Being an artist, my favorite thing about God might just be his creativity.

He really puts out great stuff.

(Thanks to Minette for passing this photo along.)

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One of my blog posts recently received a very intriguing comment. It was loaded with interesting observations and great questions and I wanted to address them here.

As much as I love reading your website, and others like yours, I have realized that reading about it, and actually doing something about it is 2 different matter. Believe me, I’ve been a long-term reader of sites such as yours and am always comforted by the fact that there are people out there like you. I also talk about your sites, and my thoughts with my friends.

But lately, my friends have come to the conclusion that, yes, many people out there ditch their jobs to chase their dreams (or something less dramatic), but there are also just as many out there who go to work like we all do, live a 9-6 life and enjoy the weekends.

They’ve actually concluded that I’m torturing myself here because I read all these encouraging articles, dream all my dreams, but still am miserably stuck.

Don’t get me wrong. I love this article. And your site is very inspiring. But HOW do you actually get people out there to ACT and DO it? How are we to ditch our salaries, health benefits, career prospects, etc, and go, say pursue our dream of volunteering in a third-world country?

I know it’s illogical, and I know all the arguments against staying at a job just for the money, perks, whatever. But still we are not taking action.

If we are, there will no longer be visitors to your site!

So how and where do people finally say and go, right, enough of reading….I’m gonna do it!? How do you get to that point?

First of all, it’s never a bad thing to read or listen to things that inspire you to make positive changes in your life. Encountering the stories of people — people just like us — can help us to see that impossible things are actually more possible than we realized. And they can help us build up the courage we need to launch off on our own epic journey. However, a good many people go out of their way to avoid — and even criticize — these sorts of stories. After all, it can be quite unsettling to have your own self-limiting beliefs challenged, forcing you to face the possibility that you’ve settled for less than your best.

One of the things I was fortunate to learn pretty early on in my career as a professional speaker and writer was that I can’t get anyone to DO anything. Not one person. Not one thing. It’s easy to forget that sometimes — because I really wish I could — but remembering that truth has saved me a lot of frustration. Conversely, if someone is waiting for some speaker or some book or some fairy godmother to wink twice, twitch her nose, and magically transform their life for them, well, that person will be waiting for a very long time indeed.

What I can do is try and live by example and use emotion and intellect to communicate a message that serves as a catalyst for someone to make a positive change in their life. Believe me, that’s the ultimate. But when it all comes down to it, nothing I do or say can make them do anything.

All that being said, one thing that seems to be very effective in getting people to take action is bad news from their doctor.

As enticing as a dream may be, the good ones always involve some sort of uncomfortability and a certain level of risk. Two things most human beings aren’t too fond of. Change and risk are scary things, and most people choose to stay in their current situation (which although admittedly not ideal, is at least a known quantity) than set off into the unknown. Bad news from a doctor, or a near death experience, or a sudden death of a loved one does a pretty good job of helping people realize that the things they worry about are not really worth worrying about after all.

I also think people get so caught up in the big picture that they forget that a journey of a thousand miles begins with one step. It’s a cliché, but it’s true. It’s understandably overwhelming to consider the concept of quitting your job, abandoning a career, taking a pay cut, giving up benefits, and moving to a third-world country (or whatever the dream requires.) But in most cases, dreams are accomplished in baby steps. Books are filled with examples of people who began chasing their dream while they were still in school, still had a family to support, still had kids at home, or were still working at a job they didn’t care much for but at least paid the bills.

Indiana Jones is a hero because he takes action when most of the people around him are too afraid (or cynical.) That’s not to say he isn’t afraid (snakes, anyone?), just that he moves forward in spite of the fear. He doesn’t always plan everything out to the last detail (that can become just another form of inaction) because he knows that unexpected things are going to come up anyway. We, too, can expect the unexpected on our journey. Just like Indiana, our quest for the holy grail — our “dream,” if you will — is wrought with peril, lonely paths, and bad guys. Undoubtedly, it’s an adventure of a lifetime and the journey is totally worth it.

But nobody can do it for us.

If you’re feeling stuck, maybe you just need a little bit more courage to take that first action step. A baby step. You’re closer than you think.

