Miracles are not contrary to nature, but only contrary to what we know about nature. – Saint Augustine

Miracles are all around us.

We are so spoiled in our day and age that we ignore the magnificence of the technology and lives we lead.

We complain about slow planes, slow internet connections, clothes that take more than 2 days to show up, access to thousands of hours of millions of dollars of entertainment that is just so boring…..the list goes on.

We miss the miracle that we were ever born to begin with.

That we have loved ones and friends that ignore the long list of shortcomings and spend time with and love us anyway.

I am so very grateful for all the miracles in my life.

Make it a great day.

Jake

Last new a few of us were lucky enough to attend a dinner for Lifesong for Orphans.

We got to hear some amazing (and heartbreaking) stories about the difference they make in the lives of orphans.

I was so thankful for our team at Mavidea in that moment. Thankful that we have been blessed with the opportunity to be of service to an organization like that (and all of our other clients).

Sure, we “just” work on IT and websites and marketing for our clients.

But what we do enables the good work they do.

Not just in helping orphans in difficult situations, but also in running their small business in a way that honors their employees and their customers.

It may seem small, but we do make a difference. Our service makes things better. How we treat them and how we serve them has meaning. How we treat each other matters.

It’s not always easy. Sometimes it’s stressful. Sometimes it’s behind the scenes and unappreciated. But it means something to do it well and do it right.

Thank you.

Make it a great day.

Jake

Remember upon the conduct of each depends the fate of all. – Alexander the Great

So many of society’s ills could be solved if we could remember this simple idea.

If we could be nice to one another.

If we could reach out a hand to someone in need.

If we could be a friend to the lonely.

If we could be wise with the resources given us, whether a lot or a little.

The Bible talks about “the kingdom” and “heaven” a lot.

It also talks a lot about all of us serving as the “hands and feet” of Jesus.

If we could be His hands and feet then the kingdom will be where we are. The conduct of each creates the fate of all.

Make it a great day.

Jake

Nothing can be done except little by little. – Charles Baudelaire

Monday morning reminder – progress is mostly made little by little.

Moments of big process and life change do happen, but most of the time it’s repeated disciplines over a long period of time.

Make some small progress today.

Make it a great day.

Jake

https://youtu.be/oNjQXmoxiQ8?si=pJAxW8uiiuez8bRX

Of course we’ll not always be forever young.

And that’s mostly a good thing.

We have to grow out of most of the habits of our youth.

But there are parts to hold on to.

Hope. Faith. Love. Fun. And others.

Good stuff to cherish and not let cynicism and crankiness win out.

Make it a great day.

Jake

He who angers you conquers you. – Elizabeth Kenny

It’s so easy to fall into the trap of getting angry.

There’s so much to be angry about.

But it only makes our lives worse.

We don’t benefit. We are the ones who are worse off.

Let it go. Don’t let the anger win.

Make it a great day.

Jake

Everything popular is wrong. – Oscar Wilde

I’m not sure about “everything”, “most things” – maybe. It’s at the very least “some”.

We often fall into the trap of following the group. Trying to be popular and part of the in crowd.

So many movies have been made and books have been written about the dangers of trying to be popular.

We watch the movie and immediately know that those high schoolers in the movies are being foolish by chasing popularity.

And then we fall into the same trap – buying the stuff and doing the things we think will impress others.

Don’t do it! Don’t fall for the trap. It’s fool’s gold – fake and not real.

Make it a great day.

Jake

PS – the other side of this is the “just be yourself” advice. Which is better than trying to be popular. But if you’re a jerk, you should probably work on who you are first instead of embracing the jerk.

PSS – I’m sure at least one of you will want to listen to this song after thinking about the word popular – https://youtu.be/vDuBWmYBCwE?si=6LDy6qsRuNvepsUA

An effort made for the happiness of others lifts above ourselves. – Lydia M. Child

Look for people to help.

Forget about what you want and who is or isn’t doing what you want them to do.

Just try to help somebody else.

Ask questions.

Get curious.

Offer to help.

Jump right in.

Make it a great day.

Jake

I went in search of an old daily attitude email about Mother’s Day and ran across the email below. It seems to me that motherhood is a great example of this kind of love.

I have found the paradox, that if you love until it hurts, there can be no more hurt, only more love. – Mother Teresa

Love until it hurts.

I think she means love it until it starts to (and continues to over time) kill our selfishness.

We must seek out this place of giving up our own desires for others.

When we can love another like this we finally experience the life we were designed for.

The paradox is that when we are able to do so we become happier than we would have been had we acted on our selfish desires in the first place.

I’m sure you all believe this already. My hope is that this email inspires you to do act on it. Just a little. Today.

Make it a great day.

Jake

https://youtu.be/MslDnwerQRA?si=U8pN0VVGuAwxwvYJ

Last band concert of the year last night and this was one of the songs.

Watching Annie and her friends play music and do it well always amazes me.

So much work and effort went into becoming the group they became over the year.

It’s a reminder every time that we can accomplish something cool if we stick with it.

Stick with it through the part where we stink at something new.

Stick with it through people and relationships that aren’t always perfect.

Stick with it through our own insecurities and flaws.

And in the end, something beautiful and unique comes out that only exists because we stuck with it.

Make it a great day.

Jake