Coach Mahr - Godspeed and Guideposts for Your Journey

Bob Mahr
  • 5.0 (2)
  • Arts
  • Updated Semiweekly

Coach Mahr here serving as God’s Huckleberry to provide some inspiration and guideposts along our journey from where we are to where we need to be. This podcast will share his 4 decades of life experiences as a business leader, multi-faceted sports coach, community volunteer, and father with his faith to share insights gained, lessons learned to demonstrate where God’s prominence is interwoven through everyday life. This podcast will use winsome anecdotes and imagery to create “stickiness,” while meeting people where they are in life, inspire them to reflect on their situation and discern where they need to be. Coach recognizes he is in his "Final 1/3," so his emphasis is on building up others and fostering ‘eulogy virtues’ as opposed to ‘resume virtues;’ a focus on being and not just doing; and understanding it is a privilege to serve our neighbors.   

  1. Oct 14

    See the Person, Not the Label

    We are often quick to label people, judge people, and put people into boxes - before we ever take the time to get to know them. Then whatever the label we’ve accepted is, we begin dealing with the label instead of the human being standing in front of us. And here's the problem: once I've put you in a box, I don't have to get to know you anymore. God doesn't see the label - God sees the heart. Where we are quick to read and judge by book’s cover - or whatever page of the story we land on - God reads the whole story. The English idiom, "don't judge a book by its cover", is a figurative phrase that we should not judge the worth or value of something or someone by their outward appearance alone. The human brain is wired to take shortcuts. We have an innate cognitive tendency to notice patterns and then generalize and move on. We subconsciously form these mental simplifications over and over; avoiding any depth. It's fast. It's efficient. And it's often deeply wrong. We make first impressions in seconds. We take things "at face value." We confuse appearance for reality. This is the root of prejudice and ‘fixed’ views. Recently I was made aware of the term “othering” and based on how I heard it, I thought it was a newly created buzzword being bantered about in today’s hyper-polarizing media. However, I came to learn that the word usage started in the mid 1980’s, some 40 years ago. Othering is the act of treating someone as though they are not part of ‘the group’ and are different in some manner, negating their individual humanity. It is a process in which some individuals or groups are defined and labeled as not fitting within the norms, they are seen as less worthy. At a minimum, it is stereotyping, and at the extreme end othering can dehumanize entire groups of people. It can lead to the persecution of marginalized groups, even acts of violence. When we identify fellow humans as abstract entities, “others,” it becomes easier to justify treating them in ways we would not treat our fellow humans. Hitler did this to the Jews. Rwandan genocide and slavery are other examples. This is what happens when labels harden into exclusion. It is important to remember, when we other the least of our brothers, we other God. Labels existed in Jesus' time too. Jesus didn't overcome division by creating a better label. He loved people. Jesus based his world not on labels but on love. Each of us was created in God's likeness. Genesis 1:27 — “God created mankind in his image; in the image of God he created them.” That literally means those - whose politics enrage us, whose lifestyle confuses us, whose life looks nothing like ours — are stamped with the image of God – and - Jesus Christ died for their salvation. We are commanded to "Love thy neighbor." Not agree with thy neighbor/approve of thy neighbor/tolerate thy neighbor/vote like thy neighbor - Love thy neighbor. The dictionary defines Respect as a “feeling of deep admiration for someone or something elicited by their abilities, qualities, or achievements.” Then the dictionary defines Dignity as “state or quality of being worthy of respect”.  So, if I read this correctly, to have dignity we must have abilities or achievements? But Catholic social teaching corrects this: dignity is God-given by His love and cannot be taken away. Respect may be man-given, but it is God-demanded. Everyone has value and is worthy of profound respect.  Remember, Matthew 25 is unambiguous, that ‘whatever you do to the least of my brothers you do to me’.  There is no room or place for labels or ‘othering’ in this scenario. The label system is based on scarcity mentality which only has two outcomes – win or lose.  Scarcity mentality creates a power base for the perceived ‘haves’ versus the perceived ‘have-nots’; and that opportunities are limited, few and far between. Labels turn life into a competition. If you win, I lose. But that's not the economy of God's kingdom. God's love isn't scarce. God's grace isn't scarce. God's invitation isn't scarce. Love is not a finite resource. A world based on love is an abundance mentality – the theological opposite of the scarcity that labeling creates. The abundance mentality tells us that there are always new opportunities, the pie continues to grow, the slices get bigger, and there is enough room for all to flourish.  Respect, dignity, and deference are all key components of an abundance mentality – serving others, investing our talents, providing love, all come back ten-fold. Five Ways to See Beyond the Label 1. Slow Down. Don't let our first impression become our final conclusion. Recognize our tendency to spot patterns and desire to take mental shortcuts. Take time for critical thinking. Don't take anyone or any situation at face value. Before forming a judgment, ask: Do I have all the information? What am I assuming that I don't actually know? Critical thinking isn't skepticism — it's the discipline of making reliable judgments based on reliable information. It's a form of justice. Make the deliberate choice to go deeper — in conversations, in relationships, in how we perceive the person across from us at work, next to us in class or church, sitting at the dinner table.  Matthew’s Chapter 7 starts with the decree to “stop judging” and to conduct our behavior to others in accordance with God’s conduct towards us, to not pass judgment in a spirit of arrogance, forgetful of one’s own faults. 2. Look for the Story. Every person has a story inside them. And we don't know what chapter we walked in on. We don't need to define someone by one page or one chapter. Choose to read the whole book or at least as much as possible. Don't stop at the cover. Don't stop at the label. Don't stop at the first impression.  3. Find Common Ground. We need to see beyond the label for things we can relate or connect to – a commonality. Look for the commonality before the difference. Focus on what is shared, not on what may divide us. Difference gets our attention. Commonality creates connection. That's not naivety — that's wisdom. It's the first step toward belonging. 4. Practice Deference. Deference is defined as a courteous regard for the opinions, desires, and feelings of others. It is a humble reverence. It says this person and the relationship matter more than getting my way or winning this moment. It's the posture that builds relationships instead of burning them. And it is way more nuanced than simply saying "be nice." When we get into labels, we choose to be ignorant, and we lose the ‘deference for others.’ 5. Replace "Othering" With Belonging. Mother Teresa said, “If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other.” Othering is the opposite of belonging. Where belonging implies acceptance and inclusion of all people, othering suggests intolerance and exclusion. Othering creates an "us versus them" mentality. Belonging is a basic human need, Maslow proved that back in 1943. Belonging to each other creates comfort - which leads to connection - which leads to contribution. Belonging is good for business and society. We need contributors, not detractors. What is our call to action? Let’s start by not worrying about what society needs to do; what can we do? Who have we put in a box? Let’s think about somebody we've already labeled. Maybe politically. Maybe socially. Maybe someone at work. Maybe someone in our family. Better yet, maybe somebody we don't particularly like. someone we've already filed away in a category and stopped seeing as fully human. Now ask: Do I really know the person, or do I only know the label? What would happen if I learned their story? Pray for them, by name. Then have a real conversation. Ask intentional questions to learn more about the person. Listen. Don't debate. Don’t qualify what you hear. Just listen. Labeling saves us work. That's the uncomfortable truth. Knowing someone requires time. Listening requires humility. Understanding requires curiosity. Love requires effort. Jesus asks us to do the harder thing: to see the child of God underneath the label. Maybe the challenge isn't to stop noticing our differences. Maybe the challenge is to stop allowing our differences to keep us from seeing one another.  God did not create us to run AGAINST others or compete with labels, but rather to run WITH HIM in our heart and head.  Remember there will come a time when a wolf and a lamb will graze together and the lion, like an ox will eat straw (Isa. 65:25).  There will be no place for labels.