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One of the topics we hit on in our speaking programs is fear. Fear is a major obstacle to living an Adultitis-free life. Grown-ups sure have an easy time maxing out their daily quota of worry and fear. Our imaginations instantly create the worst case scenario, rarely leaving time for what’s likely to happen, or even what the best case may be.

Here’s the truth… fear is paralyzing - mentally, spiritually, and physically. It fills our head, heart and body with unnecessary tension preventing chemicals and hormones from working properly… leading to a bunch of health issues that are not good. (technically speaking, of course) I know I’ve said this before, but it’s good to remember that F.E.A.R. is False Evidence Appearing Real. Most of the things we worry about never even happen. Truly.

I’ve been reading the classic book by Dale Carnegie, “How to Stop Worrying and Start Living.” This books is jam-packed with ideas and insights that shake you to the core. What a waste this gift of life truly is, if/when you live it in fear.

There’s a poem that is in the book that I want to share. Maybe you’ve read it before, but it certainly deserves another read.

Just for Today

- By Sibyl F. Partridge

Just for today I will be happy. This assumes that what Abraham Lincoln said is true, that “most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.” Happiness is from within; it is not a matter of externals.

Just for today I will try to adjust myself to what is, and not try to adjust everything to my own desires. I will take my family, my business, and my luck as they come and fit myself to them.

Just for today I will take care of my body. I will exercise it, care for it, nourish it, not abuse it nor neglect it, so that it will be a perfect machine for my bidding.

Just for today I will try to strengthen my mind. I will learn something useful. I will not be a mental loafer. I will read something that requires effort, thought and concentration.

Just for today I will exercise my soul in three ways; I will do somebody a good turn and not get found out. I will do at least two things I don’t want to do, as William James suggests, just for exercise.

Just for today I will be agreeable. I will look as well as I can, dress as becomingly as possible, talk low, act courteously, be liberal with praise, criticize not at all, nor find fault with anything and not try to regulate nor improve anyone.

Just for today I will try to live through this day only, not to tackle my whole life problem at once. I can do things for twelve hours that would appall me if I had to keep them up for a lifetime.

Just for today I will have a program. I will write down what I expect to do every hour. I may not follow it exactly, but I will have it. It will eliminate two pests, hurrying and indecision.

Just for today I will have a quiet half-hour all by myself and relax. In this half-hour sometimes I will think of God, so as to get a little more perspective into my life.

Just for today I will be unafraid, especially I will not be afraid to be happy, to enjoy what is beautiful, to love, and to believe that those I love, love me.

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I love my job. As I write this, I am several thousand feet in the air, sitting in first class on a jet, coming home from some speaking programs in New York. I’m in first class because Kim and I did so much traveling last year, we got bumped up to the next level of our airline’s rewards program, so every once in a while, our tickets get upgraded and we get to fly “in style.”

Here’s the part I love. Not to be stereotypical, but most of the people sitting around me are the, um, “stuffy” types. The business suits checking their Blackberrys and poring over last quarter’s numbers. It’s hard to say, but they don’t seem particularly happy. Meanwhile, I pull out my Powerbook to do a little work of my own. In the middle of updating the online archive of Kim & Jason comic strips, I can’t help but smile. I wonder what other people would be thinking if they took a glance at my computer screen, populated by a continuous rotation of silly drawings of cartoon characters.

This is my work. Sometimes I have to pinch myself at the ridiculousness of it all.

It’s nice to have these moments of Zen, because it helps keep me sane when the frustrating aspects of my job test my patience. Being on the road is tiring. Air travel can eat you alive if you let it. (I’ve yet to figure out how standing, sitting, and waiting can be so tiring.) Impossibly early mornings, delayed flights, and stupid people can make me wonder what the heck I’m doing with my life.

But the good moments help me remember why I wouldn’t trade any of it for the world.

Mine is a career that even I couldn’t imagine back when I was in high school and college. Somehow, I have a job that brings together every single one of my talents into one unified whole, even though individually, they don’t seem particularly related. But here’s the kicker: none of it would be real if not for the willingness to dream big and take a leap.

