“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders . . .”  – Hebrews 12:1 

Do you ever think about the fact that everything we do someone is watching?  Kind of scary, isn’t it?  In case you don’t believe that’s true, think about how often you notice other people and the seemingly insignificant things about them, whether they are rude, pleasant, or simply ignore the wait person in a restaurant, pick up a piece of debris in a parking lot or throw one out, if they have a smile or a frown, neatly dressed or sloppy, appear happy or out of sorts.  People are noticing our behaviors the same way we are noticing theirs.  But does it matter really?

We do a great deal of our shopping at a nearby Kroger supermarket, and grocery stores are great places to observe human behavior.  And at this particular store there is an employee whose name is Rockie.  Rockie serves a lot of different functions in the store, but most often works as a checker, and when we shop there we will go out of our way to be checked out by Rockie, even if hers is the longest line, which it normally is.  Not only is she efficient at her job, but she has this amazingly infectious personality – a great sense of humor, calls you sweetheart, thanks you for your business and sends you on your way with a warm “God bless you”.  But does it really matter?  It does to us.  Tee will inevitably walk in the house after shopping at Kroger with a huge smile that literally lights up our household, and I always know why.  “Rockie checked me out!” she’ll say.

Having grandchildren has made me increasingly conscious that they are observing everything I do and, depending on my particular behavior in the moment, will have either a positive or negative impact on their lives.  Like it or not they are witnessing adult behavior, my behavior, and it is up to me how that will impact them.  But it is also up to me how I treat Rockie when I’m in Kroger, or a fellow customer in the store, another motorist on the freeway, a colleague, employee, or my neighbor down the street.

Everything we do someone is watching; for each of us is surrounded by a cloud of witnesses who is impacted by what we do – positively or negatively.  “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders . . .” our opportunity to touch a life, or like Rockie, to light up someone’s household.

“I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made . . .”  – Psalm 139:14 

Much has been written in the business news the past few days about Herb Kelleher, the iconic co-founder and former long-time CEO of Southwest Airlines, who recently passed away.  As we all know, Southwest Airlines was established on a model of providing low-cost air travel, and over the years grew to be one of the largest, most efficient and most profitable airlines in the history of the industry.  Much of the credit goes to Kelleher and his leadership and business acumen.  But more notably the airline’s success is directly linked to the way Kelleher treated people, especially employees and customers.  Kelleher valued human beings above all, not solely for what they did, but simply because they are fellow humans.  He loved people, and he believed in them.  It was his hallmark.

Reading about Herb Kelleher reminded me of a life lesson I once learned from one of my most influential teachers, B. F. Jordan, a man who besides being a great educator became in my adult life both a friend and mentor, as he did with many of his former students.  As a teenager, though, and being one of the better students in my class, I became pretty full of myself.  So, one day in a conversation with Mr. Jordan I popped off about another kid, a struggling C student and notorious trouble-maker, that he would surely never amount to anything.  To my surprise and embarrassment Jordan took exception and came to the guy’s defense.  Oh no, he rebuked, he’s got as much potential as anyone in this school.

That conversation took place so many years ago I have long forgotten who that kid was I disparaged.  What I’ve not forgotten, though, is the life lesson I learned that day from B. F. Jordan; for he understood something I didn’t, that every human being – including that notorious troublemaker, as well as me – is “fearfully and wonderfully made” by our Creator, each in a unique way, endowed with purpose and potential.

I have no idea whatever happened with that troublemaker kid, but my guess is I was wrong, that he’s done great in life.  If so, no doubt it is to B. F. Jordan’s credit who valued him, believed in him, and encouraged him to reach his highest potential.  Just as Southwest Airlines’ success can be directly linked to the “people” culture created and fostered by Herb Kelleher who valued people, believed in them, and saw their potential; for each of us is “fearfully and wonderfully made” – created in the image of God.

Luke 2:8-14 

“And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.

  An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they

were terrified.  But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid.  I bring you good news of great joy that

will be for all the people.  Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the

Lord.  This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.’