  2. Sep 23

    Enough: The Space Between Perfect and Possible

    Have you ever not done something because you were afraid you wouldn't do it well enough? Maybe you didn't start exercising because you couldn't commit to an hour at the gym. You didn't make the phone call because you weren't sure what you were going to say. You didn't pray because you didn't have 30 minutes of quiet time. Or maybe you didn't step into something God was calling you to do because you looked at the size of the task and thought: “What I have isn't enough.” There is something strangely freeing about the word enough. Because somewhere along the way, many of us have convinced ourselves that enough isn't enough. We feel the need to be better. More successful. More accomplished. More productive. More spiritual. And sometimes, in our pursuit of being extraordinary, we fail to do the ordinary things that matter most. There is another phrase made famous by Chicago Cubs manager Joe Maddon: “Try not to suck.” It became the rallying cry of the Chicago Cubs during their 2016 World Series Championship run, their first one in 108 years. It started the year before when Javy Baez made his debut. Manager Joe Maddon, in an effort to relax the youngster, set that as his expectation. And while that may not sound particularly inspiring, there's actually some wisdom here. Using “Try Not to Suck” with young players is a great way of taking some of the pressure off. The idea wasn't, “Don't give it your all.” It wasn't, “Mediocrity is okay.” It was essentially: Relax. Play the game. Do your job. Don't make it harder than it needs to be. And that distinction matters. Because there are times when perfection becomes the enemy of progress. We can become so concerned about doing something perfectly that we never do it at all. The first goal isn't always excellence. Sometimes the first goal is simply to begin. Start with enough. Then build from there. “Enough” isn't necessarily the destination. Sometimes “enough” is the starting line. So how do we go about this: Know what “enough” actually means. The word enough means an amount or degree that is required or needed. That's important. Because “enough” is not a synonym for lazy. It means sufficient for the purpose. A surgeon shouldn't stop halfway through an operation because the work is “good enough.” An engineer shouldn't build 80 percent of a bridge and say, “Done is better than perfect.” There are consequences to cutting corners when the stakes are high. But most of the decisions we face every day aren't life-or-death decisions. “Enough” is contextual. The appropriate minimum for a heart surgeon isn't the same as the appropriate minimum for answering an email. We all aspire to do more than the bare minimum, but we also do not want to fail to do the minimum. Sometimes we simply need to send the email or make the call. Take the walk. Clean the garage. Open the Bible or say a prayer. We don't need perfect. We need enough to move forward. Lower the barrier—but don't lower the standard. Lowering the barrier is not the same as lowering the standard. If our goal is to exercise, don't tell ourselves that we need to work out for an hour. Take a ten-minute walk. If our goal is prayer, don't convince ourselves that we need an hour of uninterrupted silence. Take seven minutes. If we want to write, don't tell ourselves we need to finish the entire article. Write the first paragraph. The ten-minute walk is better than the intense workout we never do. The text you send is better than the card not sent. One deep, mindful breath is better than the twenty-minute meditation we never begin. Make the first move small enough that we actually make it. Stop letting “perfect” become an excuse. I've spent time working with a technology startup, and one concept I learned there was the Minimum Viable Product—or MVP. An MVP is essentially the smallest version of a product that provides value to the user. Why? Because if we wait until everything is perfect, we may spend enormous amounts of time and money building something nobody wants. Instead, we put something useful into the world. We get feedback. We learn. We improve. And we keep going. There's a lesson there for us. Maybe our first version isn't supposed to be perfect. Maybe our first attempt is supposed to teach us what the second attempt needs to be. Give ourselves permission to be beginners, be novices. This is where “Try Not to Suck” becomes useful. When we're doing something new, we're probably going to be bad at it. That's not failure. That's being new. G.K. Chesterton said: “If a thing is worth doing, it is worth doing badly.” That doesn't mean we should take pride in doing poor work. It means doing something imperfectly can be better than refusing to do it because we're afraid of being imperfect. We misfire. We make mistakes. We learn. We adjust and go again. Stop measuring our enough against someone else's “er.” I once did an FCA Huddle lesson with high school students about what I called the “er” complex. And it really hit home with teenagers. Who is prettier? Who is stronger? Who is wealthier? Who is funnier? Who is smarter? Who is more popular? Teenagers are at an age when peer pressure is significant, and benchmarking themselves against everybody around them can become an everyday experience. But the truth is, we don't necessarily grow out of that. We just get better at hiding it. Adults may not be comparing who has the coolest sneakers but we can be comparing careers, houses, bank accounts, vacations, how successful our kids are, and in my case how many people read my blog posts or download my podcasts. And somewhere along the way, we start asking: “Am I enough?” But here's what I told those high school students: God didn't create us, love us, and die for us so that we could spend our precious time looking around man's world to determine whether we're good enough. We are enough because of Him. That's a very different definition of enough. It doesn't mean we're complete nor that we shouldn't grow or continue striving for excellence. It means our worth isn't determined by the person standing next to us. This brings us to the story regarding the loaves and the fish in The Feeding of the Thousands, the only miracle recorded in all four Gospels. The disciples looked at what they had and compared it to what was needed. And by their calculation, what they have seems woefully inadequate. But Jesus didn't ask them if they had enough. He asked: “What do you have?” Five loaves. Two fish. It wasn't enough by the world's measurement. But it was enough for Jesus to work with. God doesn’t ask for abundance. God creates abundance out of what we have to offer even if what we have doesn’t seem enough. Remember that we are enough before we ever accomplish enough. This may be the most important point. We can confuse what we do with who we are. We can believe that if we accomplish enough, make enough money, help enough people, or become successful enough, then we'll finally be enough. But that's backwards. Our worth isn't a performance review. God doesn't love us because we performed well this quarter. Paul writes in Ephesians 2:10: “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Notice the order - We are God's handiwork. Then comes the work. Our work doesn't create our worth. Our worth gives meaning to our work. It frees us to fail. It frees us to learn. It frees us to say: “I'm not perfect. But I'm willing.” So here's the challenge. Think of one thing you've been putting off because you don't think you can do it well enough. Something you've been waiting to get perfect. Something that seems too big. Ask yourself: “What is the smallest thing I can do to start?” Take the ten-minute walk. Write the first paragraph. Make the phone call. Open the book. Have the conversation. Apologize. Forgive. Volunteer. Spend seven minutes in prayer. Jesus isn't asking how much time we wish we had. He's asking how much time we actually have. And here's another question worth asking. Where in my life am I demanding perfection when “enough” would actually accomplish the purpose? Because there are times when excellence matters. There are times when the standard needs to be high. But there are also times when our pursuit of perfection isn't producing excellence. It's producing paralysis. And that's different. Maybe today we don't need to be extraordinary. Maybe we just need to be willing. Maybe we don't need more. Maybe we need to recognize what we already have.  And maybe that's what “enough” really means. Not that we stop striving. Not that we settle. Not that we abandon excellence. But that we recognize the difference between doing our best and demanding that our best always be perfect. So maybe the goal isn't to be perfect. Maybe the goal isn't even to be great. Maybe today the goal is simply: Don't suck. God doesn't need us to bring him everything. He asks us to bring what we have. And when we do, He can do something with it. “We are enough because of Him.”