During last night’s program, we were talking about dreaming big. I discussed the sad reality that often includes countless well-intentioned parents and teachers discouraging the dreams of a young person, simply because they perceive the dream to be “too difficult,” “impossible,” or “unrealistic.” What a shame. I shared a quote by John Andrew Holmes, who said, “Never tell a young person that something cannot be done. God may have been waiting centuries for somebody ignorant enough of the impossible to do that thing.”

After the presentation, a woman came up to me, wanting to share a story. She told me about her son, who had been diagnosed with Attention Deficit Disorder. School was a challenge. He was a bright boy, but every single report card and parent-teacher conference included the same refrain: “Tim is falling behind. He is simply unable to focus.”

The mother boasted proudly, “Want to guess what he’s doing now? He’s a successful photographer in New York City.”

Pretty good for someone who had trouble focusing.

When I was washing cars and running errands for a car dealership as a teenager, it was sometimes hard to imagine that I’d ever be flying first class on an airplane, manipulating cartoons on a cool laptop. But those long, sweaty days — when the clock seemed to only tick backwards — strengthened my resolve to make a living doing what I loved. I didn’t know exactly what that would look like, but I used my ample supply of time to dream up the possibilities.

Now mind you, my parents were a bit freaked out when I proclaimed that I wanted to be an artist. They had only heard of the “starving” kind. But they reached out to my high school art teacher and invited her over for dinner. They asked lots of questions.

“Is he any good?”

“What are his options?”

“What schools would you recommend?”

My art teacher eased their fears (thanks Mrs. Garrett!) and helped guide us on a wise path suited to my personality and ambitions. It has been a bumpy road, but my parents have always supported and believed in me. Sometimes, amidst the long sleepless nights and tearful laments of doubt and sacrifice, their steadfast belief in me has been my single reason for not throwing in the towel.

Sometimes dreams seem improbable, even impossible. The best ones always are. Our role as adults is to encourage our young dreamers. Rather than poking holes in their aspirations, we should offer our experience to point them in the direction that will help them find the tools they need to make their dreams come true.

In the meantime, we need to allow some of that youthful ambition to rub off on us. Big dreams are not just for the young, but they are exclusive to the young at heart.

Be bold.

Dream big.

You never know how high into the clouds they will take you.

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Few people in history have exhibited the intense and authentic childlike qualities of Martin Luther King, Jr. Knowing the weight of his message and adversity he met on his journey of justice, he should’ve had a major case of  Adultitis. I do not believe that he did, however. Here’s why…

• He dreamed BIG. REALLY big!
• He was curious (and brave) enough ask some of the hardest questions ever asked. Why? Why not? What if?
• He was honest, speaking the truth that was in his heart, even when others weren’t open to what he had to say.
• Few men have walked this earth with more passion than Martin Luther King, Jr.
• Last, but not least, his childlike faith and courage lead him to a position of leadership that ultimately cost him his life.

Here’s a short clip of his last speech, a day before his assassination. Most notable to me is his childlike faith. He’s not in denial about the difficult times ahead, yet he is not worried. He has no fear, for he knows what’s truly important.

Is there anything more childlike than that?

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I admit it. I’m a sucker for those “kids say the darndest things” lists. And I’m not too shameful to admit that I can’t wait to have kids just so I can hear some original stuff firsthand.

My friend Marilyn sent me a list entitled, “Angels Explained By Children.” With the Hollywood writers’ strike going on, maybe producers should just hire kids; the stuff they come up with is often funnier than the pros.

The cool thing is that most of the times kids say something funny, they’re not trying to be.

It’s not easy to become an angel! First, you die. Then you go to Heaven, and then there’s still the flight training to go through. And then you got to agree to wear those angel clothes.
–Matthew, 9

Every time hear or read something funny said by a child, I am reminded by how differently they see the world. And I wish and I strive to think that way too. Why? Well for one, children are clearly the best unintentional comedians in the world.

Angels talk all the way while they’re flying you up to heaven. The main subject is where you went wrong before you got dead.
–Daniel, 9

My guardian angel helps me with math, but he’s not much good for science.
–Henry, 8

They are the best brainstormers because they’re not afraid to look silly while proposing a hypothesis.

