Be the Exception

Recently, 64 year old Diana Nyad, decided that she was not too old to swim from Cuba to Miami…110 miles in 53 hours….in shark infested waters…without a shark cage! She decided she could…so she did. This was her third attempt…sometimes truly great things take more than one attempt. She simply decided it could and would be done…by her.

 Truly, with one thought, Diana Nyad moved from accepting average to…being the exception.

 The Bible says that “As a man thinks in his heart…so is he”. Whatever you believe in your heart is true… Whatever you declare to be true.. is true…for you.

There is a part of this city, like in most cities, where things have become old. Everything looks used…lots of worn out and rundown buildings. Some look like they should be demolished and many just need a serious face lift…at least a fresh coat of paint. There are numerous restaurants and most don’t look like places where I would want to eat.

One day a friend invited me to lunch at one of “those” places. It was very old fashion but when we pulled in I realized how fresh and clean everything was. I had driven by many times but never really looked at it. We went inside and I was instantly impressed. They had gentleman wearing dress shirts and ties waiting to seat us….and it was also packed out. I later learned that it is always packed out. They were unique with an extraordinary menu and completed the experience with great service. I’ve been back several times

You have probably had a similar experience. You know about the great restaurant somewhere that does not look like it’s going to be great. The thing about this one that intrigues me is that there is nothing like it around. They are in an area where most do not appear to even be trying. Almost nothing on the road is what you would describe as “nice”. But the people that own this restaurant did not say “We can’t attract good clientele because of our location.” They did not lower their standards to meet those of the businesses around them. They decided to continue to serve high quality food, with great service, and to keep their place looking great. They continue their forward thinking as they are presently repaving the parking lot and expecting it to be filled. They have decided to…be the exception.

 It’s obvious that many have given up on this stretch of road…their businesses do not look inviting and there are few vehicles in their parking lot.  Here is the issue...They look as good as those around them. They have accepted mediocrity as their standard. Consequently, they probably do as good as those around them. I would venture to say that they are doing exactly as well as they believe they can.

Actually, we all do that. We live exactly what we expect. Unfortunately, the low expectations of these failing businesses have become the limits of what they can achieve and the same can be true of us. Our expectations have come to define us and sometimes, to our own demise we just don’t expect much. Often, being an exception is far from our thoughts.

The truth is that we live only one thought away from being more.

There are opportunities everyday to be the exception. Every time we put others before ourselves we are being the exception. The person that refuses to talk badly about another person…even when the other person has been very wrong…the exception. Those who have taken responsibility for their own lives and have made the choice to blame no one….the exceptions.

Everyday choices matter…showing up for work early, being dependable, exercising, or eating healthy. Choosing positive responses to life’s inevitable irritations, praying for your enemies, refusing to gossip, doing good to those that despitefully use you, refusing to hold on to resentments…refusing to judge others…forgiving completely….all…exceptions.

This old diner reminded me that anywhere and at any time I can choose to be the exception. It does not matter what is going on around me…those around me are not my standard…excellence is my standard and I can choose, at any time, to strive for it…to accept nothing less of myself.

 

Diana Nyad reminds me that though my decision is made...it might take several attempts...and she reminds me not to fear the sharks...fear is paralyzing and I can't do what I need to do if I operate in fear....she set an example of keeping people involved in my mission...people that believe in me...people who will watch my back...who will warn me if the sharks get too close...she exemplifies staying focused on your goal...never giving up...refusing the polarizing beliefs that are filled with mediocre expectations...instead she chose to...be the exception.

You get to choose...choose to believe in the endless possibilities available to you...you are exactly one thought away from...being more.

Whatever you believe will be true…as the saying goes...If you say you can…you can…if you say you can’t…you will not. Say you can…say you will…choose to…be the exception.

Be-Do Live

 Millions of us meet every Friday in the Nation’s airports.  What takes place from the moment you enter is a picture of what is occurring daily in our lives…how easily we can miss really living.

Edgy Impatience
The airports are packed with people...rushing to get in…rushing from point to point….rushing to get out…young and old...pulling more baggage than they need....walking as fast as they can…worried…tensed…stressed. The air is thick with discontent…edgy impatience… as they wait in lines…lots of lines…lines at security ,restaurants, bathrooms, luggage, departure gates…everyone with an attitude just pouring from them of “I shouldn't have to be in this line…I am in a hurry…I have more important things to do.” It is as though they show up every week and go through the same surprise and disappointment that other people are also traveling. “Oh noooo! There is a line!” And they relive the same frustration over and over.  

 Life On Hold
I see people traveling together that are griping at each other...tense angry faces…biting words. What started out as vacation became…travel…a task to get done. Fun, experiencing life together, is on hold until we get where we are going.

A Rush of Discontent
As I walk through the airport I hear conversation after conversation…people telling of how they have been wronged or how messed up their company policies are…how others are getting away with something…how somebody intentionally hurt them.  Add to that, there seems to always be that person, talking really loud, telling how they heroically came back with a zinger one line that set everyone straight.

