Now go out there and make some mistakes!

Many years ago, I worked for an electric utility. It was my first job out of high school and was the way I put myself through college. The job was a meter reader. Yes, I was the popular guy that walked from house-to-house reading the electric meters that would eventually be the basis for your monthly electric bill (please remember this is a Christian blog and keep the comments clean :-) I would occasionally drive a pick up truck on my routes and as you can imagine, the more you drive, the more opportunity there will be for accidents. Of course, it happened to me and to say the least, I was devastated. Would I loose my job? Would it end up costing me money? It wasn't even my fault but I was responsible for the truck, what would happen to me?

Well, as with any large company and one with plenty of people to do 'investigations', my accident was assigned to the local safety manager. He was a nice guy and we had met before but now things were different. I wasn't the newbie that he could train, I was now the one being investigated. I will never forget what he told me, he came right out and said "the people that don't make mistakes are the ones not working." Basically what he was saying was that if you are out there trying to do the right thing and trying to do your job, there will be times when things happen that are unintended. Mistakes. Everyone makes them and if you aren't making them, then you are doing it wrong!

I was reminded of this story today when I read this blog post from someone on LinkedIn. It made me think about how I made mistakes at work but it also got me to thinking about the mistakes I make daily in my walk with Christ. But just as the safety manager tried to settle me, so too does Christ. None of us are perfect and we will all sin each and every day. Rather than beat ourselves up over our mistakes and failures, we need to learn from our mistakes and try to do better each and every day. What a great feeling to know that yes, I made mistakes today but the sun will come up tomorrow and I will have a chance to get it right on that day. What a wonderful gift! As long as we are trying, we will make mistakes and as long as we keep trying, God will continue to love us and prosper us in all that we do, mistakes and all!

Are you so afraid to fail or make a mistake that you end up doing nothing? Step out in faith and be willing to dust yourself off when you fall down, and you will fall down. Just don't let the failure or mistake define you, instead learn from it and grow in Christ!

Measuring Success

I believe every day that God wants me to be happy. That doesn't mean He will never let me be sad and as a wise man once said to me, "you cannot know happiness without knowing sorrow". Okay, I am paraphrasing but it does make a lot of sense.

Today, I read a blog post by Sir Richard Branson, founder and CEO of Virgin Group. I won't say I am an avid follower of all things Sir Richard but this post got my attention. Basically, what he is saying, if you chase happiness, success (and money) will follow. If you chase success, then maybe not so much.

So, my point today is not to really discuss business, although I do enjoy my work, it really is to point out that being happy or pursuing things that make you happy will lead to success. Do you like to help others? Are you doing something that will leave the world a better place or improve the lives of others? Those are things that can make you happy and if they do, then don't you count that as also being successful? I certainly do and I know for sure that God does.

Go out and choose to be happy, look for ways to make a difference. Success will be measured in more ways than a paycheck or a balance sheet.

Jesus Take the Wheel

Do you remember this song from a very new American Idol winner, Carrie Underwood? It was her first commercial hit after winning the Season 4 (2005) American Idol competition. If it isn't familiar, it is about a single mother traveling on an icy road to her parents home, her baby asleep in the rear car seat. It is late at night, she hits a patch of ice while driving and the car spins our of control. As she realizes what has happened, she releases the steering wheel and prays for Jesus to take the wheel. It is at that moment she realizes she is trying to control her life when it would be better to let God take control. The car comes to rest, safely on the side of the road and the near accident turns out to be a wake up call to make a change in her life.

I am reminded of this song and it's meaning because of things going on in my life. I am at a place where I will soon have to make choices. Choices that will impact where I live, my work, and how I spend my professional and personal time. In other words, really big changes to my life and that of my family. I can't say that I am excited or that I am afraid, although, I am sure those feelings are there. No, what I feel is uncertainty. However, I continue to believe that God is working on my behalf and that I will make it through these choices and still be on the path He has for me. What I am beginning to realize is that whatever path I do end up going down, whatever choice I make, it isn't something that is final. What I mean is that it is part of my journey. Is this THE job God wants for me? I'm not sure but if it is, He will make it known and if it is not, He will make that known too. I know what I want but what does God want? I am sure to find out soon enough. Perhaps this whole process is a set up for the big dream he has put inside me or maybe THIS is the big dream and I just can't see it yet. Regardless, I am handing over the wheel to God and going to let him do the driving. In a way, it is kind of nice to leave it in his hands because I know He won't steer me wrong.

How many times do we fight God over the plans he has for us? Are you in a job that you know you need to leave but are staying because you are afraid of change? Are you associated with the wrong people but you won't give them up because you worry no one will be your friend? Deep down, you know God has big dreams for you, things that can only happen if you let go of the wheel and let Him take control but it is hard. He won't fight you for control but he will tug on the wheel from time-to-time to see if you are ready yet. How do you know it is His plan? How do you know He will take the wheel and get you safely to your destination? Because He has promised you he will take care of you and God never breaks a promise.

Jeremiah 29:11

For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.

What are you holding on to and do you need to give God the wheel? Can you let Him do the driving?