Faith4Business

“Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.  Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life.”

—John 12:24-25

Every day is a race.  It is a race from the bed to the shower in an effort trying to be out the door to and on the turnpike before the witching hour of 6:00 am.  Ten minutes after the hour and the airport goes from a comfortable 45-minute ride to a 2-hour stop and go dredge.  Two days later rushing to catch a flight to get back for my son's baseball game or my daughter's softball game.  Rushing, from a lunch appointment to be back in my office for an afternoon meeting.  It never ends...  Life is no longer ground hog day, its ground hog year.  Days repeat into months, months into years.  The details of the repeating patterns are different but in some ways it is all very eerily the same. 

Rushing.... Rushing to what?  Trying to negotiate the corporate ladder and the endless pursue of building personal assets.  And, in recent years only to watch helplessly as most of it has evaporated before our eyes. 

I am one of many, and in a sad way there is comfort in knowing I am not alone.  When I arrive at the terminal I sink into the sea of business travelers. I roll my black Tumi bag into the river of people that look and dress like me. There are thousands, no, millions of others all rushing to our respective gates hoping for an upgrade on the next segment to improve the day.  It is easy and tempting to be melon collie when considering the folly of our dance.  But in taking an account of the life we have built or found ourselves in I have to ask...

“Why is it that I am surprised when the end of the day is reached that my heart is not fulfilled?”   

After all, wasn’t all of this born in selfish pursuit?  Yes, we dress it up in the clothes of responsibilities, obligations and duties.  These are merely ideologies that keep us going.  In reality, who among us aspired for the corner office because we wanted to feed children in Africa or serve our fellow man?  No, I began this race years ago dreaming of Porsches, Ferrari's and a house fit for an NBA superstar.  There was a day, which I am now ashamed of, that I thought the poor where somehow to blame for their plight.  Not so today... and even if they are who cares?  They are in need... I am in a position to help... so I should. Let judgment be between them and God. 

The selfish pursuit of prosperity will always be a road that never ends.  I suspect this is a universal truth for most but for some the realization of it may be more apparent than for others.  The bottom line… the pursuit of profit and gain is not necessarily evil or bad, especially if it is not a cost or harm to others. 

However, cost there may still be… you may wake up one day, as have I, to find that wealth and “Things” are not the nirvana you once thought it was. 

Ground hog day for me always begins with this simple and sincere prayer…

“God, please help me just get through this day.  Serving your Will and not my own.”  On a good day I like to think that somehow as I jockey my rat that this actually happens. Somehow?  And, at the end of the day I close with even a simpler and sincerer prayer to God…

“Thank You.”

Though the Earth Cried out for blood

Satisfied her hunger was
Her billows calmed on raging seas
for the souls on men she craved

Sun and moon from balcony
Turned their head in disbelief
Their precious Love would taste the sting
disfigured and disdained

On Friday a thief
On Sunday a King
Laid down in grief
But awoke with keys
Of Hell on that day
The first born of the slain
The Man Jesus Christ
Laid death in his grave

So three days in darkness slept
The Morning Sun of righteousness
But rose to shame the throes of death
And over turn his rule

Now daughters and the sons of men
Would pay not their dues again
The debt of blood they owed was rent
When the day rolled a new

On Friday a thief
On Sunday a King
Laid down in grief
But awoke holding keys
To Hell on that day
The first born of the slain
The Man Jesus Christ
Laid death in his grave

On Friday a thief
On Sunday a King
Laid down in grief
But awoke with keys
Of Hell on that day
The first born of the slain
The Man Jesus Christ
Laid death in his grave

He has cheated
Hell and seated
Us above the fall
In desperate places
He paid our wages
One time once and for all

Photo via The Shack

Ok… Yet again life is far more interesting than anything I could dream up. This story is both true and sad. It is also a cautionary tale of how our choices may have unintended lasting effects on not only ourselves but others also.