  3. Sep 2

    The Holiness of Now

    This podcast is about presence, gratitude, attentiveness, and living fully in the moment God has given us—not worrying about tomorrow or longing for yesterday. Happy, sad, achievement, disappointment, gain, loss - our lives are a collection of “nows.” A collection of moments. A collection of choices, failures, successes, ups, and downs. Each one a piece of a bigger picture, like a mosaic, an image comprised of thousands of smaller colored tiles. Modern culture is constantly pulling us away from the present. Being everywhere except here, in the moment. Many of us go through life on autopilot, often at warp speed. Constant distraction. Social media. Rushing through experiences. Not being not present in our thoughts at any particular moment.  Our worries, fears, and anxieties about "what's next" can paralyze us into focusing on what is going to happen tomorrow, so much so we miss everything God wants to teach us today. From Matthew 6:34, “Do not worry about tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of itself.” We are being instructed to live each day to its fullest because one never knows what will happen tomorrow. In fact, God has not yet granted that extra day. Each individual day can be hard enough to get through, much less worry about those coming. In Mark’s Gospel, 1:14-15, we get a concise summary of Jesus’ preaching, life, and ministry. The message Jesus announces is “This is the time of fulfillment.” Mark uses the Greek word Kairos for time and not Chronos. That intentional use means Jesus is not thinking about the movement of time to this point, but rather he is speaking in terms of the appointed time, in this moment. Jesus is calling us to seek and search for God with each breath we take and with each moment that passes. Always living with an emphasis on being in the present, the now. "The time is fulfilled." Jesus wasn't talking about a clock. He was talking about God's appointed moment. People like to define moments with big leaps, movements or stepping out of one’s comfort zone. Maybe for some of us it is as simple as staying in the moment right where we are. We typically don’t hear people say, “Hunker down and see what God has in store for us.” However, God has begun a great work in us, right where we were; we just don’t recognize it. God meets us in the present moment. Our challenge is learning to recognize Him there. Do how do we “Live the Holiness of Now?” To start with we must ‘Slow Down.’ Slow down enough to notice. Slow down and we naturally connect better with what is happening inside and outside in the moment. What is happening right now becomes more vivid and not hidden behind thoughts racing in our mind about what’s next.  Second, let’s make “Every Moment Matter” and give the ordinary our full attention. Every Moment Matters, Planned moments vs unexpected moments. We often think life is measured in years. I think it's measured in moments. Every Life Is Built One Moment at a Time. Life is a mosaic of moments. Our entire life happens in the moment, and every ‘present moment’ is life itself. How we live each moment, what words we speak, what actions we take, how we relate to those we encounter is the whole of our lives. Our mosaics will include moments we know are coming like a wedding, childbirth, first time driving a car, or possibly a first kiss. They will include unplanned moments that catch us off-guard like a surprise birthday party or running into a celebrity in the elevator or possibly a first kiss. There are moments that seize us and those we must seize intentionally. If we are not intentional, the smaller and maybe more mundane moments will slide right on by and be a tile that does not get added to the mosaic. We must appreciate the quiet moments, the hoot of a barn owl in the distance, the warmth of the sun. Moments of service, friendship, and especially love. How much of our lives revolved around memories, either making them or having them? Kodak had built a multi-billion-dollar empire around the tagline of “share memories, share life.” The heart of Facebook is tied to sharing photos and updates – memories. I love the Jim Croce song “Photographs and Memories” where the lyrics emphasize the little but memorable things in life – morning walks, bedroom talks, summer skies and lullabies. Moments that are not manufactured but created through presence. The phrase “Right now” points to this exact moment. The single word “now” can feel slightly less immediate. In American English, “right now” is more common than in British English, reflecting our tendency to add a second word for emphasis—like saying “next up” instead of simply “next.” The “right now” is a magical place full of great possibilities. We can do literally anything right now. In the past, the moment is over. In the future, we could do those things. Right now, is the oldest we've ever been and the youngest we'll ever be. Living in the present is empowering. Life may end one day; every other day it doesn’t. “Right now,” is relevant to the eternal destinies we all face. What we do today, counts – forever. Today is an opportunity to make our tomorrow better. We can’t have a tree to sit under tomorrow if it isn’t planted today. “ Abraham Lincoln said, "Leave nothing for tomorrow which can be done today." I want to qualify that quote a bit and note we don’t put off until tomorrow what we should do today. There are a multitude of things we can do today, but which things are priorities that we should not delay and get them done right now? Teddy Roosevelt has a well-known quote, “Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.” We must keep in mind that ‘what we have’ and ‘where we are’ changes over time but doing ‘what we can’ is universal. Over time, certain capabilities change and not always for the better. No matter, we still need to make the most of our capabilities; to get value out of our lives whatever the situation. We must also let broken moments remain. Keep the broken tiles in the mosaic. We are fallen—not worthless. Even though the moment might be something we are not proud of, it is part of who we are. Irregularities in a mosaic do not “spoil” it. Removing a tile leaves a gap, an incomplete picture. To the whole, each one matters. I read where mosaics are made from broken pieces. I disagree, the pieces are not broken, what the pieces came from is broken. These moments in our lives are not broken, but our lives are. We are not perfect, we have flaws, we are sinners. In other words, “we have fallen” and when an object falls it often breaks.  God doesn't discard broken things; He redeems them. In Genesis 50:20, Joseph speaking to his brothers who sold him into slavery, says, “Even though you meant harm to me, God meant it for good, to achieve this present end, the survival of many people.” Finally to “Live the Holiness of Now” - Trust today's grace. Max Lucado said, “Meet today's problems with today's strength. Don't start tackling tomorrow's problems until tomorrow. You do not have tomorrow's strength yet. You simply have enough for today.” We cannot solve tomorrow’s problems if we don’t solve todays!  We live in a downstream world with a bias for downstream action. We spend most of our time reacting to problems downstream rather than dealing with the source of the problem found upstream. Solving today’s problems will have a downstream effect on tomorrow’s problems. First responders focus on the problems that must be solved at that moment. It is a natural way to go about their job; prioritize what is urgent, solve one problem, then move on to the next. Jesus’ ministry was a little over 3 years. A limited time to accomplish what He needed to do. Yet Scripture has Him taking extra time when needed (prayer time), making time for interruption (the bleeding woman, children coming to Him) and diverting his plan as needed (to be a guest of Zacchaeus). Jesus knew how to take timely breaks to replenish his soul. He was the master of balance, ministry with prayer. He lived each day full of that day’s grace.  What do we lose when we lose the holiness of a moment? We miss the enjoyment from so many small things happening all around us. A long hug, a walk in the woods, a sunset or the full moon rising among so many stars in the night sky. Staying in the moment allows us to see more than just what is on the surface; it allows us to see the beauty within. It gives us the ability to see options and far-reaching impacts. God calls on us to make the most of our moments, to use our gifts in the best possible ways, and to see everything as beautiful moments of His grace. Over time, these moments come together as a beautiful mosaic. God’s plan for our lives is less like a roadmap and more like a mosaic. No outliers. No random pieces. Unrelated fragments intentionally put together in a recognizable pattern we could never see, but He always does. Don't wait for extraordinary days. Live ordinary days extraordinarily well. One day we’ll discover those ordinary moments became the most beautiful tiles in the mosaic God was creating. Real life takes place in the here and the now. Our God is a God of the present. We need to be present in the moment as He reveals himself to us where we are most fully present. It is our choice to do what we will do at this time. Make the days count. There is a divine purpose at work. Let God use us in ways we cannot fully appreciate. Our time is now, right now.

