Commitment or Contribution?

I’m back in Frisco from my Austin “green acres” experiences while my children were out of town. Did I mention my grandson has 32 animals, of which 16 are chickens: 2 roosters, 8 mother hens and 6 “teenage” chickens who will mature to the “hen” status in a few months. Scanning through my cell phone photos, I ran across these photos of what it looks like in the coop when I would bring in the “mother lode” of eggs each day. Each time I gathered them up; I shouted out to the hens and said “Thanks, Girls, for the contribution!” I brought home a couple of cartons of those best-ever (something about fresh eggs); took one carton to my daughter and another to my cousin. Those hens “contributed” and I paid it forward by contributing their contribution!

We've all heard the analogy about the chicken and the pig. The chicken is involved and contributes eggs to the breakfast table and then goes about her day, but the pig is committed. He's tossed in the frying pan, and that’s “Good-bye, Mr. Pig!” He went out in a blaze of glory….but was it really "glory"?

As much as I enjoy its sentiment, one thing has always bothered me about that story. The one telling the story is always conjuring up the idea that only when we commit, not just contribute, will we succeed in our efforts. But that level of commitment leads to a side of bacon. The pig didn’t even volunteer for his sacrifice of commitment. His life was taken, involuntarily. He’ll never again get to enjoy a roll in the mud. All the while, those chickens love pecking, strutting and flying around and are enjoying life.

There’s a lesson to be learned by those chickens. While the pig was enjoyed as a great meal compliment, those chickens continued to survive adversity and they just kept right on giving and living....and, oh, BTW -- their brothers and sisters knew commitment -- probably even more than the pigs -- just look at all those KFC's, Chick-Fil-A's, Cane's, Popeye's and Chicken Express' out there!

There's something to be said for merging commitment and contribution. Most certainly our Lord exemplified both. He lived a life of commitment to His calling to change the world with His message of love, hope, and faith. And we, too, have the opportunity to fulfill our commitment to Him, Who freely, sacrificially, and fully gave His life for us. Our Lord paid it forward so that we forever can live and serve and make a difference in this world. He contributed Himself to us, so count me in as a contributor, too! I want to follow His lead to share, give, provide sustenance around me -- long term.

Here's how we can merge the two: contributing peace, joy and God's love everywhere we go, and, then in the end.....let's bank on going out in a blaze of glory because we've been committed, wholly and completely, to our Lord as we have served Him and others with all our hearts. In that case, WHAT A WAY TO GO OUT.....blazing the trail for others to follow!!

There’s No Place Like Home, But There’s Also Nothing Like Epic Adventures

This post was inspired as I was having a phone conversation with a friend yesterday by the chicken pen at my children’s home in Austin. Our conversation was interrupted when I saw two little renegade chickens out of the pen again. Those who follow me will remember the last time I was here in Austin. I was on a daily mission to shore up holes around the pen where the younger chickens were escaping. When I returned home to Frisco, I heard that these two chickens weren’t escaping through holes, but flying out and back in the pen.

Here I am on "animal patrol" again. It’s a work-out, but I find being here is one of the most peaceful and beautiful places on earth. It’s back to nature and profound appreciation for God’s creation. AND, I get “aha” moments to share with you.

These two little black chickens have learned there’s fun, living-life-large adventures, as well as yummy bugs and treats outside of the pen, so they fly outside the safety and comfort of home. I don't worry about them roaming around anymore because they know where home sweet home is. When they need water or hanging out with their “family” – they’ll fly right back in. On the other hand, take a look at the photo on the right of the renegades. Those are older, mature hens and roosters who are watching what the renegades are doing, but they aren’t tempted to follow them. They are quite comfortable in their familiar surroundings of home.

To the right of the chicken photos is a quote by Helen Keller from her book published in 1940: "Let Us Have Faith” and a chapter titled “Faith Fears Not” contained the passage: "Life is either a daring adventure or nothing." Don't you love that a blind woman speaks about faith AND adventure?

Have you ever done something that took you out of your comfort zone like becoming a pilot? Have you joined a new group that required you to meet total strangers? Have you spoken in front of a room to a group of people you don’t know? Have you gone on a 21-day trip with total strangers to Europe? Or eaten at a restaurant and were the only one in your booth? Have you taken on a crazy assignment like the care of a motley crew of animals? All of those questions, I've said “yes” to. Those all speak to the season I am in. I could stay at home in the comfort and safety of home or I could take risks and enjoy the adventures that are “outside the pen” like those adventurous chickens. If you have, maybe you’ve made the same discovery: adventure breaks monotony.

Adventure breaks monotony not only in the roles I play, but it also breaks any ho-hum-ness in my relationship with God.
Sometimes … my consistency, my predictability, my same-way-every-day when it comes to the way I interact with God can get downright "ordinary", and ordinary sometimes is BORING! God didn’t create us for ordinary and boring. He created us for EXTRAordinary. In John 10:10, Jesus said He came to give us a rich, abundant and satisfying life. Are we taking Him up on His offer? Taking on some out-of-the-comfort-zone adventures with the Holy Spirit can sure break ordinary.

