Tag: leave a good legacy

Bloom

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The leaves may be falling off the trees in some parts of the country, but in my backyard … pink, yellow and purple bougainvilleas are bursting with color.

Why? It’s time to bloom again. It’s the season. The purple stays in bloom year round, the pink is in bloom most of the time, and the yellow a little less than the pink.

But they all bloom. They are planted, growing, stimulated by dryness and in it’s season … they bloom.

A good legacy will bloom …. Don’t hurry it, just be faithful. Your kids and those you are influencing will remember … so leave a good legacy.

Don’t compare yourself to the purple one … hang in there and don’t let dryness or being in a wilderness discourage you. You will bloom.

Leave a good legacy

Do I Help?

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How much help do I give them? Parents, friends and bosses face this dilemma often.

Saturday morning group rides (bicycle/tri-bike) have a lot of drafting. A strong rider is in the front facing the head winds and the pack is behind staying in a “draft” with little resistance from the wind. Usually, everyone takes a turn pulling – leading the pack.

Weaker riders spend most of their time in the pack being carried by the stronger ones.

In a triathlon (swimming, biking, running) no drafting is allowed on the bike portion. It is all up to you.

And there’s the tension. Sometimes you need help and sometimes it is up to you…and sometimes you help them and sometimes you don’t.

The tension of “bearing another’s burden” and “carrying your own load” is reflected in the Bible as well (Galatians 6).

So what do you do? Well, it depends ……. I guess you will figure this one out by yourself … but at least you are on the bike and moving.

Sometimes it is fun just being a part of the group and doing more together and sometimes you need to run your race. Regardless – Ride!

Leave a good legacy.

When the Wheel Comes Off

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Last night I was riding on the back of a golf cart. As we rounded a corner the right rear wheel fell off, the cart tilted, and the axle put a grove in the pavement. We were in shock. Unharmed, we slowed to the side of the road.

The wheel had four bolts and they were scattered along the road. It was dark and the neighborhood was quiet. Somehow my son found the bolts. It had happened before and he knew where to look. I was went looking for the wheel, but when it came off, it kept rolling ahead of us into a neighbor’s flower bed.

Sometimes when our plans go bad we just find the bolts and put the pieces back together. The road may be scarred but it still works. I’m a big believer in the value of failing and taking risks around the corner.

But sometimes poor decisions have a bigger cost. Sometimes the consequences roll ahead of us and impact the future. This isn’t about mitigating risk, this has more to do with our character and integrity.

Leave a good legacy.

Roll Uphill

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My friend had a Honda QA50 mini- bike. It was cool. I had a mini-bike, but it was an off brand … cheaper bike. I was thankful for it, though our neighbors were not.

His bike was faster on a flat surface and going downhill. He always beat me in a race … except when we raced uphill.

I don’t know why my bike went faster uphill than downhill, but it doesn’t matter. It seems like it’s a metaphor for my life. Persevere and keeping moving forward when life is uphill.

Roll Uphill

Leave a good legacy

Say Something

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Many people are hesitant about speaking up and saying what they really think. If you are introverted and shy your default is to not speak up. There are many fears behind this, but ultimately you don’t want a negative reaction.

Yesterday, I spoke up two times. I had been thinking through strategies and solutions for each situation and the opportunity to say something unexpectedly presented itself ….. and I spoke up.

Both were well received and I acknowledge God’s timing, but a significant part was an ongoing preparation and pursuing of an outcome. I was confident in the process regardless of the response.

Be prepared about what is important to you …. And then respond when the timing seems right. Regardless of the outcome, keep moving forward.

Leave a good legacy.

Daily Reminders

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Being overloaded with information is a common danger most people face.

I recently had a conversation with a long-time friend. We went to school before computers and the internet. Typing with whiteout – look it up. We talked about how we searched hard for information – library, radio, actually go hear someone speak … that is if you could find out where they were speaking.

I don’t miss those days, but I have to be intentional on how I control the information overload that comes my way … or else I will not remember the few things that are really important to me. Here’s a simple way I remember the important things.

Every morning I look at 5 note cards. They sometimes change, but they are reminders of my identity, my values and my purpose. One of the sayings is, “My life has authority from the autonomous monotony of the daily disciples of life.” It is the power of the daily ordinary.

This keeps me grounded. Every single day I am reminded of who I am and what I believe/value and what I am pursuing.

Leaving a good legacy … one day at a time.

Solve a Problem

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Notice the black tire marks. The guy in the picture had wheels a few inches wider than his truck frame. He slightly swerved and put a big circle on the door while driving down the highway.

Hey mister – I’m sorry … big tires just pulled your way. Me – I’m just glad it wasn’t worse. Hey mister – what do you want to do … I can buff it out. Me – how long will it take? Him – 3 minutes. Me – well you can see my answer.

I-75 near Lake City car buff and wax. Solving a problem and rollin down the road.

As I felt the breeze of traffic zooming I shared with my new friend … God has a design for our lives …. Like a lane of traffic ….

In a few minutes I am back on the road. My friend seemed encouraged by our conversation …. And I am just thankful … so thankful it wasn’t worse.

Solving problems and working things out are part of leaving a good legacy.

Leave a good legacy.

Thankful

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It is easy to find fault in others. There is a side of my family that is predisposed to being critical and judgmental. I can easily think and respond in those ways.

When I give the effort to be thankful … I am less critical. When I am thankful there is no room for judgment.

The older I get, the more I realize I only understood a part of the circumstances of my early years. My mom was a single parent from my mid teens. About 5 years ago the weight of her being single hit me. In all of my youthful gripes I had never realized how she provided a stable foundation for me to thrive.

In remembrance of my mom’s entrance into God’s presence, I am thankful.

I am thankful for the stable foundation my mom gave me to stand on … and so are her grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Leave a stable foundation for the next generation.

Leave a good legacy.