Hi folks!

Today, we’re seven weeks into 2010 and I would like to update you on some things I’ve learned.  First, though, welcome to a handful of you who are new to my email – hope you enjoy or know somebody who will…feel free to pass it along.

Now, for a quick review of my poorly developed “goal” for 2010 – to lose weight – I haven’t yet…much, anyway.  There’s always tomorrow, right?  RIGHT?

Queue a personal favorite of mine, Tim McGraw’s “Live Like You Were Dyin'”…seriously, it just came on as I’m typing this little note.  But I had fully intended to go back to an old theme of mine – MLK’s “fierce urgency of NOW”.  NOW!  It’s actually a perfect fit.  The song says, “I finally read the good book, and I took good long, hard look…at what I’d do if I could do it all again…”

Most of you know I spent a significant portion of my past 5 years in counseling with probably one of the best counselors in the business today – even though he’s a Longhorn.  One of the things Marty told me one time that really flipped a switch in my brain (and continues to) was the differentiation between personalities vs behaviors.  Our personalities are engrained…we are who we are and most likely will always be (at least in steady-state).  Behaviors, however, is what we seek to change…especially those not-so-favorable behavior flaws.

If I were to be completely honest, I believe I have two significant behaviors that have evolved over an entire lifetime.  One is a tendency to control, especially when I’m outside of my comfort zone.  It actually makes perfect sense when you find someone who is a “control freak” when you think of a rather new cliché – we control what we fear.  Think about it…when you “feel” controlled, try to gain understanding on what’s making you feel that way, and see if you can uncover the underlying fear from the other party.  On the other hand, when you’re doing the controlling…what is it you fear?  Not all control is bad – after all, should I let my kids run wildly loose in the street or grab them out of the street and give them a little bit of direct discussion on the error of their ways?  Obviously…control in that situation is necessity.

My other behavior that could use tons of work is my inability to focus on projects through completion…especially long-cycle project.  When things are short term, I’ve got it handled.  But things that look insurmountable…I throw my hands up and say, “nope, not today.” I’ve quoted Hebrews 12:1-3 on several occasions but my tendency is NOT to “run the race with perseverance.” I don’t put off the things that hinder…I tend to welcome them, who doesn’t love a good distraction now and then.

In fact, my “welcomed distractions” in the prior year have been unbelievably veiled in good-guy shrouds.  You may remember that 2009 delivered me 6 or 7 really great inspirational books that helped me gain a vast new insight my own walk, and on my own Hebrews 12 race.  But the honest truth is, I jumped off the tracks of the old race’s that still need finishing.  Oh sure, I wrapped a couple of big things up – necessary steps.  But this new excitement to essentially lose the “control” behaviors and begin to have active faith that God would truly work things out, caused some of those old races to hang in the balance…even to this day.  Decisions regarding where to live, what the future holds for my business, heck, what the future holds for me personally – I really could’ve spent better time getting to solid goals in that direction rather than getting overly excited about my new outlook on life.

Did it have to be that way?  Perhaps…perhaps I needed the tastes, smells, sounds, etc.  of what 2009 brought in order to hone in 2010 into my sights…to finish those old races and start my new ones.

Back in March, 2006, I wrote about a lunch I had with my minister at the time.  Dennis is an absolutely fantastic pastor…but he’s a better man than that!  I told Dennis in great detail why I knew God was saving me for something big.  I must’ve talked about it for 5-10 minutes of our hour-long lunch.  For a guy who has to talk a bunch, Dennis allowed me to blubber on before imparting some great wisdom…wisdom that sat in my head unresolved until last year.  Essentially, Dennis’ belief was that he doesn’t really buy-in (my summation) to the ideas (like mine) that there’s something really big that I’m going to do to change the world for the good, especially when I don’t necessarily reflect that same faith in my daily life.  It hit like a brick…but you know, what he said after that did sit in my mind almost daily since he spoke it.  In his mind, God’s desire is for us to take Him with us every minute of every day.  Stop waiting on the earth to shake for you and deliver a sign…start NOW living your faith.

It was more than I could grasp when he said it…but 2009 definitely helped me understand it a bunch more.  For all the friends I’ve made, for all the books I’ve read, mostly suggested by those friends, and for my generally always generous nature, 2009 was simply a great year.  I was able to give freely, and see some very small fruits of my labor…it was nice.  Imagine those who labor daily and rarely see any fruit to their labor…that’s a sad existence.  But imagine those who labor daily and every now and then they get a fruit…sometimes small, sometimes huge…and you wonder why they continue laboring…

The song ends with the line repeating…”And someday soon I hope you get the chance, to live like you were dyin’.”

My friend Nicky – as healthy as most anyone I know – had some scary stuff happen a couple of weeks ago…specifically, a blood clot in her lung.  Nicky’s a crazy girl – she jumps out of planes regularly and, well, is just an absolute hoot to hang around.  In my mind, she already lives like she’s dying.  But you know, I’ll bet she’d be the first to tell you there are things she wished she was accomplishing daily/weekly/regularly that she’s still not.

Today, folks…tonight…wipe off the 7 weeks of dust on your resolutions and see how far you’ve come.  Are you there?  Are you even further behind?  Are they “good” goals – meaning…specific, measurable, and productive for whatever purpose it is you seek in life?  If not, rekey…retool.  And that bucket list…keep adding to it…and make it a reward for accomplishing your goals.  Take the time to recognize your wins and learn from your losses…but don’t linger!  Remember…there’s no time like the present!

I thank God for all of you, all my friends and family every night.  Each of you has a place in my mind and on my heart.  It’s busy season now, so hopefully you won’t hear too much from me for a couple of months!  During that time…and as always,

I wish God’s richest blessings on all of you.  May you all feel His grace and comfort daily.

Tim