Highlight: Sitting at the table eating dinner with the family (I've grown so weary of restaurant food). Too much of a good thing can become bad.
a. I didn't get to sleep until around 2 AM, which would have been fine had I not had a 5 AM (CDT) phone call. I'm part of a Mastermind group with five other guys who love Jesus, are entrepreneurial, and family-orinted. We meet via via Google Hangouts every other Wednesday. The call was at 6 AM when I was in NC. But, now that I'm in Texas, it's a 5 AM. While the call is certainly worth it, dude, 5 AM is early. Although it's virtual, I feel like I need to brush my teeth before getting on. I guess I don't want to offend myself with my morning breath. ;-)
b. After the Mastermind call, I typically have an accountability call at 7:30 AM (CDT). I could not make this morning's call, but I do look forward to this one as well. It's with two brothers who are also pastors, married, and have children. While the Mastermind call is about business and being a good husband & father, this one is about ministry, the administrative side of ministry, being a good husband & father, and being a righteous man. I have confessed things to these dudes that were highly embarrassing -- things I've never shared with anyone else. They've loved me unconditionally, offered support, prayed for me, and confessed their own issues. Our families are tight, and we do life together. I'm so grateful for their brotherhood.
c. The rest of the day was spent at the library, on the phone handling matters back in NC, and hanging with the family.
d. Tomorrow has to be a super-productive work day. I have a LOT to do, and not a lot of time left before it's time to go live with it.
Lessons Learned
1. Pain gets our attention. Sometimes it takes a painful situation to make us wake up and smell the coffee. We don't always get the severity of an issue until it starts to hurt. It could be biological, emotional, spiritual, or social. While we often want to avoid these painful moments, sometimes they're necessary -- especially if we refuse to heed the warning signs. While I think it's preferable to learn lessons the easy way, sometimes pain is necessary because it gets our attention.
2. Pride can be costly. I believe it's normal to want to keep our feelings inside, and put on a good show for the people. However, that's not always possible. Moreover, it's not healthy. At times we have to let other people into our world - for our own good. It's not easy, but it's necessary. It's not pretty, but it's necessary. It can be embarrassing, but it's necessary. We need each other to make it through life successfully. While we don't want to let every Tom, Dick, and Harry know all our business; we do need to have folks who we trust to care for us when we disclose sensitive information. As the scripture says, "Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble." (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10)
1. Pain gets our attention. Sometimes it takes a painful situation to make us wake up and smell the coffee. We don't always get the severity of an issue until it starts to hurt. It could be biological, emotional, spiritual, or social. While we often want to avoid these painful moments, sometimes they're necessary -- especially if we refuse to heed the warning signs. While I think it's preferable to learn lessons the easy way, sometimes pain is necessary because it gets our attention.
2. Pride can be costly. I believe it's normal to want to keep our feelings inside, and put on a good show for the people. However, that's not always possible. Moreover, it's not healthy. At times we have to let other people into our world - for our own good. It's not easy, but it's necessary. It's not pretty, but it's necessary. It can be embarrassing, but it's necessary. We need each other to make it through life successfully. While we don't want to let every Tom, Dick, and Harry know all our business; we do need to have folks who we trust to care for us when we disclose sensitive information. As the scripture says, "Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble." (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10)