  4. Aug 12

    Finish Well

    I look at my life in three distinct time periods (so, a hockey analogy as opposed to my standard football one). The first 25+ years were about investing in myself – the focus on growing, maturing, being educated, becoming an adult, building a strong mind and body; and starting a career and being a contributing citizen to society. The next 25+ years were about investing in my family – marriage, fatherhood, mentoring my children and all the roles that came with building the foundation of a home; and being a significant wage earner to provide. This third and final phase is about my investing in others. Mentoring, motivating, building connections, raising the tide for all; establishing a better tomorrow. It's about multiplying my influence and becoming more useful to God and others – whomever I can be neighbor to. It isn't centered on legacy, but leaving a legacy becomes the byproduct. Let’s imagine we are attending our own funeral.Not in a morbid way. Sitting quietly in the back of the church while family, friends, coworkers and neighbors stand up one by one to give a eulogy.What do we hope they say? They are not going to list our positions and job titles.Nor how much money we made. They are going to discuss who we were.How we moved and inspired them.  They are going to discuss - not our doing – but our being. New York Times columnist David Brooks wrote about the difference between “résumé virtues” and “eulogy virtues.” Résumé virtues are professional and oriented toward earthly success – things I have done in my first two periods. They require comparison with others. Eulogy virtues are ethical and spiritual and require no comparison. Eulogy virtues are what we would want people to talk about at our funeral. Résumé virtues versus Eulogy virtues. One gets us hired. The other gets us remembered. Eulogy virtues, although they should be a part of our early life, ought to be the focus of our final third. The opportunity to share gifts and make a difference in the world around us is one of the most profoundly fulfilling experiences we can have in life. Our kindness will outlive us. Some of us can become attached, even addicted, to earthly rewards, to the chase we got up every morning to pursue, and our resume virtues. Even to the point of living in yesterday's successes. We spent decades chasing: Promotions, Achievements, Recognition, Bigger titles, Bigger paychecks. None are bad.They're simply incomplete. Instead of asking, "What can I accomplish?" ask "What can I multiply?" We need to shift from a mindset of Achievement to a mindset of Investment The story of Elijah and his mentorship of Elisha is a great example of refocusing one’s efforts on being a teacher and not a doer. Elijah, considered by many to be the greatest prophet in salvation history, played the role of mentor to Elisha’s protégé. Elisha went on to perform twice as many miracles as Elijah, yet it is Elijah that is more widely remembered and exalted. Paul’s second letter to Timothy, written late in Paul’s life, is considered one of Paul’s “Pastoral Epistles” because it is related to Timothy’s work as a pastor caring for the community under his charge. Paul is mentoring Timothy: “So you, my child, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And what you heard from me through many witnesses entrust to faithful people who will have the ability to teach others as well.”  Stay focused on the "why" not the “how.” Where there’s a vision, I call it a ‘Why’; there also needs to be a process, or a ‘How’.  A vision implies we have a view of where we want to get to; but it doesn’t necessarily mean we know exactly the path to get us there. There can be lots of paths. According to a study, 70% of all successful new businesses end up with a strategy different than the one they initially pursued. There are a gazillion methods and tactics, but there are very few whys.  When we have a vision and believe in it, we see the discovery and growth amidst the daily grind and maybe even chaos.  Once we know our why, there will be a how. We then have to trust that process, in the day to day. The greatest example of this complete principle is Jesus himself.  His vision was on the Father and fulfilling His promise to us.  He achieved His vision despite significant circumstances, and His process was one of daily prayer. Give More Than We Keep. Not because we're finished. Because we're needed. For my final third I adopted a “reverse bucket list.” My goal is to give things away. Things like: Wisdom, Encouragement, Experience, Time. How can I give it away? Mentoring; Serving; Blogging, Podcasting, speaking, writing. As Jimmy Buffet sang in his song “Souvenirs” – “Someone wants a piece of you; Never let 'em pay; What you do not give them; Time takes anyway.” Turning away someone that needs help – whether they ask for it or not -  is self-centered.  Matthew 5:42 “Give to the one who asks of you, and do not turn your back on one who wants to borrow.” The first part of life asks, "What can I accomplish?" and then "What can I preserve?" But the final season asks a better question: "What can I multiply?" “What can I give away that will outlive me?” Because God rarely measures success by what we accumulate or accomplish. He measures faithfulness by what we invest. Jesus spent only three years in public ministry.  He wasn't in a hurry.He wasn't chasing personal significance. He invested deeply.Loved intentionally.Prepared others. And changed the world. If we're going to finish well...we'll do the same. Not by chasing résumé virtues...but by building eulogy virtues. Not by accumulating more...but by giving more away. Because in God's Kingdom, our greatest achievements are rarely what we accomplish; they're the people we help become who God created them to be. Paul writes: "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith..." Paul wasn't trying to keep racing forever, nor does he tell us in what place did he finish. He also didn't merely finish. He finished faithfully. That's an important distinction. I intend to finish this final third well. Let’s make sure we are doing our part and trust we will set the world on fire. Let’s answer the call, let’s finish well, and make a difference in His Kingdom. Rejoice and Godspeed

