Giving Freely

The Jews were fearful because they thought their God was a privilege to be lost.

The Disciples were zealous because they knew their God was a privilege to be shared. 

I prayed for years that God would "Lead Me to the Cross." I got in my car today, completely spent, and  realized He had answered my prayers: "...rid me of myself; I belong to You" rang from my speakers. I have Something to share. 

It's hard to share something without losing yourself in the process. 

How confounding.

Strengths logging

I'm a big fan of personal assessments and strengths studies. Not because they can put a person in a box, but because they add another aspect to each unique person. I took the Strengths Finder 2.0 my freshman year, and it was definitely influential. I've now re-taken the Leadership version. Here are my current five and their short descriptors.

• Strategic: People strong in the Strategic theme create alternative ways to proceed. Faced with any given scenario, they can quickly spot the relevant patterns and issues.
• Communication: People strong in the Communication theme generally find it easy to put their thoughts into words. They are good conversationalists and presenters.
• Maximizer: People strong in the Maximizer theme focus on strengths as a way to stimulate personal and group excellence. They seek to transform something strong into something superb.
• Ideation: People strong in the Ideation theme are fascinated by ideas. They are able to find connections between seemingly disparate phenomena.
• Context: People strong in the Context theme enjoy thinking about the past. They understand the present by researching its history.

These are the two that changed since last time, though I'm sure they're still in my Top 10:

• Individualization: People strong in the Individualization theme are intrigued with the unique qualities of each person. They have a gift for figuring out how people who are different can work together productively.
• Empathy: People strong in the Empathy theme can sense the feelings of other people by imagining themselves in others’ lives or others’ situations.

This quiet February evening deserves a haiku

Being.

Heaters, pages, friends:
Humming, crinkling, sighing deep.
We all breathe as one.

If only Gettysburg was a running-distance away...

Tonight I was reminded of how much I enjoy Remember the Titans. 

SO. MUCH.

People are meant to work together like that. And lead like that. And challenge like that.

Julius: Then why don't you tell your white buddies to block for Rev better? Because they have not blocked for him worth a blood nickel, and you know it! Nobody plays. Yourself included. I'm supposed to wear myself out for the team? What team? Nah, nah -- what I'm gonna do is look out for myself and I'ma get mine.

Bertier: See man, that's the worst attitude I ever heard.

Julius: Attitude reflects leadership, captain.

Thomas Edison-ing

Kayla: Oh, who did you have Starbucks with?

Bethany: Nobody.

Kayla: Did you get two drinks?

Bethany: ... yes. Oh shoot, I'm so pitiful right now.

I needed a ton of fuel tonight as designed a Rube Goldberg machine for our leadership retreat.