When an angel gets mad, he takes a deep breath and counts to ten. And when he lets out his breath, somewhere there’s a tornado.
–Reagan, 10

Angels have a lot to do and they keep very busy. If you lose a tooth, an angel comes in through your window and leaves money under your pillow. Then when it gets cold, angels go south for the winter.
–Sara, 6

And they have an innocence and other-worldly wisdom about them that helps them shed slivers of truth on the most complicated mysteries of the human experience.

Some of the angels are in charge of helping heal sick animals and pets. And if they don’t make the animals get better, they help the child get over it.
–Vicki, 8

My angel is my grandma who died last year. She got a big head start on helping me while she was still down here on earth.
–Lynn, 9

Part of what makes the stuff that comes out of the mouths of babes funny is their limited access to facts. Sometimes I think we could benefit from the same “disadvantage.” How great would it be if, from time to time, we could unlearn what we already know? It’s impossible to calculate how many more breakthroughs we’d see. Because they don’t have all the “facts” suggesting that something can’t be done, kids are more likely to come up with new solutions to old “unsolvable” problems. Just think: how would politics look (or our schools, our health care system, etc.) if people who proposed solutions weren’t drowned out by hordes of status quo fact police saying something can’t be done?

If you want to accomplish anything of significance, you’re going to need to look at things in a new way — with the preposterous curiosity of a child. And you’ll need to prepare yourself for the inevitable onslaught of naysayers.

After all, despite the skepticism of billions of people that came before them, Orville and Wilbur Wright had the audacity to believe that man could fly. What a silly proposition that was.

All angels are girls because they gotta wear dresses and boys didn’t go for it.
–Antonio, 9

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Man, we never give kids enough credit. They are little storehouses of wisdom that often get overlooked by grown-ups who know it all.

This recording of a short phone call made by a 12-year-old boy from Nebraska to Houston
radio station KSBJ FM 89.3 is as remarkable as it is heartwarming. It might just make your day.

(Hat tip to Kim & Jason Insider Lori Martori for passing it along)

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In regards to my previous post where I listed to truths and a lie about our recent trip to California, I’d like to shed some light for those of you wondering which one was the fabrication.

1) We DID have our program briefly interrupted by an earthquake, the first one I’ve ever experienced. Although we were about an hour away from the epicenter, we all felt the effects of the earthquake that registered 5.6 on the Richter scale, the largest one in California since 1989. It was weird, but kind of cool. I secretly wished I was in one of the stores in San Jose where items were falling off the shelves, but that was only after I heard there was no major damage or injuries reported.

2) We DID get to see the only great white shark in captivity in the world at the Monterey Bay Aquarium. It was nowhere near the size of Jaws — he was just a young whippersnapper — but it was still pretty cool. I love being (safely) near animals that project an enormous sense of power, like silverback gorillas, African lions, and sharks. I guess it gives me a glimpse of how little I am and how powerful God is, what with his ability to create such mighty, awesome animals. On the other hand, I love his intimate attention to detail and the personal touch seen in a delicate jellyfish smaller than my thumbnail. Yep, God is quite the craftsman.

3) I DID NOT spend almost $130 on candy. I did, however, spend almost $30, and I have already eaten $20 worth of it.

It was Halloween, and Kim and I were longing for the days of Trick-Or-Treating. As we strolled the shops on Cannery Row in Monterey, we stumbled upon a candy shop. It had almost every candy imaginable. On the spur of the moment, we gave ourselves permission to each grab a bucket and fill it with our favorite candy. Talk about feeling like a five-year-old again! For a while we actually experienced “candy block,” unable to put anything into our buckets. It took a while to believe that our grown-up selves had actually given our childlike selves the green light to splurge on the sugary sweets.

It was glorious. What made it so fun was remembering that one of the frustrating parts of Trick-or-Treating was getting candy that you really didn’t like. You’d come home after a long night of pounding sidewalks and ringing doorbells, dump out your loot, and survey the intake. Inevitably, there was always a third of the candy that caused some level of disappointment, and was either offered up as trade bait or relegated to the bottom of the barrel and finally thrown out when Easter came around.

