The Parable of Jesus, the Hockey Game, and the Ice Cold Beer

Peter was watching a hockey game with Jesus. When there was a break in the action, Peter turned to Jesus and asked him to get him a beer from the fridge. Jesus rose from the sofa and headed to kitchen. On his way he stopped, turned to look at Peter, shook His head slowly from side to side, then proceeded into the kitchen. Shortly after, Jesus returned to the sofa, empty handed, sat down and began to watch the hockey game.

Perplexed, Peter turned to Jesus and said “where’s my beer?”, to which Jesus said “Son, I am always here for you, but sometimes life is really Continue reading “The Parable of Jesus, the Hockey Game, and the Ice Cold Beer” →

It Doesn’t Matter What Happened, What Matters Is What Happens Next

It’s late. There’s a knock on the door. As you open the door you see a man smiling with what looks to be a pie in his hand. As you’re about to ask what this is all about, he raises his hand and plants the pie right in your face.

Usually you never see the pie in the face coming.

Life is full of pie-in-the-face moments, moments when the unforseen shows up and screws up everything. The best laid plans simply no match for Continue reading “It Doesn’t Matter What Happened, What Matters Is What Happens Next” →

Be Your Own Sunshine

Be Your Own Sunshine

Are you waiting for the world to make you happy, waiting for the warmth of the sun to make you smile?

We’re all hoping for sunshine, but in the end the weatherman, no matter how experienced and informed, is basing his forecast on something he really has no control over.

Sort of how we hope for happiness.

So much of the happiness we seek is far too dependent upon forces we do not control. We empower things external to placate the internal. We Continue reading “Be Your Own Sunshine” →

God’s Night Club And The Velvet Rope of Doubt

Perhaps this has happened to you?

It’s Saturday night and you’re standing in the long line outside the hottest night club in town. There’s the muscle-bound bouncer, dressed in his crisp-yet-slightly-too-small tuxedo, clipboard in his hand. On the clipboard is the guest list with the names of the “important” people, the chosen few who will be escorted directly into the club upon their arrival.

The not-so-important people? They remain queued up in a corral of velvet ropes, anxiously hopeful the man with the muscles and the clipboard will somehow lower the velvet rope and allow them entry as well.

Heck of a way to spend a night.

Hell of a way to spend a life.

Many of us have places we’d like to go in life. Things we’d like to do. Things we’d like to become. But somehow we’re not moving forward. It’s as if Continue reading “God’s Night Club And The Velvet Rope of Doubt” →

There Are Beavers In Your Head And They Are Holding You Back

We all have beavers in our heads.

Beavers are second only to humans in their ability to reshape their physical environment. They are perhaps best known for their prolific dam building, obstructing the natural flow of rivers and streams to create protective water depths to shield themselves from predators.

The beavers in our head? They kind of work the same way. They work building psychologically restrictive dams, obstructing life’s natural flow of abundance and unlimited possibilities, all under the guise of protecting us from our own perceived predators.

The beavers in our heads are nothing more than those negative thoughts which perpetuate the lies about ourselves we somehow believe to be Continue reading “There Are Beavers In Your Head And They Are Holding You Back” →

Yes, You Really Are So Beautifully Extraordinary

How much would you pay for your life?

“Wait! Don’t answer yet!”

I enjoy watching infomercials. I really do. It’s not about buying anything that they’re selling. For me the joy comes from the showmanship, the performance of the presenter. We’ve seen some iconic pitchmen on late night TV over the years. Ron Popeil and Billy Mays alone have sold tens of millions of dollars of merchandise to a public ready to spend money on products that they never even thought they needed.

How do they manage to sell steak knives to people who already have a drawer full of steak knives?

They make the ordinary extraordinary.

RESHAPING PERCEPTIONS When I listen to Ron Popeil, I feel the passion for what it is he is presenting. He creates an excitement Continue reading “Yes, You Really Are So Beautifully Extraordinary” →

A Rather Important Choice

I guess we could focus on what’s wrong, on what didn’t work out, on what we don’t have.

Or we could focus on what’s right, on what did work out, on what we do have.

How you choose to see your present greatly determines what you’ll experience in the future.

Your choice.

Choose wisely.

It’s a great day to be you!

Somehow I Know This Makes God Smile

I’ll admit I’m not that good at praying. Unless you consider asking for things proper prayer etiquette.

For most of my life, praying was the equivalent of sitting on Santa’s lap and providing Him with a list of things I wanted. Some of my more advanced praying techniques included a negotiation of sorts with me telling God what I would do in exchange for me receiving what I was asking for.

Either way, the burden was on God to deliver.

These days, yes, I still want things. But I want something more meaningful than a new bike or the perfect career opportunity. It’s all about Continue reading “Somehow I Know This Makes God Smile” →

Indifferently Ever After?

Eventually even the new becomes oblivious. Ultimately the vibrancy of just about anything simply fades to black.

In a culture of attainment, we often spend far too much time attaining than appreciating all we’ve already gathered into our lives.

Especially when it comes to the people we share our lives with.

Does your someone special know they are still special? Or do you assume they just know it, even though they can’t remember the last time you made them feel that way? And neither can you?

Think of the significant relationships you have in your life as a child, parent, sibling, partner, friend…even your relationship with your self. Has what once made these relationships resonate so deeply within you been tempered by the unintentional but perhaps inevitable cloud of indifference?

None of us would probably look at our relationships and accuse ourselves of becoming indifferent. But while indifference isn’t the intention, often it becomes the result, no matter how well we “justify” our excuses.

Sometimes we just lose our way when we focus on what we think we are missing. A slight shift in focus towards what we already have is the first step on the path leading us back home.

The greatest gift we can ever give is the gift of ourselves, wrapped in love and tied with a bow of compassion. Such a gift restores the original lustre to any relationship, returning the magic to the magical, uplifting both the sender and the recipient.

But even the greatest gift is useless if it is never given.

In a challenging world we all call home, has there ever been a more important time for giving the gift of your love?

Love is always best served proactively.

It’s a great day to be you!