  5. Jul 8

    Rejoice and Godspeed

    Have you ever noticed how casually we say goodbye? "See you later." "Take care." Or how we end our communications with “Sincerely yours” and “Best Regards.” They're pleasant enough, but they don't really say much. For years now, I've ended conversations differently. My salutation is ..."Rejoice and Godspeed." Those three words are far more than a farewell. They've become something of a personal creed. They express what I desire for every person I meet. That they would live with genuine Christian joy and that God Himself would guide every step of their journey. Because if those two things are true, everything else eventually falls into place. One evening, while standing in line for the Sacrament of Reconciliation and going through an examination of conscious, I found myself reflecting over the previous several months and was struck that so many of my failings and sins could be traced back to the lack of joy. When we let joy disappear or fail to recognize its presence; that is when patience disappears and then gratitude disappears. Complaining becomes easier. Soon judgment creeps in. Pride grows. Envy grows. It's amazing how quickly and easily we surrender something priceless. I remember hearing a sermon once about a man who allowed a seven-dollar overcharge to ruin his entire day. Seven dollars. Not seven thousand. He couldn’t move past being upset at the overcharge and allowed his joy to be taken away for a mere $7.It made me think of the value (or lack of) I sometimes place on my Joy. St. Paul gives us one of the shortest commands in Scripture. "Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I say, rejoice." Notice Paul doesn't say, "Rejoice when life is easy," "Rejoice when we get the promotion," "Rejoice when our health is good," or "Rejoice when everyone agrees with us." He says, "Always." Which can seem impossible to rejoice always despite our moods/weather/situation, until we notice Paul’s next words, "...in the Lord." Christian joy is never built upon circumstances. It is built upon a Person, Jesus Christ. One of my favorite observations comes from G.K. Chesterton. He called joy "the gigantic secret of the Christian." The saints understood this. Paul certainly understood it. Remember, he wrote Philippians while sitting in a Roman prison. And in that short letter he tells us to rejoice again, and again, and again, thirteen times. Not because prison is enjoyable. But because Christ had never left him. In Matthew’s Gospel, the final Beatitude from Jesus Sermon on the Mount is different - because we are not pursuing it, but it is there for us to understand that when we seek the life that Jesus lays out for us, persecution will pursue us, “Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and utter every kind of evil against you because of me.” Then it closes with “Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven.” Depending on our Bible translation, the words “happy” and “happiness” are used approximately 30 times in Scripture; the words “joy” and “rejoice” appear over 300 times. Happiness depends on what happens. Happiness can be circumstantial; it has the same root as the word “happenstance.” Yet, despite how unreliable it is, many of us base our lives on the pursuit of happiness (I know … I know… the Declaration of Independence guarantees our right to do so). Joy is something entirely different. Joy is a decision, a choice and a bold one at that. Having joy is an enduring sense of well-being with confidence that God is present. Joy dependent upon Christ never changes. Father Pierre Teilhard de Chardin wrote, "Joy is the infallible sign of the presence of God." I think that's true. Because the closer we walk with Christ, the more confidence we have and the less control our circumstances have over us. C.S. Lewis: "Joy is the serious business of Heaven." Fun, happiness, laughter will all eventually end and we will move to other earthly circumstances – they are like a short recess. In contrast, heavenly joy is a true, lasting reality. Joy belongs to the Christian and is a fruit of the Holy Spirit. This is why the Church, in her liturgical wisdom, gives us Gaudete Sunday in Advent and Laetare Sunday in Lent — glimpses of joy along the way to the joyful celebrations of Christmas and Easter. Read about the Saints, even in the midst of their sufferings, they did not lose their joy because it was anchored not in comfort, but in Christ. "Gospel" literally means "Good News." Christianity begins with joyful news, not merely moral instruction. If joy is a choice, how do we cultivate it? I've found four simple questions help me reset my perspective: - What's right in my life? - What am I grateful for? - Who has God placed in my life as a blessing? - What has God already done today that I would have overlooked yesterday? Those questions pull our eyes away from scarcity and back toward abundance. Away from irritation and toward gratitude. Away from ourselves and toward God. As St. Ignatius taught, gratitude is one of the surest defenses against discouragement. Now let's talk about the second half of that greeting. Godspeed. Many people think it simply means "good luck." It doesn't. It comes from the old English expression, "God spede you." Literally, "May God prosper our journey." Not merely success. Not merely safety. But may God accomplish His purpose through our life. It's actually a prayer. One of the most famous examples came during the launch of Apollo 11. Just before mankind began its journey to the moon with three astronauts, Neil Armstrong, Michael Collins, and Buzz Aldrin sitting atop a 363-foot tall, 7.6-million-pound thrust Saturn V rocket. Mission Control said, "Godspeed." How fitting.  Every one of us is on a journey far more significant than going to the moon. We're making our way toward eternity. I used the expression in the title of my book, Godspeed and Guideposts for Your Journey. I felt the content of the book was an ideal opportunity to impart my blessing on one’s journey and for that voyage to be successful. When we put those two words together, they become something beautiful. "Rejoice and Godspeed" is a profound expression of Christian love. It says simultaneously: Be rooted in the joy that is Christ — and — May God's hand guide and prosper us on the road ahead. It honors both the interior life and the journey outward. This expression, in its fullness, is a miniature act of faith: it trusts that joy is real, that God is sovereign over every journey, and that the person being sent is held in divine providence. Rejoice. Be rooted in Christ. Protect our joy. Guard it carefully because the world will gladly trade us anxiety for it. And... Godspeed. Walk faithfully. Trust God's direction. Move courageously. Whether the road is smooth or steep. Whether we're beginning a new career, or starting retirement, or raising children, or grieving someone we love, or simply trying to become a little more like Christ today. Rejoice. And Godspeed. May our joy remain rooted in Christ. May our steps follow His pace. May our journey bring glory to Him. And may we one day rejoice together at the destination we've been walking toward all along. Until next time... Rejoice and Godspeed.