But this was different. Of all the candy up for grabs, I had the option to fill my bucket only with favorites. The freedom was downright exhilarating! They had the infamous orange circus peanuts there, but I left them for some other sad sack. My bucket got filled with Skittles, Chewy Sprees, Sour Patch Kids, Boston Baked Beans, Reeses Peanut Butter Cups, a personalized selection of Jelly Belly jelly beans — and more!

Did I mention how glorious it was?

Of course I ate more candy than I should have — so much goodness made it hard to choose — but it was such a delightful experience that made for a fun Halloween (and the start of a tradition I think needs to continue). It was an interesting case study of how removed we can get from our childlike spirit when our responsible adult selves get so used to running the show. It takes a while to remove the rust. It reminds me of a line Kim sometimes uses in our speaking program when she describes her answer to the perplexed Olive Garden waitress wondering why on Earth she would order dessert first:

“Because I can,” Kim replies.

As children, we long for the opportunity to finally have the chance to call our own shots and make our own rules as adults. It’s sad how little we wield that power when we grow up. We worry too much about what other people think, fearing to look a little silly.

I have come to realize that everybody is aching for a little silliness; they’re just waiting for someone to give them permission.

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One of the most challenging things to do in baseball is hit a curve ball. Especially the nasty ones. When I played ball in high school, we used to practice with whiffle balls to try and get used to the spin and trajectory of the pitch. But nothing compared to the real thing.

In the heat of the battle, the eyes of the spectators are on you. If a strong, tall lefty unleashes a big bender, your mind suddenly goes into decision-by-committee mode. Your upper body lunges forward, eager to pounce on the offering that is slower than a fastball. Your knees buckle, as if to say, “Mayday! Mayday! It’s coming right for us!” Meanwhile, your feet turn into cement blocks, paralyzed by indecision.

Best case scenario, you take a pretty good cut at the ball, maybe even put it into play. Worst case scenario, you look like a drunk gardener with spaghetti arms trying to whack a wasp with a rake.

When you travel the country speaking to audiences about using strategies from childhood to bring about less stress, you put yourself in a challenging position. Sure, you have lots of people looking at you, admiring your wit and insights. But on the other hand, you have lots of people looking at you. You’d better be walking the talk.

I heard Dr. Sue Morter say that you never have to worry about walking the talk if you just talk the walk. I like that.

Crafting speeches, writing books, and espousing theories is like using whiffle balls to practice hitting a curve ball. It’s a good start, but it’s what happens during the game that counts.

And no matter what field you’re in, the game of life throws you a lot of curve balls.

So it really comes at no surprise that as Kim and I find ourselves smack dab in the middle of “crazy time” (a 27-day, 11 speaking gig, 5-state stretch in which we’re home for less than 4 days, with a wedding thrown in to boot), a few curve balls would come our way. Stress is coming in spades, and how we handle it is the real test.

I should’ve known we’d be in trouble when Kim mentioned on Sunday night that she needed everything to go perfectly this week for everything to get done. We woke up the next morning to discover that our car had been the victim of a hit-and-run, to the tune of $2,500 in damage.

Hello, curve ball.

Well, we were not exactly thrilled about this turn of events, but then again, you can’t hope to have any credibility talking about handling stress if you melt down when the going gets tough. So we vented, took a deep breath, and moved forward. We thanked God no one was hurt. We laughed about the irony in timing between Kim’s comment and the incident. We’ve managed to figure out what to do about transportation in a week that involves two road trips, while still attempting to purge as much as our to-do lists as possible. But we’re not driving ourselves to the bone. We had a nice dinner at Chili’s Monday night to support a good cause and we took time out to watch the season premieres of Heroes and CSI: Miami, two of our favorite shows. On Wednesday, we had the opportunity to visit my grandma in the nursing home and have a nice dinner with my parents.

We’re trying to keep laughing, not take ourselves too seriously, exhibit a childlike faith that everything will work out in the end, and keep in mind that in less than a month, we’ll probably forget this week ever happened. And my childlike curiosity is eager to find out what good will come out of this annoying situation. Interestingly enough, Kim had a nice conversation with the person from Enterprise Rent-A-Car who picked her up. They got talking about their jobs. Long story short, the woman happened to be the manager, was enamored to hear about Adultitis and how we help companies individuals deal with stress, and there may be an opportunity to do some work for Enterprise in the future.