Life is a great adventure. Seriously....there is so much awe and wonder to life if we live with the attitude of adventure. Let's blaze a trail for others to follow. Let's live life with gusto. Let's pursue it. Let's hunt for it. Let's say "no" to the whines of those who have settled for a mediocre life and who want us to do the same so they won't feel guilty. It seems our options are quite clear: On one side, there is the voice of safety. We can nestle into the pen (our home), settle for living for “us four and no more” and we can watch others that are spreading their wings and are flying to places of wonder and delight. We can hear the voice of adventure -- God's adventures. Instead of nestling in, we can ignite a fire in our hearts. We can follow God's impulses -- maybe......adopt the child; move to a new place; change careers; run for office, give blood, accept that teaching position at church or school, join that group with a cause to change the world and determine to make a difference in other people's lives. What a way to live! What a GREAT adventure!!

Allll Aboard -- for the Joy-of-Life Bandwagon!

Yesterday is gone and THIS IS THE DAY the Lord has made, so let's be JOY-full and be glad for it!

When you’ve had as many DAYS on this earth as I’ve had, you recognize each new day as a blessed day of start-overs, do-overs, rejoice-overs and be-glad-in-it overs. I live in a 55+ community and when we say to each other “Good Morning! How are you doing today?”, you'll usually hear “GREAT! I woke up. I'm still here!" LOL! So if we’re still here – whatever age we are -- that means that God has plans and purposes for us to fulfill in this new day. My favorite "life" quote is: “If I'm not dead; I'm not done!” So that means I must be the best and do the best I can at who God created me to be each and every day.

Being my best is riding daily on the joy-of-life bandwagon – not only for my good which invigorates me and gives me purpose, but to help others (those who get all caught up in the seriousness and practical demands of life) get back the joy of life, too. You know those folks that wake up on the wrong side of the bed. They get so focused on making a living, that they succumb to life by living each day in an almost robotic routine. They forget the child within them and they lose a lot of the flavor and spice of life. They don’t stop to smell the roses, to be struck with wonder anymore, like they did as children. I love this photo of the little girl chasing the chickens -- that's the closest photo I could find that defines me in my wild chicken chases!! I purpose to be the last one standing!

I never want to EVER lose that youthful pleasure and joy of life throughout the entire length of my life. Here's why I'm campaigning for a fully occupied joy-of-life bandwagon with others who want to live audaciously, free of the dismal, woe-is-me hang-ups. I love being silly with my friends, my children, and my grand-kids. I love belly laughing with them. Since I’ve been caring for all these animals, I’ve been belly laughing so much at myself and with others who are laughing with me. Last night, another two of the hens were out and this morning another of the smaller hens was out. I'm so silly that I like to think that God and my mischievous husband are the masterminds behind these little chicken culprits. They're probably belly laughing in heaven as they watch me tearing through the bushes after them.

You might ask me the secret to waking each day with being intentional with joy. It’s the same as when a friend of mine was expressing some major health concerns she was having. Not because she had issues, but her family had them, and now she was fearing the same thing would happen to her. I gave her many scriptures to take like they were a prescription daily – speaking to her body and mind with God’s promises and words. The same with me -- when I start to feel depleted of joy…I take a “God’s Word” scripture “The joy of the Lord is my strength” Nehemiah 8:10; "You make known to me the path of life; in your presence, there is fullness of joy." Psalm 16:11

Here's the truth of the matter -- none of us are free from life’s challenges, tragedies, pressures, or even suffering. We have known the sorrow of loss, the fears, and challenges of illness, but we don't have to allow any of those things to crush our child-like playfulness. We can prove that true joy and happiness can even be experienced in the midst of life’s challenges.

Being more like the “little children” that Jesus encouraged us to be to enter the Kingdom of God just may be the attitude of living life fully, with great joy and gusto, too!

I've got a seat reserved for you on the joy-of-life bandwagon with me.. Come on. Get on board! The ride is oh so sweet.....and hilarious. Just maybe you'll see a frenzied, but joy-filled blonde-haired lady chasing chickens down the road!! It will be worth the ride!

Following the Lead of Successful Businesses and People

When my family comes to Tulsa, eating at Chick-fil-A is a MUST! It went quickly, but we waited in a long line to place our order at the drive thru window!. Always a crowd there, I said, “This is really a phenomenon!” Then I remembered just why this company is so successful and has grown to be the second largest chicken chain in America. Some would say it's the food. Others point to its clever advertising. (Let's face it, there is something appealing about seeing a cow beg you to "Eat Mor Chikin.") But, Founder Truett Cathy has a different view. He declares that the secret of his success is the company's high quality of people and their attention to customer service.

How do they attract such people? Truett says it all goes back to Chick-fil-A being closed on Sundays. Truett believes everyone should have a day off a week - for church, rest, or to enjoy family. Accordingly, Chick-fil-A has attracted outstanding teams - many industry experts will say its people are the best in the food industry.

And, ONE of the reasons their record-setting drive-thru is so fast, and accurate, is that the team taking orders is in their own private part of the restaurant. Their focus is all YOU and YOUR order, with no other distractions. It's part of their commitment to offer their customers the best experience possible!!

I was thinking about the standards of Chick-Fil-A, compared to our own standards of excellence, or the lack thereof. Do we brand ourselves with personality, wit and quality? Do we work hard, play hard and get adequate rest that we need? Do we honor God by setting aside a day, or time, for Him? Do we REALLY focus on the people in our lives – making them feel important, special and loved, or are we easily distracted with our cell phones or other matters that take away our attention from those who really matter most!

I think it’s time to follow the lead of successful people in business and in life – it just might make the difference we’ve been looking for to move up the ladder of personal and professional success in our own life!