“I wish I had never been born," she said. "What are we born for?" "For infinite happiness," said the Spirit. "You can step out into it at any moment…” – C.S. Lewis, The Great Divorce

The basic premise of this book is that the spirits of deceased people are faced with the decision to let go of the thing that is keeping them out of heaven.

The person in the quote above is literally being kept out of endless joy because they can’t believe that is what they were created for.

Something I think of often is how easy it is to get confused.

To think something is true that isn’t.

To believe a lie.

To accept a reality that isn’t true AND isn’t helpful.

We get wrapped up in ourselves and our story. We focus on the trivial and menial.

What if something better was available? That we might be able to step out into it at any moment.

Make it a great day.

Jake

The time you enjoy wasting is not wasted time. – Bertrand Russell

Rest and relaxation is not wasted if done in the right proportion and done well.

Jim Rohn talked about the idea of being at work when you are at work and being at the beach when you are at the beach.

The idea is to not mix the two.

Make time for rest and "non-productive" time.

Make the most of your "productive" time.

Make it a great day.

Jake

https://youtu.be/wrVTX4x-HxY?si=XzTJxkSEhl55UoU9

For most of us, becoming who we want to become is going to involve dropping a few things along the way.

The Bible talks a lot about the old self dying and a new self being born (classic Bible verse – paraphrased – "but how can I be born again, I can’t climb back in to my mother’s womb").

Our old ways and thoughts have to be renewed and reborn to get to a new and better destination.

Maybe we need to drop our old habits around food.

Maybe we need to drop our old habits around TV or social media.

Maybe we need to drop our old habits around negative self talk.

Maybe we need to drop our old habits of comparison and complaining.

If we aren’t content – then something needs to change. Something needs to be dropped.

The best way to drop something is find something better to pick up.

The song talks about doing this and picking up the freedom and peace of a personal relationship with Christ (great place to start if you’re looking).

It’s also true about our habits and thoughts.

Renew your mind by picking up some new habits of thought.

Practice gratitude.

Practice mindfulness.

Practice something new and better.

Make it a great day.

Jake

Action is the antidote for anxiety.

Heard this on a podcast recently.

Over the years I’ve read several books about soldiers during war times.

Most of the anxiety and fear occurred when they were sitting still, waiting on the next orders.

The same is true for us. Sitting around allows our minds and bodies to end up worried and anxious about what might be.

The focus and clarity that can come with action dispel this anxiety.

Next time you’re feeling a little anxious – do something. Get busy.

Make it a great day.

Jake

We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit. – Will Durant

Every time the Olympics comes around I am amazed at the amount of excellence on display.

Events where I have zero interest in the sport itself still leave me mesmerized the amount of skill and mastery on display.

Doing something so well is its own reward.

I’m sure people aren’t itching to tune and watch us deliver IT support, build websites or build Broncos (well, they might actually watch us build Broncos), but we can still have the feeling of a job well done.

The feeling of being a master of our craft. The feeling of delivering excellence to each other and our customers.

Not for show or medals, but because doing it right is always worth it.

Make it a great day.

Jake

I place this day, my life, my loved ones, my work in the Lords hands. There is no harm in the Lords hands, only good. Whatever happens, whatever results, if I am in the Lords hands it is the Lords will and it is good.

Norman Vincent Peale, The Power of Positive Thinking

I don’t know about you, but it took me WAY too long to figure out I wasn’t in control.

The last 5 or 6 years have reinforced this for me. I am not in control.

In my better, more mature moments this thought provides peace and freedom.

If I don’t have to be in control, I can be free to do the best I can with what I have.

To make the most of every day.

Make it a great day.

Jake

Today we celebrate President’s Day.

Politics and the presidency are a heated battle these days (and I suppose they always have been). Full of heated arguments on both sides.

It’s easy to fall into the trap of either loving your candidate or hating the other.

To focus on what is wrong with the system and the person in the role.

I like to (at least for President’s Day) at least attempt to respect the office.

Whether I like the person or their policies. Whether I voted for or against.

Whoever is in that role is doing something hard. And at least some part of them is trying to make things better for us.

I try to be thankful for that part of them. To be hopeful that it all works out and things actually do get better, whether I agreed with the path to get there or not.

Maybe it’s a little naive or optimistic to think this way (definitely), but one day won’t hurt…

Make it a great day.

Jake

https://youtu.be/_7xMfIp-irg?si=9VUWj19y1StjtNQx

There’ll be plenty of talk about love this weekend.

Valentine’s Day is a great reminder of the importance of love in our lives.

Focus on the love.

Not the stuff or the commercial side of things.

Make it a great day.

Jake

Treasure your relationships, not your possessions. – Anthony J. D’Angelo

Another reminder to major in the major things of life.

Relationships are the real treasure.

All the stuff is a distraction.

Focus on what really matters.

Make it a great day.

Jake

Curiosity will conquer fear even more than bravery will. – James Stephens

Some part of the life we want lies behind our fears.

They hold us back from taking the steps needed to get where we want to go.

Curiosity is a great step in overcoming our fears.

Spend some time wondering about them. Where did they come from? What would really happen if they came true? Is there something to learn?

Take that first little step today. Ask some questions about those fears. Start to wonder about them. Maybe you’ll find out there wasn’t much to be afraid of after all…

Make it a great day.

Jake