2021/07 Ship's Log

My Papaw sent this picture of us when I was about the age of my boys today. What a sweet photo!

So many sparks today around obedience!

• the story of Saul. “To obey is better than sacrifice; to listen than the fat of rams.”
• the development of consequences in David’s life. He chose between three consequences in his later years. Also, consequences turned him towards, but away from, the Lord.
• the more God’s covenant people fail, the more he presses into his covenant promises.
• disobedience doesn’t equate to a total loss. God kept working with Abram to bring about blessing to the nations. God let Moses partially fill the role he’d at first denied.
• the simplicity of God’s commands. He makes few demands and many promises. His commands aren’t for laying out a perfect human life, but are a relational directive based in trust. To disobey says more about distrust than perfection. God is much less concerned about mistakes than about relational barriers.

It is remarkable that, despite driving half-way across the country, meeting all sorts of new people and putting so many new things in his mouth, Royal was never seriously sick on our vacation. A week back and he’s got something that kept him coughing all night. He and I slept on the couch; a better option than rising to cuddle him every half-hour when a cough woke him. So I’m tired, sore, and ready for bed.

Amie and I enjoyed a lovely evening of prayer and pie with the Ellos tonight. All of us are seeking to be quiet and listen for the Father’s voice as we ponder next steps for our families in this tumultuous season.

For the Ellos, we heard integration, provision and home. May the Father unite the Ello’s many gifts and passions to breathtaking display of God’s character. May the Father supply all their needs without fretting, as the birds have their needs met without harvest labor. And may the Father go before them to establish a home in which they may rest and bear much fruit.

For us, we heard passion, influence and celebration. Like fallen green leaves which turn brown and dry, our ambitions and longings have been silent and seemingly dead. But a fire begins to smoke in the leaves, and the blaze will be momentous when it catches. Amie is dancing with joy, a band of jewels upon her ankle.

It’s Royal’s first day at school! Doesn’t he look cute wearing this monkey backpack from Ty?

Graham’s only been in his new classroom for a couple days, so this is also a big day for him.

Will you pray for them today?

In the spirit of intentional change, what if I implemented unoffice hours? My purpose is three-fold.

First, for years my family has stated that they never know when to call. That’s partially true; a full-time job, two young children, and my human need for rest absorb nearly every waking moment. When the responsibility to contact family is entirely in my hands, however, no one’s happy because I (almost) never think about it. Maybe office hours would make those free times explicit?

An added bonus to family office hours is that it’s equal for any family member. I don’t need to somehow balance my time between folks - anyone can see how often I’m speaking with the whole squad and can sign up at the next available opening, even if it’s three months hence.

Second, I miss friends of old. Every time I speak with an old friend, even for a short period, I walk away grateful and energized. I’ve had some success keeping streaks by scheduling the next call before the current one ends, but multiple reschedules break the streak. I’ve come to accept that I can’t maintain monthly calls with everyone I love, but I might connect with more folks if I kept office hours?

Third, there’s a vast network of people I’ve not met. How awesome it’d be to make some new acquaintances, colleagues - even friends. I’m a technology consultant by trade and passion, and the hope that office hours might open new doors to work together is motivation enough.

I suppose Calendly will have to do, but I’d love to host my own solution. Suggestions?

(republished because it doesn’t fit in my notes but I didn’t want to lose the thought)

What gives life meaning?

Is it the fulfillment of our dreams? The result of our vision and the labor to bring that vision to reality? For there is a sense of meaning after a project ends and the results are before me.

Then is it in reflection? With or without a preceding dream, is meaning formed in the review of one’s mundane life, when all the highs and lows flatten by distance and the whole is in view? For there is meaning in the review of our son’s early pictures and the memories, sweetened by time, which Amie and I share.

Then it is in our sharing? When the stories are cast and recast, forming in the telling a shape to their narrative that explains the purpose of the characters and reshaped by the special perspective of each new listener.

(republished because it didn’t actually fit in my notes but I didn’t want to lose this little rumination)

I’ve written hundreds of business insights, but few are polished for the web. I’ve started to migrate them to notes so I can at least reference them more easily and slowly, possibly, transform them into a worthwhile resource. You could start with Entrepreneurial Insights.

For our 7th anniversary Amie and I went out to dinner at Big Jones. We don’t often get out after bedtime but Amie’s mom stayed with the kiddos so we could have a relaxed evening. If we ever leave Chicago we’ll sure miss the world-class dining.

Today is Amie and I’s 7th wedding anniversary! We arrived back in Evanston from our summer vacation yesterday morning (really? Yes, Alex, really…), so I’m not in the best state for a celebration, being sleep-deprived and driven to catch up, but we’re still going to celebrate!