  6. Jun 24

    Live Life on Offense

    I have always believed the old saying: "Defense wins championships." And in sports, that's often true. But over the years I've come to realize something important: Defense may win championships, but offense is what moves life forward. Think about it. A defender reacts. An offensive player initiates. A defender responds to circumstances. An offensive player creates opportunities. A defender protects what already exists. An offensive player builds what could be. Life does require some defense. We all face unexpected challenges, setbacks, illnesses, disappointments, and interruptions. But if our entire life becomes reactionary, we spend our days putting out fires instead of building something meaningful. The question is simple: Are we playing to win, or are we merely playing not to lose? Most people drift into defensive living without even realizing it. We wake up and react to emails. We react to the news. We react to deadlines. We react to problems. We react to other people's priorities. Stephen Covey described this reality through his famous Time Management Matrix that he built from the Eisenhower Decision Principle with the Four Quadrants. Quite simply, living in Quadrant 2 (Important/Not Urgent) is living on offense. It is the quadrant of being proactive, planning and critical thinking. This is the quadrant for long term achievement. Whereas living in Quadrant 1 (Important/Urgent) is living on defense. It is the world of crises, emergencies, firefighting and being reactive. Many people spend a majority of their lives there. Every day becomes another problem to solve; another issue demanding attention. The danger is that living this way creates the illusion of productivity while producing very little progress. We're busy. We're exhausted. We're stressed. Yet we often aren't moving forward. It's like being a football team that spends the entire game on defense. We might stop the other team, but we'll never score. We'll never advance the ball.We'll never dictate the pace of the game. Eventually life becomes maintenance instead of mission. Survival instead of significance. Living on offense doesn't mean becoming aggressive. It doesn't mean being reckless. It means becoming intentional. It means choosing our direction rather than allowing circumstances to choose it for us. And nowhere is this more important than in our faith. God never called us merely to avoid sin. He never asked us to only listen to His word. He called us to pursue purpose. Not simply to survive the culture. But to influence it. Not simply reacting to darkness. But bring light into it. So how do we begin living life on offense? First, spend more time in Quadrant Two. Quadrant Two is the realm of important but not urgent activities. The domain of Long-term growth. Most people know these things matter. The challenge is that they don't scream for attention. They require intentionality. Yet these are the activities that prevent future crises and create long-term success. Second, make our second move first. The expression “make your second move first” was a favorite used by one of my College Football coaches. He was our defensive coordinator and valued preparation, anticipation, and being proactive. A rule of football is, 'he who makes his second move first wins.' Healthy marriages often employ this mantra. A good marriage involves couples that know the right things to do. Thriving marriages build off the first move with impactful second moves. Turn date night into a lifelong memory. Turn a routine weekday dinner into a catered feast. The best way to learn how our partner thinks and acts is to be intentional and notice patterns and habits. Know what is going on, be aware.  In business it can be referred to as "staying ahead of the game." Adapting quickly to market trends, meeting new government standards before they go into effect, and implementing technological advancements. Anticipation is the way to stand out. Customers remember those businesses that take care of them before the need even arises. It is selling value and providing solutions to problems, even before a customer voices a concern or, better, before they even realize they have a problem.  Being one step ahead in our thinking is particularly effective in strategy games like Chess and Mancala. We are acting as opposed to reacting. We anticipate future events or needs by considering potential outcomes and plan accordingly. Third, focus on being different, not merely better. The greatest breakthroughs come from doing things differently, not simply doing them better. Henry Ford didn't create a faster horse. Netflix didn't build a better video store. Uber didn't improve taxi dispatching. They changed the game. I love how Christianity is different. Every other religion teaches being better and earning God’s glory. Other religions have laws or pillars to appease their god with the hopes of getting into eternal paradise. Christianity teaches that God came to us. He sent His Son to die for us. We don’t have to appease God to receive His favor. No other religion has an empty tomb. Christians are not asked to be better, we are asked to be different. We are not meant to simply "try harder" with outward actions and rule-following, we are asked to experience a fundamental transformation of the heart, to change from the inside out. Living on offense means being willing to think differently, act differently, and trust God enough to walk through new doors. Fourth, Call Strategic Timeouts. If the entire message is "be on offense, take action, move forward," some may hear that as "go faster, do more, stay busy." That's not what I am really saying. As part of living on offense, we often need to stop, pause. We need to take a timeout. Only after stepping out of the noise can we regain perspective and decide what offensive plays matter most. The timeout is not just a practical tip. It can be the turning point of the entire message. In sports, a timeout is a key strategic tool. It can serve many purposes: stopping the clock, extending the game, allowing readjustment, avoiding a penalty or turnover, and providing the opportunity to talk things through and regroup mentally. A family going 90 miles an hour in five different directions needs a timeout to slow down, reconnect, and remind each other of the priority of family. Companies will use an annual kickoff meeting as a timeout where they pull everyone off the floor and into a huddle. A personal timeout allows us to pause, reflect, and pray. We can take the off-ramp from life’s highway and evaluate the road we are on. A timeout can keep us from making a bad decision because we don’t have a clear perspective. A timeout isn't removing oneself from the game, it isn't retreating. It's preparing to run the next play. It's alignment. It's making sure the next play is the right play. The timeout becomes the bridge between where we are and where we want to go. The art of pausing can be as simple as breathing, stretching, drinking a coffee, or gazing out the window or at a photo of a loved granddaughter. The act just needs to be done with intention to allow for clarity, rest and realignment.  This is also very biblical. Before God sends people forward, He often pulls them aside first. Moses in the wilderness. Elijah under the broom tree. Jesus in the desert. The disciples being told to "come away and rest awhile" in Mark 6:31. Jesus regularly called timeouts. Not because He lacked urgency, but because He understood priorities. This week I want to challenge us to identify one area of our life where we've been playing defense. Maybe it's our health. Maybe it's our marriage. Maybe it's our career.Maybe it's our faith. Ask ourselves: What would an offensive approach look like here? What conversation needs to happen? What phone call needs to be made? What habit needs to start? What opportunity have I been waiting for instead of pursuing? Don't try to redesign our entire life. Just move the ball forward. One intentional play. One deliberate step. One faithful act of obedience. Jesus never lived reactively.He was never rushed by the crowd. Never manipulated by circumstances. Never distracted from His mission. He always operated with purpose. With clarity. With intention. Even when others saw chaos, He saw opportunity. Even when others saw obstacles, He saw a path forward. The beautiful news for us is that the ultimate game has already been won. Christ secured that victory. Our job is not to earn it. Our job is to faithfully play the position we've been given. Let’s make sure we are doing our part and trust we will set the world on fire. Let’s stop waiting for life to happen; stop spending all our energy protecting the status quo. Let’s take the field; run the play; call a timeout when needed. Let’s live life on offense, leave a legacy and make a difference in His Kingdom. Rejoice and Godspeed