As I continue I hear many that seem to be experts. They know what every politician should be doing…how to handle every issue facing our country... and many are experts on every sports team in America... they know what every player, coach, or owner should be doing in order to be successful...Most of the conversation is negative… It's all a rush of discontentment.

Life Is Too Short
This was not just last Friday…it’s every Friday…life is too short for this .I can’t help wishing everyone would just relax and stroll through the airport at a pace that makes sense. However, if you do slow down you will make a lot of people even more tense. Sometimes they will push past you with an air of importance and urgency…they really need to get somewhere. Then you arrive at your gate 45 minutes early only to find them standing there…staring at the gate….anxiously and miserably awaiting boarding time.  

Habits That Serve No Real Purpose
Are 90% of the people rushing through our nation’s airports or impatiently waiting in our city traffic truly late to get somewhere? Is it just a habit? Is it just a mentality that we automatically slip into? Are these habits and mentalities showing up in a lot of places in our lives? Are we rushing out of habit when we are not even late? Are we experiencing anxiety and discontentment because everyone else is?

Have we developed habits that serve no real purpose…like rushing through airports when we are not late… or wasting time in meaningless conversations that have no real value?

A Habit of Patience and Peace, 
What if? What if we just slowed down…became courteous…said nice things about the people in our world, who by the way, are just trying to survive the day…just like us. What if I developed a habit of patience, a habit of peacefulness in the midst of the rush?

The Rare Moment

 The Bible says “think on these things...whatever is good... whatever is praiseworthy...” 
That sounds great but where are the people that know that and practice this kind of mental discipline? They are the ones that provide for us the rare moment…the rare experience. They are smiling while waiting in line, they are courteous and let us go before them, their words are encouraging, even gentle.

We Determine Our Days
Life is difficult... We decide its realities...we determine our days. Don't waste one….not a moment….not at an airport, not in traffic and not at dinner with your family.

Live
Enjoy life...hug more...call more... share more pics...enjoy being together...love what you do or find something you love...make today count...tomorrow is not guaranteed....live, be happy, enjoy things, love people...laugh with somebody...cry with somebody...make someone's day...pray…be someone's answer to prayer...don't give up...don't ever give up. 

God loves you...He is the God of the improbable inviting you to experience the impossible.

 Be...Do...Live

Empty Temples

The downtown churches in some of our cities have the most amazing architecture you will ever see. As you stroll around downtown you will come upon church after church that will astound you. One day when I was running through one of these cities I decided to do my five miles by running from church to church. Many had really high steeples so all I had to do was watch the skyline for the tall structures. As I ran up to the buildings I would read the plaques on the sides or fronts of the buildings that gave me a little of the history…things like...what year it was built and who the architect was. 

I could just see a typical Sunday morning, many years ago, where literally thousands of people streamed into downtown to attend worship in these beautiful temples. The music and worshipful voices must have hung thick in the air. I could imagine how the people would pour out of the churches after services and flow out into the surrounding communities carrying the Light of the world.

These magnificent buildings had been built to glorify God…to be places where a city would join in worship…to be a light to the world around them…places of hope, encouragement, and healing.

But now many of these incredible structures stand empty on Sundays…many have only a handful of people that attend…some of the churches have been saved only for their historical value and stand empty...some shine no light at all…for others that light has been severely dimmed…some are no longer even churches...so many dark, empty, and powerless temples. The once thriving Sunday worship has become a mere whisper in the city. 

I looked around me and in just a few blocks in almost any direction and I could see poverty…literally miles and miles of hurting people. ...some desperate…many angry…many hopeless. The sounds I could hear were sirens and the buzz of a nearby freeway. The poverty level astounding...the crime rate appalling...I thought how incredibly sad that these magnificent temples were not filled with people who would pour out of them every week and make a difference in this city…filling it with the light of God’s love....bringing healing to this hurting community.

As I stood staring at one of the empty temples a scripture settled over me “They had a form of Godliness but lacked the power”.  I was sadden that these unbelievable buildings have a form of godliness but lack the power to change this city. And then...I had this overwhelming sense of God saying to me  "I do not live in temples made of stone....I live in you...you are my temple and you were built by a pretty good architect. Don’t allow yourself to become like these dark empty temples….don’t allow My temple to be ineffective…don’t let My light go dim in your life…don’t look godly but lack My power. The same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead…dwells in you. Go...make a difference."

New Things

I used to think 60 was a time for old men...
Now I'm finding its a place where new things can begin...
I can choose old... and then there is just...older
I can choose new...and live even bolder
I choose new...

Not by Performance

Jesus saves

Jesus saves me

Jesus has saved me

Jesus is saving me

Jesus will always be saving me

I am saved…

My Salvation is not based on my performance.  Its based on God's and He doesn't have any bad days!

God Responds to Men Like Me

"God is famous for responding to men like me...a man who seeks Him...He is decking me out in delight...He has completely surrounded me with His shield of favor..."Ps 5:12 (The Message).
 His pursuit of me has given me a passion to live powerfully...to be steady...to be faithful...to seize this gift...a life worth living.
This life...I fervently embraced.