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.’”

May God’s peace rest on each of you and your families this Christmas season, and your New Year be filled with hope and promise!

Abundant Living publications will return January 2019.

“Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him.”  – Psalm 37:7 

Waiting patiently has never been one of my greatest strengths.  Example: back in the mid-1980’s when I was in my mid-thirties my career was really starting to take off.  Because of that I had become pretty full of myself, and impatient that it was not rising even faster.  So, like any good red-blooded ambitious young man I took matters in my own hands to speed up the process, pouncing on the first opportunity that came my way.  But instead of advancing my career, I almost wrecked it.   Worse, I had relocated my family to another city which was unsettling to them, compounding the near disastrous outcome that could only be blamed on my lack of patience.

Over the years, however, I have found some consolation in realizing I’m not the only person to jump the gun, taking matters into my own hands.  Remember the Biblical story about Sarah and Abraham who remained childless well into their old age?  Yet God had promised they would produce offspring.  But when?  Sarah, after all, had long passed childbearing age.  So, what did they do?  They took matters into their own hands, Abraham fathering a child through Sarah’s maidservant Hagar, a boy named Ishmael.  As with me, they had jumped the gun; for that was not what God intended.

Fortunately, by the grace of God and despite our taking matters into our own hands, God still delivered on his promise to Abraham and Sarah, and to me and my family; for Sarah did eventually conceive and bear them their long-awaited son Isaac, and good fortune came our way through a dream job I was offered back at my old firm.  How many people, I wonder, make the same mistake we did, leaving the dock just before our ship came in?

As we approach Christmas, amidst all the hustle and bustle we would do well to remember that this is a time for waiting patiently; for it is not inconsequential that God used a mother’s womb and the human gestation period as the delivery method for sending His Son to earth; for such a process, as we all know, cannot be hastened by taking matters into our own hands.  Rather, it requires that we “be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him.”  That’s why we Christians refer to the season leading up to Christmas as Advent, a time for waiting patiently, anticipating the arrival of our Lord. . . . Although waiting patiently is still not one of my greatest strengths, I am getting better.

“Run in such a way as to get the prize.”  – 1 Corinthians 9:24 

One of my favorite books by the popular writer and speaker Brené Brown, is a bestseller called Daring Greatly, a phrase borrowed from a speech given by Teddy Roosevelt back in 1910.  Here’s a brief excerpt: “The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again. . . who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails daring greatly. . . .”

Tee and I were competing in a 5k race recently when at mile two a lady passed us who appeared to be around our age.  Soon, however, we caught up and passed her.  And back and forth it went the rest of the race.  I quickly sensed what was going on and informed my beloved spouse, “that lady is your competition,” except she pretended to ignore me as if she either didn’t believe me or didn’t care.  But I knew better, as I could see her muscles subtly tense up, and with the finish-line in sight her pace starting to accelerate.  As her encourager I was forced to step up my pace as well.  Eventually her competitor fell further behind, allowing Tee to finish first in her age category.  But it wasn’t so much the gold medal that made me proud of my spouse; rather it was, with that quiet competitive spirit of hers, having the courage to step into the arena and “daring greatly.”

It reminded me of my mom who was also a quiet competitor.  She loved games – cards, dominoes, bridge, board games, even golf and fishing.  One of my favorite memories of her occurred in her last days when she was suffering with cancer.  One day the hospice care facility, which provided physical therapy to keep her going as long as possible, engaged her in a domino match with a gentleman who was obviously in a similar circumstance.  With that competitive gleam in her eyes as she faced off with her opponent, I could see what was coming.  Poor guy didn’t stand a chance.  Mom died just two weeks later, finishing her life the way she had always lived it – “daring greatly”!

Besides the sport of it, God must surely have instilled a spirit of competition in human nature for other reasons, perhaps as a way to bring out the best in us, inspiring us to be more and accomplish more than we ever imagined – to “Run in such a way as to get the prize,” – or as Teddy Roosevelt and Brené Brown would say, “daring greatly.”