  7. Jun 12

    Discipline is Not a Bad Word

    We had a sign in the high school football locker room, “Discipline is not what I do to you, it is what I do for you”. As a high school football coach, an unexpected requirement of the job was to convince young men that discipline is not a bad word. Until that point in their life for most, discipline had become synonymous with punishment. When they hear the word discipline from a football coach, they envision endless wind sprints or up/downs. Even the dictionary definition paints that picture - the practice of training people to obey rules or a code of behavior, using punishment to correct disobedience. Somewhere along the way, we turned discipline into a dirty word. We hear it and think punishment, restriction, or someone taking away our freedom. But what if discipline isn’t the enemy of freedom? What if it is actually the doorway to it? Discipline is really a positive exercise around choice that not only prevents negative consequences (that bad stuff like ‘time out’ as a 3-year-old or those dreaded wind sprints) but more importantly makes good stuff better and prepares us or our team for the challenges ahead. It is a good thing that grows us.  There is a conscious part of discipline, it is the mindfulness and awareness to self-regulate. Managing our own thoughts, feelings and actions – is the cornerstone of a successful life. If we are an effective manager of ourselves, our discipline comes from within. Most people can prioritize and even organize around their priorities, however many lack the discipline to choose and execute according to their priorities. When discipline is imposed from the outside (a coach, parent, manager) it will eventually wane and dissipate when there is no desire to match from within. Making better mental choices (accountable choices) requires mental discipline. Mental discipline is essential to the process of winning, especially in times of uncertainty (change). Mental discipline is key to finishing what we start. Discipline to not eat the second piece of cake; to exercise no matter what the weather; to say I am sorry or to bite my tongue (so I will not have to say sorry later); to call my mom once a week; to not engage in negative office small talk; to manage my time effectively and so on.  Discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishments; discipline takes us from wishing for success to achieving it. We cannot just talk our way to success; we need to discipline ourselves with action to make it happen. It was interesting to learn that the original Greek word used for discipline is also where we get the English word gymnasium. Training, practice, discipline - all are required for success in sports, work and in life. I am a big proponent of showing up early. Being early reveals integrity and self-discipline, it shows respect for others, it assures us we are ready to be at our best when called, it shows we are dependable. There is the concept of “Lombardi time.” Vince Lombardi, the Hall of Fame Green Bay Packer Head Coach, always taught his players and coaching staff they should arrive fifteen minutes early for a meeting or an appointment. Many former Green Bay players and coaching assistants claim that “Lombardi Time” taught them discipline and helped them to appreciate how the value of time. As a subtle nod to Lombardi’s expectations, the Packers organization honored their legendary coach and paid tribute to “Lombardi Time” by setting their clock outside of Lambeau Field fifteen minutes early. Cadence be it with prayer, exercising, our work routine –can build discipline and sets the pace for life.  Consistency is the quality of being logical, consistent, and sound; there is unity, and clarity between the vision and mission, roles and goals, priority and a plan, and desires and discipline. It is a unified whole. Being dependable means putting work in every day. Rome wasn’t built in a day, but they laid bricks every hour. Patience and discipline are required virtues to grow something great. Ignoring any of the minor details till the due date, then expecting to collect a reward, is foolish. An unexamined or unmaintained field soon becomes unusable due to weeds. Small undisciplined decisions rarely destroy us overnight. They slowly drift us off course. Direction not intention determines destination; discipline not desire determines destiny. Aesop’s fable of the ant versus the grasshopper is centered on discipline. The ant is symbolic of discipline. Diligent in its approach to life – storing food for winter, working as part of a colony and supporting others. While the grasshopper is carefree and overly individualistic, lacking in discipline. Note that being obedient is not the same as being disciplined. Obedience is following the rules, meeting deadlines and checking the boxes that we did what we were supposed to do (being competent). Discipline is more than following rules, it is about doing the right thing (there is no rule that says if we used the last of the toilet paper, put on a new roll), about living a code of accountability to exceed expectations and being “excellent”. Modeling a disciplined life is far more effective than correcting disobedience. Honoring our word each and every day is discipline mentoring in its simplest form. Any individual can dole out the punishment form of discipline, especially from a ‘leadership’ position. However true leaders strive to provide understanding and to actively help deal with the larger issue that resulted in the mistake.  John Wooden said that ‘effective discipline’ has two elements: it does not antagonize and it does influence. It is very difficult to antagonize and influence or teach at the same time. ‘Making a difference’ is a continual long-term disciplined effort that requires work and sacrifice; ‘making a scene’ is easy and convenient. I did a blog on how today too many people are concerned with making a scene and not focused on making a difference. Society often lacks the resolve and patience to follow up with consistent disciplined action, because it is hard and takes time. The words ‘discipline’ and ‘disciple’ share the same Latin root word for ‘pupil’. The concept is that we surrender ourselves to something or someone, similar to an athlete surrendering his will to a coach or a student to her teacher. As disciples our surrender is to God and His wisdom. Every disciple of Christ must practice discipline as we “train ourselves to be godly” (1 Timothy 4:7).  Proverbs of Solomon is written for us to gain discipline for wise conflict management “for gaining wisdom and instruction; for understanding words of insight; for receiving instruction in prudent behavior, doing what is right and just and fair” (Prov. 1:2-3). Solomon also said that we should love discipline “Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but whoever hates correction is stupid.” (Prov. 12:1). Also referencing back to Aesop and the Ant, “Go to the ant, O sluggard, Observe her ways and be wise, which, having no chief, officer or ruler, prepares her food in the summer and gathers her provision in the harvest.” (Prov. 6:6-8).  Spiritual growth knows no shortcuts; it too requires effort and hard work. No quick fixes or hacks will allow us to skip the difficult steps.  At the end of the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 7:24-27), Jesus contrasts the lives of those who exercise discipline and expend spiritual energy to grow in faith to those taking the easier way. Busting up rock and digging a deep foundation to build a house on solid rock is hard work. Building a house on sand is a spiritual hack doomed to fail. St. Augustine preached that availing ourselves of the disciplines and rituals of the Church are channels for receiving God’s grace, they are not avenues of performing for God. Whether cheating on an exam, at work, or on in life, we are not just cheating ourselves out of being more educated, more trusted; we are missing out on God's blessing. Diligent preparation and practice reduce the temptation to cheat. The risk in cheating can range from a failed exam, a speeding ticket, to the destruction of a marriage. Living a life that honors God requires hard work and discipline; but the reward of God's inheritance is immeasurable. In 2 Timothy 2, St. Paul’s reminds Timothy of soldiers, athletes, and farmers having incredible discipline and hard work to stay the course and produce an outcome. The soldier working within the boundaries of the hierarchy of command to win a battle; the athlete adhering to the rules of the game to win a race; the farmer working the soil, planting, and reaping a harvest. In each of these, quitting is not an option. Nobody applauds discipline in the moment. Yet everybody wants the harvest. Few people love the daily plowing, weeding, and watering. Discipline is ordinary faithfulness repeated long enough. Nobody accidentally becomes strong—physically, mentally, relationally, or spiritually. Discipline is not what life does to us. It is what God is trying to do for us.

