The problem with problems

We’ve fallen into a great trap. I see it in myself most days. You see I’ve begun to have a problem with problems.

Like anyone else I love it when my day or a few days pass by problem free. I enjoy the ease of life of work in those periods of carefree schedules.

Unfortunately, like to many others I cherish and covet those days. It’s too easy to see problems as set-backs, stumbling blocks, energy traps so when problems spring up I feel like I’m encountering a bad day.

But is it true? Where would we be without problems? Leaders understand problems cause us to think and rethink situations mulling our possible choices. Problems force us to wrestle with issues we would otherwise avoid.

Problems are the catalyst of change in a leader’s life. Problems motivate us to work hard, to study, to learn, to grow, to analyze, to plan, and to execute. Without problems it would be too easy to coast- to go with the flow – to simply maintain rather than advance.

James understood this when he wrote, “Consider it all joy when you encounter various types of trials.”

A Leader’s Heart on Valentine’s Day

Two worlds are merged. The singleness of the past evolved into a future duet. A dance of love and excitement unfolded. Two hearts, two dreams mingled into one. Through the days of me-ness we learned to seek we-ness. The Forgiver’s bond on our hearts lit a light of hope in the dark days; a season of brilliance yet discovered set before us. When resentment and disappointment was sewn by the hand of the deceiver, patience and long-suffering won the day.

When others have run from the vows, when others have settled for less, we will endure, we will persevere, and we will press on because of the secret we have learned. One-ness is not discovered in an arrival but chased as a present future.

Complete in Him yet not complete in each other, knowing more lies ahead, the gate is open, the chase continues together we run toward all it means – “AND THE TWO SHALL BE ONE.”

May every leader graced with a mate, chase the oneness destined for them. May there be joy in the running.

Forgetting Names

Okay I admit it. Forgetfulness is frustrating. I work hard at remembering names. I repeat them when I hear them. I use them again right away. I even make notes on my PDA or on scrap paper. But even with all this effort names can still escape me. They slip away.

For my dad it is much worse. Since his stroke, the aphasia makes recalling names even more difficult. He’s called me Tim, Gregg (my nephews) and Chris (my son). The aphasia gets in the way of recalling the correct name. He knows he has used the wrong name, but he cannot recall the true name.

That is just like God. Okay bear with me in this.

David Teems wrote, “God has written a law of forgetfulness against his omniscience.”

Wow. Did you catch that. God has written a law that won’t let him remember our birth names. The names that reflected our birth character he can’t recall.

So when he looks at us instead of calling out “liar”, or “cheater” or “thief”. . .

Instead of calling out “disgrace” or “loser” . . .

Instead of remembering our true birth name, “sinner,” . . .

He calls out to our souls a new name, “beloved,” “son,” “daughter,” “co-heir,” “precious.”

Every time my dad stumbles over a name I’m reminding myself that my other Father forgets names also. My God cannot recall my “birth” name. He calls me by another.

Saint.