But the story of the golden calf also reminds us that without rules we quickly become slaves to our passions—and there’s nothing freeing about that. – Jordan Peterson

Jordan is talking about the story from the Bible when Moses comes down with the Ten Commandments.

It’s part of human nature to push back and bristle when rules and limitations are pushed on us.

We tend to fight back when told we have to or can’t do a particular thing.

We also tend to be happiest with clear boundaries and rules.

We know instinctively that if left to our devices things will get out of hand quickly.

I wonder if the mature person is someone who figures out which rules really matter.

Which ones you can really, truly build a life around.

And they avoid the surface level trappings of the rules and limitations of “fitting in” or “being cool” or whatever expectations are placed on us that aren’t good for us.

Knowing the difference is key.

Spending time learning from other wise people is a good way to get there.

Make it a great day.

Jake

Below is an email I sent out a few years back.

It’s an expansion of some of the thoughts from yesterday and seemed particularly relevant given our current challenges….

We in this country, in this generation, are — by destiny rather than choice — the watchmen on the walls of world freedom. We ask, therefore, that we may be worthy of our power and responsibility — that we may exercise our strength with wisdom and restraint — and that we may achieve in our time and for all time the ancient vision of “peace on earth, good will toward men.” That must always be our goal — and the righteousness of our cause must always underlie our strength. For as was written long ago: “except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.” – John Fitzgerald Kennedy

While in Dallas this time I wanted to make sure it made it to see the Texas Book Depository and the scene of that fateful event.

Near the museum they had the excerpt above. It was intended to be part of a speech the President was to give later that same day.

His words seem just as powerful today as I am sure they would have during that time.

We are tasked with a great responsibility.

To protect and build upon the progress of previous generations. To take the sacrifices made by others and turn them into a better and brighter future.

Words like these are a great reminder.

That we have something to work toward. That what we do matters and adds to an already great legacy.

Be inspired as you go about your day today.

Make it a great day.

Jake

The higher we are placed, the more humbly we should walk. – Marcus Tullius Cicero

In the grand scheme of things, we’ve all been placed very highly.

We stand on the shoulders of all those who have gone before us.

Upon all of this, we must walk humbly if we are to build higher still.

If we wish to add to all that has been given us it helps to start by thinking of others first. To begin with gratitude and be of genuine service and help whenever and wherever we can.

No job is too small. No good deed beneath us. No kind word unspoken.

Make it a great day.

Jake

One of my favorite mental images is one I heard about on a podcast from Rick Warren.

On the podcast, Rick describes God sitting on the end of the bed in the morning, looking at each and every one of us and saying “I can’t wait to see their face, to see what they are going to do today…”.

This image provides a lot of peace and positive energy for myself, to be sure.

But for me, this image is most helpful when thinking of others.

No matter who the person is and how good or bad I may deem them to be, God is sitting at the end of their bed each morning, looking for the best in them with love.

It’s easy to get frustrated with others. To get upset with those that don’t agree with you. To be disappointed with those that don’t meet your expectations.

I find it helps to think of these people as that quiet, sleeping bundle of potential seeking their own way in this world to be loved and to love.

When we can think of others in this light, we open ourselves up to look for the good in them.

We open ourselves up to love and be loved in a better way.

Make it a great day.

Jake

https://youtu.be/ry79LzkkDb4

I asked our Annie what a good song to send out would be and this was her suggestion.

Seemed particularly appropriate right now.

A lot of us are dressing a little differently while we work from home.

This song is a reminder that the little things are most important.

You’re never fully dressed without a smile.

True, there’s lots to be fearful of and worry about.

There’s also a lot to smile about.

Make it a great day.

Jake

“To stand up straight with your shoulders back is to accept the terrible responsibility of life, with eyes wide open. It means deciding to voluntarily transform the chaos of potential into the realities of habitable order. It means adopting the burden of self-conscious vulnerability, and accepting the end of the unconscious paradise of childhood, where finitude and mortality are only dimly comprehended. It means willingly undertaking the sacrifices necessary to generate a productive and meaningful reality (it means acting to please God, in the ancient language).”

― Jordan B. Peterson, 12 Rules for Life: An Antidote to Chaos

I’ve been reading this book again after listening to it last year.

It really is a tremendous book. Highly recommend.

A theme in the book is what I would call “being a grown up”.

This quote from the book puts it well.

Open your eyes and face reality.

Accept your responsibility to participate in it and make things better.

Understand your vulnerabilities and move forward anyway.

Gladly take on the sacrifices necessary to improve the lives around you.

These ideas seem particularly important in a time of difficulty like we are facing now.

Now is the time to stand up straight with our shoulders back, not to shrink or shirk our responsibilities.

Make it a great day.

Jake

Mark 12:41-44

New International Version (NIV)

The Widow’s Offering

41 Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. 42 But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents.

43 Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. 44 They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.”

An important component in life is the giving of ourselves in service to others.

It’s easy to get caught up in just the monetary aspect of the story. Maybe even feel bad because you haven’t given away all of the dollars you have earned.

And while I think that is an important element of the story, I believe that maybe a more important idea in today’s world is giving all of ourselves in service to others.

In service to our families.

In service to our church or favorite local charity.

In service to our clients.

In service to our teammates.

Make it a great day of service.

Jake

It is easier to go down a hill than up, but the view is from the top. – Arnold Bennett

Jim Rohn says something like “all good is upstream, against the current”.

The better version of your life lies beyond difficulty and obstacles.

There is no other way.

The sooner we realize and agree to this, the sooner we get to where we want to go.

Make it a great day.

Jake

Business, business, business…..numbers, numbers, numbers.

That is one of Maggie’s favorite movie lines (I think it is from the Lego movie and is probably misquoted).

In business, we tend to try to boil things down to numbers. We try to get to the numbers that really matter and we work hard to move them in the right direction.

Some view this as the evil of business, but I actually think (within reason) that it is a good thing.

It reminds me of sports.

Part of the reason sports are interesting and good for us is that there is a scoreboard. There is a real possibility of winning and losing.

When we face the real possibility of winning or losing we are able to push ourselves past what we thought was possible. We are able to do something that we didn’t think we could. Or we can’t. Either way, we learn and grow and move on to do better next time.

Business can be the same way. We face the real prospect of winning or losing. We face our fears and stand up to our challenges. And we either meet the test or don’t. Sometimes we win, sometimes we lose. But we can certainly learn and grow from it.

And what about you? You the person. What are your numbers? What number is most important to you right now? What could you boil down to a number?

Do you need to get a FitBit and count your steps?

Do you need to quit a bad habit and have a goal of zero?

Do you need to set a financial goal?

Do you need to set a time spent with my kids goal?

Be creative and set yourself a goal. A numerical, set in stone kind of goal.

And play your best, win or lose.

Make it a great day.

Jake

https://youtu.be/s7dTBoW5H9k

It feels like this year with the “shelter at home” thing going on that blue skies and sunshine are even more welcome.

At our house, we’ve tried to spend as much time as we can out in the fresh air and sunshine any time it has popped up.

God has created a wonderful world for us to enjoy, let’s make the most of it.

Make it a great day.

Jake