Last night was simply… special.
To watch Kobe Bryant’s last game in a Lakers uniform was a transcendent experience that left me with tears trickling down my face as the final buzzer sounded.
For those of you who missed it, Kobe, in his final game of a distinguished 20-year career, scored 60 points, leading his team to victory after coming back from a 14-point deficit in the final 10 minutes. The crowd was electric, Kobe was exhausted; it was the perfect end to a brilliant career.
Read MoreDo you feel like you’re constantly on the go, rushing from one place to the next? Rushing out the door to make it to work on time; packing up from work so you can take the kids to soccer practice; running home to make a quick dinner so the kids can get to bed at a reasonable hour? Then you collapse on the couch and throw on a show so you can unwind a bit?
My life feels this way far too often.
Read MoreThe 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.
Read MoreThe 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.
Read MoreI 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.
Read MoreI 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.
Read MoreYesterday 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.
Read MoreSometimes 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.
Read MoreAs 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.
Read MoreMy 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...
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