Yesterday after parking in the garage at the hotel that I was staying at I stumbled upon a murder scene. In my 42 years I have seen a few dead bodies but never one that was murdered. It was as I am sure you can imagine quite disturbing.  Actually disturbing is an understatement. I have always been aware that the crime rate was quite high in Puerto Rico.  But, as it turns out the rate of murder on the island is close to 100 people per month. While this is high, I am told most of these deaths involve drug trafficking or domestic disputes. These incidences are commonly reported on the local television but it is rare that a tourist/non-domestic is involved. Given that I walked right up on the scene I was curious to know what had happened. This story is not a happy one, but maybe it should be told for those of us that travel frequently. And, specifically for those that struggle with the temptations of companionship on the road. 

As you might expect the hotel staff was tight lipped about the incident. But given that his room was just two doors down from mine I had the opportunity to ask and get answers to a few more answers than the rest. Apparently from what I could gather the story is a classic love triangle tragedy. However, it has a few twists that will undoubtly leave paths of wreckage for the loved ones left behind. The victim was a married, affluent, North American businessman who traveled to the island frequently. So frequently that he had a female friend with whom he had a relationship. She too was also married and when her husband showed up and caught them together he flipped out, literally. The altercation began in the room. The victim opened the door and when the husband saw that his wife was there with another man he stabbed him several times. The victim made his way to the parking garage via the elevator in an attempt to get to the hospital. Why he did not stay in his room and call 911 is unclear? As we now know he did not make it and died in the parking garage, where I saw him. When I arrived he was on the ground and the girl was being loaded into an ambulance. She is in the hospital and expected to recover. 

The tragedy of this story however doesn’t end there. His wife and family got a phone call last night informing them that their loved one would not be coming home from this business trip.  After the shock of his death has settled they will want answers. The answers they will get will not be easy to hear. Painful! 

I can only imagine that this affair started with an innocent flirtation. I am sure neither party imagined such an outcome. At some point a choice was made to cross a line that it is known should not be crossed. Our decisions in life, although we don’t realize it at the time, have long far reaching effects.  Effects, far beyond what we may realized. 

Each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death (James 1:14-15).

Imagine one day a week with no computer, no smart phones, no email, no Facebook, no Twitter…   

In our digital society, rest, may be the most over looked concept of our generation. More than anytime previously in history we are constantly accessible or plugged-in to work, our friends, and colleagues. This is true for most regardless whether we are at the office or home. We all know that it is not uncommon to check email, twitter or FB on the Berry or iPhone while at the kids baseball game, which takes our focus away from being in the moment. It is also common to check email and put in an additional hour or so of work after the kids are in bed or after the evening activities family activities have concluded.  This results in a constant high level of stress and unrest given our electric device are visually and mentally stimulating leaving us wired.

Solution? Unplug, take a weekly 24 hour “Techno No Fly Zone”? Meaning “Turn it all off.” I know this is unthinkable for some. But if is, then you likely need the down time the most. I would suggest Sunday because that is the when most people would expect to get the fewest calls, text, tweets, or emails. But, you can pick whatever day works best for your schedule. Believe it or not the world will be there when you plug back in and you may find you are not missed as much as you might have thought. And, if you were then just handle whatever crisis emerged a few hours later than you might have otherwise. It is very doubtful that anyone will notice the difference. However, you will notice. There is a significant benefit to such a discipline. You will sleep better after a day being unplugged and when you do re-engage you will notice your creative intuition is back. After just a brief break you will find that you are less scattered and can again focus on individual tasks with greater clarity and creativity.  

Of course, this concept is not new and it is actually biblical. Really biblical as in Old Testament, Ten Commandments biblical.  The Old Testament Law of “Keep the Sabbath Holy” is not just a suggestion, its a commandment. Seriously, if God needed a break on the Seventh day, how is it we think we don’t. It will most likely feel uncomfortable at first, it did to me. But after a few weeks you will find, as I did, that you will actually look forward to the break.  Give it a try!  Recharge YOUR battery.