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 I am travelling this week and have had the opportunity to attend two pretty cool sporting events. First, I got to watch the Bengal play the Patriots in Cincinnati and then supported UVA’s men’s golf team as they came back to win the Inverness Intercollegiate in Toledo. https://virginiasports.com/news/2024/09/10/virginia-comes-back-to-win-inverness-intercollegiate/ At both events, I was struck by the fact that after the contests, folks who cheered for their favorite team left the events as friends, even though someone won and someone lost. It made me think about why that can’t happen when it comes to politics? We aren’t always going to agree but it shouldn’t impact our ability to be friends. All of us should make a commitment to lead the way in this endeavor. Do not minimize what God wants to do with your life. What follows is a blog that I posted a couple of years ago which still is relevant today. I don’t know who it might have been but I am guessing someone inspired Dr Martin Luther King and that he had no idea what impact his life would have on our country, yes, even the world. Have you ever thought what would happen if, like Martin, you stepped out to start making a positive difference in your world? Let’s be clear. No matter who you are, you have the ability to create Unity in the world in which you live. What will the ripple effect be of you taking this first step? It is about being willing to lead; helping others find UNITY with an Uncompromised Never-ending Intensity Toward Yes! https://thankfulinallthings.com/if-you-focused-on-one-word-in-2022-which-would-you-choose/Jon Gordon writes in The Power of Positive Leadership, “Your one decision to be a positive leader will not only impact your life, but your relationships, your family, your friends, and your team. A life touches a life that touches a life. A person changes and they help others change. A leader inspires others and develops more leaders. The seed you plant today becomes the harvest you and the changed world will benefit from tomorrow.” https://powerofpositiveleadership.com The seed mentioned can also be a flat stone that you skip across a stream. It is not only fun to count the number of skips but the ripples that little stone creates as it bounces along represents the impact of our actions. We can create that same ripple effect in our quest to create Unity.One of my favorite authors, Henri Nouwen shares this about this ripple effect in his book, Our Greatest Gift. https://henrinouwen.org/?book=our-greatest-gift “ I am surrounded by family members and friends. Even wider is the circle of those his actions and words have shaped my life and thoughts. Beyond all the many circles of the countless men and women whose names I do not know but who have, in their own unique way, made the journey I’m making and shared and pains and joys of being human.” We have the opportunity to be counted amongst those Nouwen writes about. To be people who strive each day to create ripples that impact others who we don’t even know. As we think back to when Martin Luther King was trying to move freedom forward, we are reminded that our country was divided then, like it is today but for different reasons. As he said in one of his speeches, “If democracy is to live, segregation must die. We have come a long, long way, but we have a long way to go.” We do have a long way to go. We won’t get there by standing on the sidelines waiting for someone else to step up and do the right thing. Will you be one to grab the baton from those who have come before us and lead us to where it is we need to go? If you do, by God’s grace and under His mercy things will be made better because like Isaiah (Isaiah 6:8) you respond to the calling by singing,“Here I am, Lord Is it I, Lord? I have heard You calling in the night I will go, Lord If You lead me I will hold Your people in my heart “ Dan Schutte https://youtu.be/Z4ATBaI7ycY  Please subscribe to this blog ⬇️ so you can receive email notifications whe. New content is posted. I can be reached by email at [email protected] |
The blessing of being included
 I woke up very early this morning. It could be from jet lag but is probably from the new sounds that come from the boat taking us from Amsterdam to Belgium. Dottie and I are on our first river cruise with 5 other couples we have known for 45+ years. We feel very fortunate to have been included and can afford this type of trip. It reminded me of a devotional I read right before the Masters last weekend. https://bit.ly/mastersdevotionDrew Hamilton writes about his dream to play Augusta National much less be a member. It made me think about what would it take to become a member of such an exclusive club? These criteria came to mind. 1) I would need to be somebody. https://golf.com/news/augusta-nationals-members-masters/“ You can see by this list not just anybody can join Augusta. 2) You not only need have made a name for yourself in the world but you also need to know someone. That someone needs to think that you are worthy of membership. 3) You need to be able to afford it. Although it doesn’t cost that much to join, you have to be financially well off to even be considered. 4) and finally, you will have to undergo a very strict vetting process and many are not offered the opportunity to become a member. As an example, for a very long time, people of color and women were not eligible to join. 5) Another way to become a member is to earn it 🙂 See below picture I am glad my entrance into God’s kingdom does not have these same type of qualifications. Drew sums it up nicely by writing, “I need to be grateful for the reality that I belong to an inclusive club with the greatest perk of all (citizenship in heaven)”http://”https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=philippians%203:20-21&version=NIV I am grateful that I don’t need to be someone special. I am grateful that I do know that someone, Jesus Christ, who gives me access. I’m grateful that Jesus paid for my inclusion through His death on the cross. Finally, I thank God that He accepts me with all my imperfection and that is all the vetting that is done. This time on the river cruise gives me a glimpse of what all this looks like. These other 5 couples were kind enough to invite us on this journey. It means so much to be included on this wonderful trip. It may not be as grand as a membership at Augusta National, but it is a blessing to travel through life with people who are willing to love me as God loves them. May we all seek out this type of inclusive community. Thanks for joining me here. I hope this blog helps you remain Thankful in all Things. I can be reached by email at [email protected] Thanks for joining me here. I hope this blog helps you remain Thankful in all Things. I can be reached by email at [email protected] |
