Started reading The Screwtape Letters again so I’m sending out this old daily attitude email from one of the last times I read it….

I live in the Managerial Age, in a world of "Admin." The greatest evil is not now done in those sordid "dens of crime" that Dickens loved to paint. It is not done even in concentration camps and labour camps. In those we see its final result. But it is conceived and ordered (moved, seconded, carried, and minuted) in clean, carpeted, warmed and well-lighted offices, by quiet men with white collars and cut fingernails and smooth-shaven cheeks who do not need to raise their voices. Hence, naturally enough, my symbol for Hell is something like the bureaucracy of a police state or the office of a thoroughly nasty business concern."

[From the Preface]

C.S. Lewis, The Screwtape Letters

In The Screwtape Letters, CS Lewis writes as Uncle Screwtape to his nephew Wormwood. The letters are his advice on life as a tempter or demon and how best to ruin the life of the patient he is assigned to.

This excerpt from the preface shows some of what CS Lewis thinks about the possible evil in our world.

He tells us what we should be wary of as modern office workers and business people. Weve seen this happen in our society as some businesses have chosen to prioritize profits and shareholder value above all else. Many lives have been ruined by quiet men with white collars and cut fingernails and smooth-shaven cheeks who do not need to raise their voices. Many in our society are unhappy with their work and their workplace as a result.

Our opportunity lies in heading the other direction. To put people first. To consider whats most important and to firmly plant those values above others.

We can create a workplace and business where people get filled up. Where they move closer to their best self. Where they move closer to God.

We can build relationships that lead to a life filled with meaning and purpose. Where value freely moves and all involved end up better for having been involved.

That seems worth getting out of bed in the morning to me.

Whos in?

Make it a great day.

Jake

If you cannot do great things, do small things in a great way. – Napoleon Hill

A couple of different versions to add:

If you would like to do great things, do small things in a great way.

If you have yet to do great things, do small things in a great way.

Life is often a process of building.

You start small and take care of what is front of you right now. Then you work up to the next level and the next level, etc.

What some small thing you could start doing in a great way?

What you eat?

How you spend your money?

What you read?

What you watch?

Look for a new small habit to build and get started.

Make it a great day.

Jake

Resending this daily attitude email from a few years back during the COVID lockdowns.

We live, in fact, in a world starved for solitude, silence, and private: and therefore starved for meditation and true friendship. – C.S. Lewis

CS Lewis had a lot of interesting and deep thoughts about friendship (I think mostly in the 4 Loves book).

I hope that a positive side effect of the shelter in place orders is that we will come back together with a greater appreciation for each other.

Friendship takes on a whole new perspective when you haven’t seen one in a while.

Hopefully we can be more loving, kind and thoughtful towards others after this period apart.

Who do you need to reach out to and connect with?

How can you be more patient and kind with those in your life?

What should you do differently after this time away?

Make it a great day.

Jake

I learned long ago, never to wrestle with a pig. You get dirty, and besides, the pig likes it. – George Bernard Shaw

This quote reminds me of another favorite of mine – the best way to win an argument is by not having one.

So much worry, stress and anxiety could be avoided by not engaging with the negative people in life.

Sure, sometimes you can’t avoid it.

But we could avoid it way more than we think at first.

Try it this week. Don’t wrestle any pigs!

Make it a great day.

Jake

https://youtu.be/LM1qrx0Huds?si=MxnhZmdj5WrsclbI

Thankfulness is such a great way to start the day.

Focus on the good today.

Let’s be thankful!

Make it a great day.

Jake

What we think, we become. – Buddha

Challenge for today.

Pay attention to what is going on in your mind.

And then think about this quote and decide if that is ok.

If you are going to become what you are thinking about, are you ok with that?

Or would you like to see something different?

Make it a great day.

Jake

No matter what people tell you, words and ideas can change the world. – Robin Williams

Your words and thoughts matter.

In the Bible God creates by speaking things into existence.

We aren’t God, but we were made in His image.

To me this means that we can also create through speaking.

Our thoughts, ideas and words create a new world.

Sometimes in small, imperceptible ways. Sometimes in life altering ways.

Choose your words and your thoughts wisely as they will create your future.

Make it a great day.

Jake

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DeGdiDJgQmm/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&stkn=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==

What a great thought here…

What am I supposed to do?

Instead of asking "What do I want to be when I grow up?" ask "Who do I want to serve?"

It’s a trap to focus on the money or the prestige or whatever of a career path.

It adds meaning when you instead focus on who you want to serve.

I can’t remember where but I once heard someone say "he who serves the most people wins". What a great way to measure how we’re doing. How many and how much are we serving?

Fortunately for those of us who work at Mavidea and Maxlider we are in the service business. We get to be of service every day.

Make it a great day.

Jake

Imagine yourself as a living house. God comes in to rebuild that house. At first, perhaps, you can understand what He is doing. He is getting the drains right and stopping the leaks in the roof and so on; you knew that those jobs needed doing and so you are not surprised. But presently He starts knocking the house about in a way that hurts abominably and does not seem to make any sense. What on earth is He up to? The explanation is that He is building quite a different house from the one you thought of throwing out a new wing here, putting on an extra floor there, running up towers, making courtyards. You thought you were being made into a decent little cottage: but He is building a palace. He intends to come and live in it Himself.

C.S. Lewis

Not sure about you but I have yet to reach perfection.

There’s still a lot of changes I need to make.

This quote is a reminder for me when the pain of those changes rear their ugly head.

God is doing something in me that is meant to be grander than what I could imagine.

And some of those changes are targeted for my life in heaven with Him forever. Living in a way that I can’t even imagine right now.

God has a plan for you. Embrace it. Even when you don’t understand it.

Make it a great day.

Jake

https://youtu.be/K0siYUjV9UM?si=h0_qWCgtSejGOhHF

Homecoming weekend for Annie and her classmates this weekend.

This song has been part of their band performance this fall so it seemed appropriate for the occasion.

Annie is a senior this year so all the school events are "last one for Annie" events.

It’s bittersweet as we move through the stages of life. Leaving one stage for another.

I try to remind myself as each stage comes and goes to be thankful.

Thankful for all I’ve learned.

Thankful for all the friends.

Thankful for all the influences and mentors along the way.

What/who are you thankful for during this stage of your life? Wouldn’t it be great to tell them now instead of waiting until it’s over?

Make it a great day.

Jake