  8. May 27

    Help of Thy Grace

    “With the help of thy grace” – we say it often or at least we should as it is in the Act of Contrition. "I firmly resolve, with the help of Thy grace, to sin no more and to avoid the near occasion of sin." Interestingly, the phrase “firmly resolve” means having a strong, unwavering determination, commitment, or fixed purpose to do something. It indicates a person has made a firm, final decision and is committed to acting on it, often despite obstacles, doubts, or difficulties. Yet the prayer adds – “with the help of Thy grace.” Despite us making a firm and final commitment to act even in the presence of obstacles, doubts, or difficulties – we need God's assistance. We always have at the “ready” God's assistance to avoid temptation, to prevent missteps, to overcome sins. Yet too often we choose to rely solely on personal willpower. Most of us, especially men, go through life like everything depends on us. We act like God’s up there watching while we hustle down here. However, our job isn’t to be the source of strength. It’s to be a conduit. A channel. A servant. Our strength is borrowed. Stop asking, “What can I do for God?” and start asking, “What is God doing in me and through me right now?” What am I allowing him to do? And “Where am I taking control?” In a world where we are told to “make our mark,” we need to flip the script. We are not self-made. We are not the source. However, we fear that dependence is weakness. But with God, dependence is the gateway to power. Real power. Power not fueled by ego or performance—but by love. This demands trust, Surrender. We are not removing effort—we are redefining where the power comes from.  Christ’s yoke is easy (Matthew 11:30) but the way is hard (Matthew 7:14). Are these contradictory metaphors from the book of Matthew? No. We are carrying light burdens on a hard path. Why? We are yoked directly alongside Jesus. It is a shared burden where Jesus carries the heavy load along the hard path. Paraclete – Para – along side (where we get the word parallel) and clete – “called” – the Greek meaning is “summoned, called to one’s side.” Paraclete is also a legal term and in effect means someone called alongside to help, defend, or console. The original meaning is more akin to a legal counselor, especially in the context of enduring trials. We can think about it like a divine defense attorney. The Holy Spirit is on our side, not to convict us (that’s the role of the accuser), but always to help us recall who we are. And to help us walk in the reality of who we are. The Holy Spirit, the Paraclete, brings and activates God's grace in our lives. Grace is God's unmerited favor and enabling power, the Holy Spirit is the divine agent who delivers that power, enabling us to do what we cannot achieve on our own. When we say “Let God do the Heavy lifting” it isn’t necessarily defined or limited to a major incident. It doesn’t have to be an immediate or instantaneous life-changing event. A subtle allowance to let God do the lifting, even in the smallest of ways, can set us on a new course/path. Ever so slightly we amend our path and that creates a new destination. Consider traveling a due east path around the world that leaves from New York City. Staying on this path, without deviation, will result in a return to New York City. However, if we adjust this path just one degree, we end up Montreal Canada – a different city, even a different country. The slightest change creates a new destination. Sometimes we grasp, grab, and hold on for dear life. Especially in moments of fear. However, His hands are infinitely bigger and stronger. Let Him hold us. St. Paul’s notes his reliance on God to provide in Philippians 4:13, “I have the strength for everything through HIM who empowers me.” We can do whatever He is calling us to if we walk with Him and rely on His strength, wisdom, and love to see us through. God wants to work with us. He wants to walk with us. He wants to carry the load. So why do we go solo and do it alone? We often start a project or a journey based on a calling. Then we get so caught up in the doing and literally take control to do it all on our own. We let the excitement of what God is doing envelop and carry us, that we don’t continue to reflect, pray, or discern with God about His direction. God led us to it and then we decided somewhere along the way to do it ourselves. We end up overwhelmed, consumed, maybe even confused or frustrated because things aren’t working. We need to pause and give it back to Him and ask for His direction. Allow Him to lift that weight from us. So how do we improve ourselves in this area and rely on God’s grace to lift us? Prayer – prayer and discernment make it present/top of mind.  St. Francis de Sales employed a simple three-step method for a "Direction of Intention" prayer, designed to sanctify the day by beginning tasks with – Ask, Offer, Accept -  1) Ask: Before beginning any task, Ask for God's grace to be present and to perform the action for His love, 2) Offer: Offer all our actions, both interior and exterior, to God, along with our heart. Give Him the honor/glory, and 3) Accept: Accept whatever outcomes, challenges, or sacrifices result from that time in advance – thy will be done. I have used this methodology in my life before business meetings and presentations, before critical conversations, before a Coach Mahr talk – and found great peace in it.  Choice & Intentionality – not that we choose against the use of God’s grace, we simply do not choose for it. Personal responsibility and the idea that inaction is still a deliberate, consequential decision. If we do not choose, we have ultimately chosen to let the situation be decided by other factors. Be intentional and choose to ask for God’s grace. And if we want to be more attuned to God’s grace, we should strive to emulate Him by exhibiting grace with others – our family, friends, co-workers, and our neighbor. “Therefore, encourage one another and build one another up, as indeed you do.” (1 Thessalonians 5:11). We still row the boat… but we stop pretending we can control the current. We have to do more than ask God to do the heavy lifting, we have to let Him. In the words of St. Bede - “open our sails let God steer us where He will.”

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About

Coach Mahr here serving as God’s Huckleberry to provide some inspiration and guideposts along our journey from where we are to where we need to be. This podcast will share his 4 decades of life experiences as a business leader, multi-faceted sports coach, community volunteer, and father with his faith to share insights gained, lessons learned to demonstrate where God’s prominence is interwoven through everyday life. This podcast will use winsome anecdotes and imagery to create “stickiness,” while meeting people where they are in life, inspire them to reflect on their situation and discern where they need to be. Coach recognizes he is in his "Final 1/3," so his emphasis is on building up others and fostering ‘eulogy virtues’ as opposed to ‘resume virtues;’ a focus on being and not just doing; and understanding it is a privilege to serve our neighbors.   

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