they? And tonight reminded me how I crave to regain child-like innocence and unashamed fun. And hit people in the face more often. Try it! You’ll like it.

This is Patches O’Houlihan saying “Take care of your balls, and they’ll take care of you.”

weird. anybody have a clue?

I went for a longish Saturday morning run today, in between the please make it stop raindrops. Felt great! 6 miles and 1,000 steps up the dreaded JBU stairs in the middle. Heading around the walking trail behind JBU, I met several folks, and became aware of the social awkwardness I was facing. Usually went something like this:

1) I see fellow runner/walker/skipper coming my way, from 100 yards

2) I look at my feet, then the side of the trail, then the other side, then glance at co-runner again, hoping for no eye contact

3) Getting closer! 30 yards, and look! a robin. i like robins, and this one’s racing me on foot–fast dude! then he flies. cheater.

4) 15 yards. OK, go time. I look at co-runners face and they look too. head nod or slight pained grin

5) We both immediately look at our feet again

So goofy! And way too much work. But a nice distraction. And that’s the trick when you’re running. The last thing you want to do is remember that you’re running! Scott Adams said it best in a recent blog post:

I enjoy music, in its place, but it adds a task to your brain when you’re probably already juggling at least two others. Personally, I’ve noticed that I can’t do a complex task, particularly writing, while music is playing. But music is great if I’m just going for a run because the extra mental task puts me into irrational mode, and I really need that to silence the rational part of my brain that keeps whispering “Nothing is chasing you. Stop running.”

I done got to thinkin’. How Would Jesus Run? When he went out for his early morning jog, I bet he didn’t plug into an iPod. Pretty sure, anyway. I bet he looked people in the eye and smiled real big, with big really white teeth. And not at exactly 13 yards away. Shoot, he probably ran like that the whole time. Not sure I can do that, but I thought I’d extend myself a little, and smile longer, look for eye contact a little more. You know, connect. But oh man does connecting have risks! Like, I’m sure Jesus’ fellow joggers thought he was a major creepo most of the time. Who smiles and looks people in the eye from 100 yards away, for more than 2 seconds? Weird! Anyway, the results of my test:

Subject A: Caught my eye way far away, then looked down, then right back up to my big ol’ goofy grin. Big smile back and a for-real out loud “howdy!” Win!

Subject B: 100 yards away: no eye contact, looking down, angry at his running shoes. 50, 25, 5 yards: no change. I went for it: “Hey!” He glanced up at me, startled with the frown still on. He probably was fighting a charlie horse, whatever that is.

Subject C: I don’t know, because I passed a transformer box thing, and saw this:

For all that is holy what, sweet baby Moses, is that? I actually stopped (co-runner ran by) and laughed nervously. How am I gonna break this terrifying news to Sage?

“Hey buddy, I have something really important to tell you.”

“Yes, Daddy?”

“OK. Um, you see, when a man and a woman love each other…oh wait, no. The other tough discussion…Er, there are green boxes all over our town that house giant electrical monsters of death.”

“Daddy sometimes you are funny but now you’re not.”

“Oh, uh, haha yeah–just a little joke, son. Um. Go play.”

Just keep smiling, folks. Keep smiling and the electrical monsters aren’t real, and people will think you’re creepy–right before they think you’re something really great. And they think maybe they’re something great, too.

Finally
I’ve been waitin’ for this moment
For you to see
The real me
It’s been an illusion
I never meant to fool you
I got caught up in a fantasy