Find Your Harp

The other morning was a dark one for me.

I didn’t have any particular reason for finding myself in the state of mind I was in, but I noticed it begin to overpower me as I drove in to work; the closer I got, the more I found myself filling up with a dark and dangerous anger.

I’m aware that anger grows from seeds that are real, but it tends to grow in a manner that is completely aggrandizing and often disproportionate to reality.

And that anger, when left unchecked, can lead to some very dark places.

Good vs. EvilNathan WestwickMarch 31, 2016Finding Peace Comment

Bloom in Your Desert

The desert bloom

Stands alone

Beauty and color

In sharp contrast to its surroundings

Inviting life

Defying circumstances

Standing tall against opposition

Noticeable for miles

Drawing attention

Not because it cries for it

But because it is true to its calling.

Life AbundantNathan WestwickMarch 24, 2016Bloom, DesertComment

How To Experience Real Change

I was listening to sports talk radio the other day when one of my favorite sports leaders quickly became the topic of discussion: The ever-quirky, highly intelligent Phil Jackson was quoted as saying something about “transformational leadership vs. transactional leadership”. The sportscasters were discussing the merits of his approach to leading an NBA franchise, and were somewhat lost in articulating the differences between the two styles of leadership.

You don’t coach your teams to 11 NBA titles without knowing a thing or two about leadership, so I was naturally intrigued by what Phil Jackson meant by that comment.

Life Abundant, The JourneyNathan WestwickMarch 17, 2016TransformationComment

The Best Sandwich I’ve Had in Quite a While

I recently found myself out in Orange County for work. As luck would have it, the café I had a meeting with was about 10 minutes from my grandmother’s house.

I gave her a ring the day before, and told her I had two reasons for calling. First, I was calling to say hi. Second, I phoned her to see if I could say hi in person the next day. I could hear her delight as I asked, and noticed her getting choked up as we ended our short conversation.

You see, I’m pretty sure my grandmother isn’t fully human. In fact, if I were to guess, I would put that percentage at less than 50%.

The other part of her is pure angel.

The Stuff That Matters, FamilyNathan WestwickMarch 3, 2016Family, LoveComment

Cutting Life's Safety Nets

Yesterday I put my signature on a paper that officially steers my career in a new direction.

I left teaching high school math a little over two years ago in order to work full-time in my coffee business. I traded stability for adventure. A high-structured job where simple needs like going to the bathroom were dictated by electronic bells buzzing through busy hallways, and exchanged that for the freedom to set my own schedule. I tossed my collared button-down shirts aside in favor of shorts and flip flops.

Business, Faith, Overcoming Fears, The JourneyNathan WestwickFebruary 25, 2016Leap of Faith, Trust Comments

Why I Find Jesus Offensive

Sometimes Jesus can drive me absolutely crazy.

Last week I wrote about my approach to Lent this year, but this week I just want to take a pause and be brutally honest:

The more I dive into the life and teachings of Jesus, the more offended I get.

FaithNathan WestwickFebruary 18, 2016My Own Shortcomings, Finding Freedom Comment

Observing Lent From a Different Perspective (an Ode to Ash Wednesday)...

As today marks the first day of Lent, I felt it worthwhile to explore a few topics on the matter.

First, cycling.

As you may know, I try to spend a lot of time on my bike. I love getting outside, breathing deep of the fresh air and enjoying the songs of birds as I ride through quiet streets. I love the rhythm of the turning of the pedals, and how that rhythm propels the bike quickly down the road. I love riding hills, because the hills make me stronger and I feel like I’ve accomplished something each and every time I summit.

I guess I just love that cycling teaches me so much about life in general.

Faith, The JourneyNathan WestwickFebruary 10, 2016Lent, Life Lessons of CyclingComment

An Unexplainable Change (and The Importance of Friends and Family)

My previous two posts have revealed a crack in my armor, if you will. I have expressed a vulnerability of my own fears and doubts, and openly questioned my ability to navigate through what has turned out to be a fairly difficult stretch. Toss in a dose of mistrust that God truly has my back, and we've got a pretty potent combination...

Faith, Family, RelationshipsNathan WestwickFebruary 4, 2016Trust, Friendship Comment

Mustering the Strength to Fight On…

For most of my life, I’ve felt like a pretty emotionally stable bloke. But lately, it seems my days are bookended by feelings of anxiety at night followed by moods of depression in the mornings.

There are a variety of reasons for these emotions, but most of them are related to my continued realization that life (at least the good stuff) is really tough. That in order to live a full life, there are things I have to face head-on and fight each and every day.

Fighting for What's Good, Life Abundant, Overcoming Fears, The JourneyNathan WestwickJanuary 28, 2016Fighting OnComment

How a Dead Gopher Nearly Crushed my Spirit

Yesterday morning I woke up from a restless sleep so stressed out I felt like crying. Later, as I was walking out to get the paper, I was met with the unexpected sight of a dead gopher on our driveway.

As it turns out, that would serve as a metaphor for my entire day.

Business, Faith, Overcoming FearsNathan WestwickJanuary 21, 2016Trust, Fighting On, Life's Struggles Comment

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