A Pilgrim’s Odyssey

Making Sense of Loss

Tragic, inexplicable, senseless loss can completely shake up our lives. “This isn’t supposed to happen.”

This weekend we have our Indiana STARR event for the families of those who lost their lives serving our country. One hard part of deaths like these, they are out of the order of things. Our children, our young spouses, brothers and sisters aren't supposed to die like this.

You also see it in first responders - young, healthy, brave, and then they suddenly and tragically die.

It upends us. If we don’t right ourselves after this happens it can send us in a spiral we can't recover from.

Some things to remember:

When we suffer, God is close. Embrace that. Our pain can allow us to come to God.

Own your faith. It is really is simple, it’s a CS Lewis thing. If Christ rose again, there is hope. Focus on that image.

A Birthday Reflection On Youth

When I was a boy I thought I could change the world. Thankfully, I still do.

What has allowed me to keep that hopefulness? Living and loving deeply, trying to make each day an adventure, seizing opportunities, and most importantly, never giving up.

What I have learned in doing that?

• Don't quit. If it’s that important, don’t give up.
• Kids are energy, and kids are a reflection of us. Keep yours smiling.
• Sometimes the best workout is the short, painful one. Keep moving!
• It takes about 15 - 20 years with someone to really understand true love. Hang in there.
• The bible is true because nothing describes the human condition better. From Old Testament barbarism to New Testament grace. That is who we are and we aspire to be. What others see as mistakes or gotcha’s, I just see as perfect descriptions of the imperfect perfectness of creation.

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The Woodshed, Van Halen, and The Lord's Work

Yesterday, we talked about doing the little things. Today, it is doing those little things over and over.

Woodshedding, going to a private place to do a task over and over again. The result, a big pile of something, hopefully good!

Eddie Van Halen sat on the edge of his bed for hours as a young man playing guitar.

We are all called to work this hard for whatever is our calling. If Eddie Van Halen can do it motivated by youthful exuberance and Schlitz Malt Liqueur Tallboys, surely you can do it remembering God created you to do it!

The Power of Little Things

Look at the living room floor, the condition of your car. Are you taking care of the little things?

How about those morning prayers, those meals together as a family, time alone with your love? Are you taking care of the little things?

That diet soda, French fries, a few minutes at lunch to go for a walk or run, a check-up with your doctor. Are you taking care of the little things?

In faith and in life, small things add up. Small things are a great way to begin change, a bite size effort that over time moves mountains and changes our lives.

The Power of Humility, The Cancer of Pride

I ask participants in my leadership classes, "what are 5 things you need to work on?" Most people can think of clear answers quickly. Some don’t. And the ones that can't, are usually a little bit scary. Typically, they don’t even seem to realize how small and foolish they look. Or maybe they do.

 

Whether it is my own anxiety, my relationship with my dear wife, my kids, or many other things; when I’m able to look at myself without the shroud of anger, I almost always realize that most of the problems were my fault. It was pride.

 

Pride is a cancer that infects. Humility is a light that keeps us focused on what matters most in our lives.

Getting Bad Thoughts Out of Your Head

Experiencing trauma and severe loss can make us feel like we are trapped in our heads. Depression and anxiety can consume us.

I regularly meet people feeling overwhelmed by trauma and looking for a way to escape and find hope. I usually tell them the following:

• It is normal. You are not crazy.
• Do not isolate yourself.
• Get lost outdoors or with other people. Avoid the dark hole of the internet, drinking alone, etc.
• This day will pass, but the memories will stay. That is normal. Just like you diet to lose weight or go to the gym to get stronger, create habits that when the demons come, you work them out. Have your go-to pastor or counselor.
• Help others. The best way to remember you are not alone and use the demons as fuel for something positive is to help others. The only necessary skill is desire and the patience to listen.

Are You Serious?

Is your faith serious? Are you serious? Received a message today from a young friend commenting on the podcast, he said, “your podcast throws down the gauntlet, challenging me to grow in my relationship with God.”

That’s right, we are throwing down a gauntlet. In a world on fire, we need people serious about what they believe and how they live.

These questions, these challenges, aren't easy, but they are necessary. Where do you stand, and what do you believe?

Real Courage From The Blue

Every day law enforcement responds to calls that could alter their lives forever. Most of it goes unknown and unappreciated. Today, we salute their courage and commitment to serving us.

A Displacement Is Happening

Displacement: the moving of something from its place or position

Target is setting records. Amazon expects Prime Day to be possibly 40% higher than last year. Yet, on our main streets and strip malls, a Yelp survey says that 60% of small businesses that were closed by State lock-downs during Covid will never fully re-open.

I’ve also seen it in churches. Some are still closed, and many of those that are open follow tight restrictions. In my own Church although we are blessed to have few restrictions, 30% or more of those who attended regularly pre-covid haven’t returned.

It also seems that a generation of fear and participation trophy culture has been unleashed. Children raised to blame others have now been emboldened and our culture has become even more divisive and divided.

I’m here in Columbus, Ohio where I’ll be speaking to law enforcement from around the area. I am staying in a Drury Inn, home of the famous Kickback evening buffet. While not a buffet, they are still serving and even though there was plenty of room for people to sit and eat and tables were designated for such, I’d say 90% just took a box back to their rooms to eat alone. Pre-covid, over 90% would have stayed and met a stranger or two.

If you see the same things, and feel the same way, you are not alone. Another major shift will occur after the election in some direction. Pressure is building and that will be a tipping point. Hold tight to your friends, your family, those who are living their faith with you. Many generations have had an apocalypse, a last days. These are some of ours.

On Anger and Virtues

If you have anger dwelling inside of you, you need to get rid of it. It will cut you off from God, it invites the enemy, it lies and convinces you that material things are where peace is found. Cultivate the powers of self-control, forbearance, restraint, fortitude, and patience. Ask God for these in your prayers.

Even if you are right in disputes, losing control of your anger makes you wrong.