“No man knows how bad he is till he has tried very hard to be good.” CS Lewis “Mere Christianity”

One of my favorite things about CS Lewis is ability to capture the ordinary struggle faced by all of us.

Writing these emails every day for so long has been an exercise in exactly this.

Each day is an exercise is illuminating one more thing that I could improve on.

Each day is a realization that I still have a long way to go.

But each day is also a reminder that it is worth it.

It’s worth it to work towards something meaningful.

It’s worth it to “try very hard to be good” (even when it seems a long way off).

We will all fall short of perfection in the end, but moving closer each day is the only way.

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, Mere Christianity

This is one of my favorite ideas from Mere Christianity.

This quote reminded me a lot of the ideas sent out in these daily attitude emails every day.

A big part of changing for the better is letting go of what we are currently.

At some point we must be willing to tear down our current habits and idiosyncrasies.

It’s hard. It’s painful. It isn’t much fun.

We want to change, but maybe aren’t quite ready to let go of ourselves and our ego in the process.

But it has to happen in order to really change.

We are capable of much more than we ever dreamed.

We are capable of greatness.

If we are willing to be torn down in the process.

Make it a great day.

Jake

On Saturday we got to Meaghan’s cousin’s wedding.

A great time was had by all.

Our lives are marked by the big events. The mile markers along the way.

Our kids’ birthdays.

The year we got married.

The year a loved one died.

Now that I’m old, I can see the wisdom in slowing down a little and paying attention while they are happening.

Enjoy the moments.

Let your Aunt’s smell or your cousin’s laugh get burned into your memory.

Be loving and kind to even the obnoxious.

For this moment to will pass.

Make the memories so you can enjoy them.

Make it a great day.

Jake

I was looking through old DAEs and came across this one. Sending again even though it isn’t really Veteran’s Day.

Today is Veteran’s Day. Yesterday we had the great fortune of having a Korean War veteran speak at church.

He spoke of how those that gave their lives in combat didn’t get to have some of the experiences that he has had.

I thought to myself that that’s what it means to give your life. To exchange all of those experiences in exchange for something else.

Think about all of the experiences you have had since you were 18 or 20. That’s what they have given.

The wedding that never happened.

The birth of those children that never came to pass.

The simple joys of a great meal, a cold glass of water and the many daily joys we often take for granted.

All that served gave something. They gave up their time in exchange for our freedom.

And each day we choose how to use that freedom.

We choose to make the world a better place or to put our needs before others.

We choose to enjoy our freedom and experiences or to complain and bemoan our circumstances.

Their job was to give. Our job is to make the most of that gift.

Each and every day we make the choice.

Choose to respect their gift and honor their sacrifice.

Thank you to all of the Veterans who receive this email.

Make it a great day.

Jake

https://youtu.be/Vq25ZJwZJzU

I know we’ve all felt like we’re running on empty at times in our lives.

Whether it be emotionally, financially, physically or spiritually, we’ve all felt like we were at the end of our rope.

Let this song and this email remind you that we’ve all felt it.

And someone you know is feeling it right now.

Be on the lookout for that person in your life that needs a lift.

That could use a hug or a kind word or someone to vent to.

Reach out.

Connect in an uplifting way.

Make it a great day.

Jake

“Remember that the happiest people are not those getting more, but those giving more.” – H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

I’d also like to add the quote of “The Lord loves a cheerful giver.”

For some reason, the way things work on this planet is that the more you give, the better off you are.

To me, this falls into the “gravity” category – it just is.

We could think really hard about why or how it might be different, but that doesn’t do us any good.

Giving does us good.

Choosing to ignore this or to try and put your needs first, just doesn’t work.

There’s no way around it.

So, what to do?

Get on with the giving.

The more the better.

Make it a great day.

Jake

Freedom is nothing but a chance to be better. – Albert Camus

In “Man’s Search for Meaning” Viktor Frankl has the idea that the Statue of Liberty (representing freedom) should have a twin on the West Coast – a statue of responsibility.

Freedom is not only a chance to be better, it is an offering to accept the responsibility inherent in making the most of our freedom.

I’ve read quite a few books from members of our military over the last few years.

Each time I am inspired to make the most of the freedom they have bought for me.

Even the most heroic and well-meaning soldiers from the stories seem to struggle with coming back and realizing that so many have chosen to squander their great gifts.

Our biggest tribute to the armed forces is a life well lived.

A life spent enjoying the responsibilities of the freedom so dearly bought for us.

Make the most of your chance to be better.

Embrace the responsibility of making the most of your freedom.

Make it a great day.

Jake

I have come to believe that my capacity for joy in life is a function of my capacity to love imperfect people. And the most aggressive calisthenics of that capacity is practicing vulnerability at times of the most acute emotional risk. For example:

· Saying “I love you” with no expectation of reciprocity.

· Offering assistance at a time of crisis to those who have wronged me from a motive of guileless compassion.

· Expressing a desire to reconnect toward one who might see it as an opportunity to wound me.

· Fully admitting my errors in willing acceptance of others’ right to forever delay admitting theirs.

Joseph Grenny

I received the above as part of a regular email I receive from the Crucial Conversations people.

The level of maturity expressed above escapes me most days, but I sure would like to get there.

Each day is an opportunity to work on my capacity to love imperfect people.

Each day is an opportunity to experience real joy.

Make it a great day.

Jake

We officially have a teenager in the house – Maggie turned 13 on Saturday.

We had a lot to celebrate, Maggie is a great kid.

It was another reminder of how precious our time together really is.

It feels like we’re at the top of a roller coaster about to head down the speedy, winding path of what is hopefully as awesome ride that (hopefully) “ends” with Maggie out on her own in the world being the best version of herself possible.

Even though it will go quickly, I was reminded to enjoy the moments.

Even the hard ones.

We are all given precious few years on Earth to do and become our best.

It’s easy to get worried about the future or brood over the past, but we must do our best to be in and find joy in the moments have now, right now.

Enjoy today. Enjoy these precious moments. They won’t last forever.

Make it a great day.

Jake

https://youtu.be/J3UXp9jIr-U

The basic idea of this song (I need you here with me) got me thinking.

It sure does feel good when someone expresses this to us, doesn’t it?

Someone who knows us and our faults and still chooses to spend time with us – enjoys it even….

When I hear something like this or am reminded of what makes me feel good, I try to turn it around and do that same thing for someone else.

Tell someone today that they are special to you.

Tell them why.

Show them.

Work to give them that feeling of being someone who is worth it. Worth your time, effort, talents, and love.

Make it a great day.

Jake