If you ask me, an opportunity like that certainly is worth a $250 deductible and a temporary inconvenience. You can’t control what happens to you, but you can always control how you react. Being negative and focusing on the problem can sometimes cause you to miss an opportunity. Sometimes you just need to slow down and step back to see the bigger picture.

Life will throw you curve balls, and no matter who you are, people are watching, be it your kids, employees, or biggest fans. I guess the lesson is that if you keep a childlike spirit about you, you’ll have a better chance of not looking like a drunk gardener with spaghetti arms.

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If you had lived in the 1800’s, would you have been an explorer? Jason and I watched a very cool IMAX movie about the Grand Canyon during our visit there last week. (Here are some pictures from our trip, by the way.)

The movie gave a history of some of the canyon’s explorers, including a certain Civil War veteran, John Wesley Powell. In 1869 he heroically lead a famous boat expedition through the gorge. He and his crew of nine men tackled the Colorado River in four small wooden boats.

Yikes, Powell! What were you thinking?

Powell, a one-armed Army Major, and his men were the first to ever make this trip successfully. Talk about having the curiosity and adventurous spirit of a child!

The part that really stuck out to me was towards the end of their expedition, although they didn’t know it was almost the end. They had gotten through some crazy rough rapids, leaving the men frazzled and frightened. Discussions were happening about the sanity of continuing the journey, knowing their lives were in real danger. A few of the men had made up their minds that it would be nuts for them to keep going. They were done with the whole “almost dying” thing again and again. Powell and a handful of his men gallantly decided to keep going. They had come so far. It was a sad departure, as both groups of men feared for the other group’s safety.

The end of the story is very interesting. The next treacherous section of the river that Powell conquered was the last patch of danger they would face. Meanwhile the men who walked away, fearful of the waves before them, were never seen or heard from again.

Here Powell and his sidekicks conquer the gorge, eventually being the ones to name it the Grand Canyon, and the other men were most likely killed by animals or nomads. No one knows for sure. Doesn’t that just stink for the men who walked away? Initially, they seemed like they were the smart ones, walking away from the certain danger. Yet, they based their decision to stop on fear. Ironically it was more dangerous for them to abandon ship.

Have you ever made a decision (of action or inaction) based on fear?

I’ve seen any examples of this, and I’m sure you have too. I know someone who moved into a small and more high-maintenance house because she thought she was going to be laid off from her job. Thirty years later, and no lay off yet. She still drives by that house with regrets of what could’ve been.

I know of a number of elderly people who grew up during The Great Depression who lived their lives in fear surrounding their finances. Many hoarded money all over their houses, fearful of trusting banks, and sadly died with thousands of dollars unspent due to fear.

I know a man who was fearful of flying. This fear prevented him from visiting his children and grandchildren because it took so long to drive across the country, which became increasingly difficult with his age and health. He missed out on many memories and occasions, all based on fear.

How is fear impacting you? Do you need to stick it out for a while longer? Do you need to walk away from something?

There may only be one rough patch of water left before you get there. Conquer your fear.

Technorati Tags: John Wesley Powell. The Great Depression, Grand Canyon, Colorado River, fear

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I’m not sure it’s possible to explain the Grand Canyon experience in words. Or pictures. Or anything else, for that matter. Talk about an escape from adulthood and all its worries and stresses!

The ride north from Phoenix was a treat in and of itself. We took the “scenic” route through Prescott, Jerome, and Sedona. In the desert, the cacti looked like prickly green fingers pointing to the bright blue sky. As our elevation increased, the rock formations reminded me of old men with wrinkled faces and sunburned cheeks, looking over the pine trees standing at full attention like a million green soldiers. And Sedona’s horizon was set ablaze by its famous fiery red rocks.

But all of that was just an appetizer for the spectacle that was to come. I have never had such little use for a camera in my life. Oh sure, I took a zillion photos, but every glance at the viewfinder after each shot left me terribly disappointed.

