LEADERSHIP QUOTE:

"Let your joy be in your journey - not in some distant goal." Tim Cook

A LITTLE BIT DEEPER:

Continuing on in our conversation around JOY.

Apples CEO Tim Cook made this statement during a university commencement address years ago, and it was a simple reminder to the graduates to focus on the process, embrace the present and appreciate the personal growth along the way.

I'm reading this book by Matthew Kelly called "Slowing Down to the Speed of Joy". (Thanks again Brad for the recommendation). There's a short section in the book that is simply called:

JESUS WAS NEVER IN A HURRY

Kelly talks about the idea that Jesus didn't have these words in His life: urgent - busy - hurry

Jesus consistently took time for Himself, He allowed things to play out in front of Him, He paid attention to the things that were most important, He valued relationships, and He didn't mind making others uncomfortable with His time frame to address urgent needs.

The 3-year journey Jesus embarked on was the goal. Yes, there was an end goal, but He took advantage of every opportunity along the way to invest into peoples lives, to commune with His Father, to meet peoples needs and to model love and compassion.

I don't know about you, but I'm in a hurry... a lot! There is always something on my list that needs to be done or an urgent interruption that needs to be addressed.

The words: urgent - busy - hurry are not only attached to my life, but often they are words that people use to define me. I cringe when I hear people say, "Russ, you're so busy" or "Russ, I know you are in a hurry so I'll be quick." What am I communicating to people by my life? What am I living out?

I want JOY to be a part of my "every day" experience and not be the goal that I'm working hard to achieve.

This past weekend, I walked outside to our backyard and I found Gina sitting with her "BIRD APP" open, identifying the different birds that were making sounds in our yard and zooming in and out to get access to the water and food she has for these birds. I sat down, pulled out my BIRD APP (yes, we have a Bird App - see below) and at one point there were 11 different birds in and around our yard. We saw them, we identified the differences and we even got out the binoculars for a different view. What started as a short "good morning" turned into about 30 minutes of just JOY... acknowledging the sounds, the beauty, God's creation that is right here, in my yard.

What would it take for people to say: Russ Was Never In A Hurry?

How are you experiencing JOY in your journey on a regular basis?

LEADERSHIP QUOTE:

"The things that truly bring us joy are rarely things." Joshua Fields MillburnA

LITTLE BIT DEEPER:

Continuing on in our conversation around JOY.

I asked you a question last week, "What Brings You Joy?". We then started a conversation around JOY and what we can do to find Joy in the midst of a lot of stuff going on in our lives.

I found this quote from Joshua Fields Millburn, and I've been thinking about it for a few days. Millburn is one half of The Minimalists. Millburn and his friend Ryan Nicodemus began when some life challenges pushed them to downsize their "stuff", and that began a pursuit of finding happiness and contentment not in their "stuff" but in simplicity.

I've listened to a number of their podcasts and read one of their books years ago (noted below).

This quote then has some deeper meaning for them, and as I think about it, it definitely has deep meaning for me.

The truth is simple: We often think that JOY comes in the form of "things", and sometimes that is true, "things" can bring some joy, but if I were to be honest, joy comes from and through people in my life, through others, through my relationship with God, through so many things that don't stack up in my garage.

Let me test my theory: I owned a dream motorcycle years ago, a 2007 BMW GS 1200. This is a bike that was built for adventure, and when I purchased it in 2012, I needed some adventure in my life. I had ridden motorcycles in many different parts of the world and the U.S., and I always wanted to own a GS because the South Africa rides I took were so epic on that machine. I had one. It DID bring me joy.

Then it didn't. I got busy. My friend wasn't riding as much (sorry Jim). The bike sat in my garage not being used. I'd pull it out once in a while and something had shifted in me and I didn't find that ongoing sense of adventure and escape.

Finally, a few years ago, I made the decision to get rid of it. I was tired of paying for maintenance, insurance and registration and not riding it at all. I sold it quickly, took the money and purchased a pair of E-Bikes so Gina and I could explore and ride together. Great purpose, new joy.

As I think about that bike, I think I realize that the joy wasn't coming from the actual motorcycle, but it was coming from the comaraderie, the adventure, the exploration of new countries and rides. It was coming from the people that I shared these experiences with, not from the hunk of metal sitting in my garage.

So yes, there was some joy coming from by ability to own and ride that bike, but the truth is, I'm still in relationship with all these guys I've shared the road with. We'll ride again, we'll plan another trip, we'll find other adventure, either on a bike or just in our own aging lives! Cue Wild Hogs Theme Song Here....

Where does your Joy come from?

LEADERSHIP QUOTE:

"Joy does not simply happen to us. We have to choose joy and keep choosing it every day. Henri J.M. Nouwen

A LITTLE BIT DEEPER:

This month I want to focus on the word JOY.

Last week, while recording a podcast with a friend, I was asked the question, "what brings you joy"? It was a great question, and it kind of stopped me in my tracks.

Earlier in the week, Gina and I had attended the funeral of a good friend, and while there was sadness, there was also so much joy around the way he lived his life and the influence he had on so many people. It was a broad scope of emotions as we celebrated his life and as we connected with good friends in the process.

I then came back home to a really full and hectic week, and I'm learning that sometimes these transitions from one thing to another need a little time! The truth is, I flew back really early in order to make an important meeting, so I was tired, emotional, and not ready to dive into the tasks that were before me.

In the midst of these transitions, these emotions, this fatigue, and the urgency of things on my plate, we escaped late Thursday afternoon to attend our grandsons first art show at his preschool. (Yes, he's truly an artist). As members of our family came together to celebrate this beautiful child, I was overwhelmed. It wasn't just the art, but it was the love that was being displayed through our family, it was my 2 grandkids running on the grass chasing a ball, it was smiles and laughter, it was cheering and encouragement, it was just pure JOY.

I didn't realize it at the time, but it was so much more than a moment.

It was a reflection of what was stirring in my heart and soul in the midst of everything that had gone on during the week, and I didn't realize it in the moment, but when I reflected back while doing the podcast, that was the first thing out of my mouth when asked, "what brings you joy?".

Nouwen shares this:

"Joy isn't the same as happiness. Happiness is reactive - it comes and goes based on circumstances. Joy is something deeper: a settled sense of meaning and gratitude that can coexist with suffering, grief, or difficulty."

It's a discipline, not a moment and I want to keep choosing it everyday.

What Brings YOU Joy?