This week in Room 1501 and the rest of “my world”…I’m convinced I had the busiest week of my life.
Below is a list of things that took place in a short 5 day period.
Obviously I had 6 Bible classes of school each day with Sophomores, Juniors and Seniors…7:15AM to 3:15PM.
The Mission Organization I founded and lead called “Return Hope International,” began drilling 3 fresh water wells in Africa. Uganda Africa is 10 hours ahead of Arizona Time, so you can imagine the crazy times I was corresponding to move on with the details of it all.
My two High School Football boys started their year end football state playoffs. We won our first round and are moving on!
I’m the Assistant Coach of the Joy Christian High Varsity Basketball Team. Practice began Monday and was everyday from 7-9PM.
I prepared and led our All Staff Devotion at 7AM on Wednesday Morning, then Joy High’s state playoff girls volleyball team devotions on Thursday at 3pm.(They made it to the 3rd round of state before their season ended…that’s pretty incredible.) And…I led the football team in a quick devotion on Friday at 2:45pm before their game. (It is such an honor to do Bible Devotions anywhere anytime. I’m humbled by the opps)
I had a Wedding to officiate this week, which meant a Rehearsal on Wednesday Night and then the actual Wedding on Friday night. I was able to get done with the Wedding just in time to get to Joy’s 1st round of State Playoff Football game by 7PM! Did I say we WON?!
I’m Grateful. But full! (I’m probably no busier than the rest of you reading this.)
The past two days…I’ve been trying to do NOTHING!
If your life is as crazy as mine…then maybe the 10 things I had to be aware of this past week, might help you too.
1. When you know what you are about to do is going to have great results, then Don’t wait for approval, or permission…go for it. Deliver! Worst case scenario…if it doesn’t go well…then ask forgiveness and move on. At least an attempt took place. Usually when you are waiting for approval…the opportunity to react/respond/act or move, expires…and you miss the opportunity to act all together.
2. It’s okay to commit mistakes. When things are moving so fast and hectic, there isn’t always a lot of time to stop and think. Sometimes the temptation is to jump out of the race and stop moving and doing. But I say, Don’t quit. Get it done. Go for it!
3. Run…Run some more. Fast…steady…focus on the good work that needs to be done. Focus on the most important. You are going to have to prioritize when you have a crazy busy schedule. Prioritize the most important stuff first…not the urgent. Many times you’ll end up chasing all the urgent and then suck at the important stuff that needed to be done well. There is nothing worse than being really good at stuff that doesn’t matter…I fear some live their entire lives doing what I typed in that previous sentence.
4. If something must be done…Then doing it even a little mediocre is better than not doing it at all. (Sometimes you just have to live by the “GOOD-ENOUGH” principle. (Ignore this point if you are building bridges, doing surgery on me, or dismantling a bomb.) CAN YOU THINK OF SOME OTHER THINGS WE CANNOT DO IN A MEDIOCRE MANNER? Share them with me on my Facebook page where I posted this…or in the comments section of this blog post…it’ll be fun.
5. If something does go wrong…Own it! Accept responsibility. I’m determined in my knowledge of the fact that ANY BOSS hates to fire people. They just want somebody to accept responsibility, correct the problem, and keep the mission/vision/goal/idea/dream… moving forward. If bosses hate to fire people, then take advantage of it, by being a risk taker for good. If you succeed…thank the people who may have contributed to the success. Give them the credit and trust God to take care of the credit you think you deserve. Accept Responsibility when things go bad, give credit to others when things go good!
6. The people in your circle of influence…especially in teaching world, because that circle is youth…will take the inch you give them + an extra foot. i.e. If you allow students to enter the classroom one minute late for a week. They will enter 2 minutes late next week. 3 the next. If you allow students to sit on the floor while teaching, thinking it will help them pay attention because it’s different…they won’t pay attention even more. (Veteran teachers are thinking I’m such a ROOKIE right now…It’s because I am!!) Not everybody in your circle of influence has your best interest in mind. If you leave your classroom unlocked AND leave your Ray-Ban sunglasses laying around…they will get stolen. Yes…even in a Christian School. It’s okay…God’ll pay em back later! 🙂 (Just kidding…but not really!)
7. Winning is everything. Who are we kidding if we think otherwise. What’s more important, though, is knowing what a WIN is.
8. The only way your party/team/wedding/organization/school/church/business/game/etc…can truly move forward and win is by having EVERYBODY on the “team”, supporting each other’s decisions and keeping that united forward movement. Even one, that is not fully united, can keep any forward potential stuck in the mud. The previous can only happen with exceptional communication, frankness, and keeping the mission more important than your personal preferences.
9. It’s very difficult to be friends with the people you lead. It is possible…but extremely difficult.
10. The cross of Jesus and the Empty Tomb of Jesus are the only things in this physical life that won’t let you down or fail you…BUT…don’t rely on them. Rely on the ONE who conquered them both! He is the real deal. Only the things we do for Him will last. You better be quick…He moves fast. If you try to follow Him you will run a rat race, all your life. You will have to understand what a true win is. You will have to sacrifice. You will have to put your personal preferences to death. It will be the greatest race you’ve ever run. I pray the following two verses will inspire you to run on…
7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful. 8 And now the prize awaits me—the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on the day of his return. And the prize is not just for me but for all who eagerly look forward to his appearing”. –2 Timothy 4:7-8
24 “Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win!25 All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. 26 So I run with purpose in every step.” — 1 Corinthians 4:7-8
It’s a rat race like none other and you get to run in it. Me too!
On your marks!
Get Set!
Go…into all the World!