It was fascinating to see everyone else furiously trying to record the experience, too. It made me smile at our humanness. So tremendously overwhelmed at the site before us, we struggled to let our cameras capture what words could not. But it was all in vain; capturing the beauty, the breadth, the brilliance of the Grand Canyon with a camera is like trying to recite the alphabet with only two letters. If a picture is worth a thousand words, then it’s about nine hundred, ninety-nine thousand short.

We were lucky to have many highlights in our short stay. Among them being the chance to see the sunset and the sunrise over a natural wonder that may be known for its sculpted rock formations, but trust me, the light is the real superstar. And as the sun was setting, a light rain fell in the canyon, revealing one of the most brilliant rainbows I have ever seen.

We had a chance to watch an IMAX movie about the Grand Canyon — the most watched IMAX movie of all time — and during it, the narrator pondered the canyon’s mysterious origins. “Did it come from the hand God, or was it a work of nature?” he asked, curiously. Those sorts of questions always make me laugh. As if it’s an either/or proposition. Who do they think created nature?

A night earlier, after I had finished giving the keynote presentation at the Catholic Cemetery Convention (one of my most interesting gigs, to be sure) Kim and I took the opportunity to do some stargazing. The Marriott offered the complimentary experience, hosted by a real-life astrologist with a pretty nice telescope. We got to see the moon up close and personal, and Jupiter and a few of its moons, too.

Between the the stars and the Canyon, I don’t believe I have ever felt so small, or so sure of the existence of God. Sometimes I wonder why He bothers at all with the human race, but then again His ways are not my ways; His overwhelming creation testifies to that.

Experiences like standing on the top of the mountain, sitting on the edge of the Grand Canyon, or gazing into the starry depths of the universe really bring me back to childhood. It was that time when everything was new, and big, and awesome. Curiosity was limitless; you could never know enough. As we get older, we often take on this cocky, unimpressionable, I’ve-seen-everything attitude.

Nature — God’s nature — has the ability to knock us off our pedestal to remind us that we are not as big as we think we are, but also to assure us that there is an order to everything. And that even in the desert, there is life, and there is hope.

Technorati Tags: Arizona, Grand Canyon, faith, nature, God, creation

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This is the time of year when all of the Fantasy Football widows start to roll their eyes. Already? Football talk already? (Yes, Jason’s draft is next week.)

As much as I tease Jason about his love for football, there are lessons to be learned by the sport that creates the perfect background noise for the best Sunday afternoon naps in the world.

You know those tackling drills the players do in practice?

This is my new strategy for fear. It’s going down! I’m so sick of it. It’s such a time and energy stealer. As I mentioned last week, fear (F.E.A.R.) is False Evidence Appearing Real.

Fear is in direct opposition to faith. The message of “Do not fear, be not afraid, fear not,” etc. appears in the Bible 366 times. One for each day of the year, and even one for leap year. Fear distracts up and preoccupies our minds with the worst-case scenerio, instead of hoping for the best. It keeps our glasses half empty. It keeps us living small.

I’m ready for a full glass, aren’t you? I’m ready to live BIG.

But how?

We’ve heard it a hundred times, but this strategy really works. The next time you are experiencing fear (or even frustration), ask yourself these three questions.

1. What’s the worst case scenario?

2. What’s the best case scenario?

3. What’s most likely to happen?

This is the first step towards tackling your fear… identifying it and revealing its weaknesses and lies. After you spell out the reality of your situation, often fear is left powerless. This is a great strategy, but let’s face it, it’s reactive.

To have a successful tackle you must be proactive, not reactive. Tackle or you will be tackled.

How do you be proactive in tackling your fear?

Faith.

You have to be proactive with faith.

Make time for your faith. (Notice I said “make” not “take.” In reality, there is no time to “take.” Your days are full. You have to actually say no to something else in order to make this time happen.) Pray. Meditate. Read and study scripture. Make the time.

Just like you can’t expect to loose weight without a little sweat…everything good takes a little work. This is also true with our faith.

So, get that helmet on. Football season is just around the corner.

Are you ready to do some tackling?

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