One Full Day

I had a very full schedule today requiring a constant on-the-go pace. The day went by so quickly, but it also presented me with a few surprises along the way. Even though everything was not exactly smooth, I was able to use my attitude of faith to keep going strong. In fact, I recognized each interruption in the day's journey as a chance for blessing. Looking back on the full day of events, I can now see that the surprises were actually what made the day special. I am grateful that I had the presence of mind to make the most out of each individual opportunity and feel blessed to have worked through such a chaotic day while sustaining an amazing feeling of peace.

My day started out at 5:15am after awakening to the not so pleasant beep, beep, beep of the alarm. I am not used to getting up early and am still adjusting to the new schedule. However, I was able to talk with my father before he left for work. Over the past year, it seems like I never get to talk with him until after he has already worked a long day. Even though it was tough to wake up, it was wonderful to get to spend some time with my Dad to begin my day.

I arrived to work at 7am. Even though the training manager had the day off, I was able to work closely with the assistant manager. Together we covered a lot of the same topics I covered on Monday, but I was able to learn it from his perspective. I believe it provided me with a more well rounded view of the required tasks. I was a little skeptical of how everything would go since I had no prior meeting with the assistant manager, but it turned out to be a very productive 8 hours.

Directly from work, I had to go to a dentist appointment. I do not enjoy having my teeth cleaned, and dread my six month check ups. I was surprised to see a new hygienist, but the process seemed to go smoother than normal. I was pleased she took the time to talk afterwards and offer suggestions on how to improve my oral hygiene. Also, it turns out that I will not need to get the costly x-rays and fillings I was expecting until July. I was very happy with that news, since I should have dental insurance at that time.

After leaving the dentist, I had an hour to make it to my Wednesday night meeting. Upon deciding that I was hungry, I thought I would try out a few of the new A1 sliders at White Castle. I was surprised to see a friend from my past working the register. He was someone that I have prayed for over the past year. Needless to say, it was wonderful to see him doing well.

After catching up with him, I got in my car so I could make it to my meeting in time. However, I was met with a lane closure on the main road that was backed up for miles. I tried to take alternate routes, but there was congestion everywhere I went. I eventually made it back to the main road and decided to simply wait in the traffic.

Even though I was going to be late, I decided to use the time waiting in my car to pray. As I was praying, I also spent some time reflecting on my life. I came to an understanding that the journey through life can sometimes be like my search for a way around the traffic. We might find that it is easier to accept the pace of life and wait patiently to get where we are going. Instead of hectically searching for shortcuts, we can make the most out of what is directly in front of us.

Despite the treacherous traffic, I arrived at my meeting only fifteen minutes late. The meeting went well with several positive conversations, but it was a meeting after the meeting that meant the most. I was able to have a heart to heart talk with a very close friend that I have known for 20 years who is conquering the same strongholds that I am in my life. We were able to share words of encouragement and ended the conversation with a big hug.

I was finally on my way home at about 8:30pm. When I walked in the door, my mom informed me that I needed to go to the dealership to finalize the purchase of my new car. After filling out all the paperwork, I was told that I could spin a wheel to attempt to win $500 dollars. With all the confidence in the world, I spun it never doubting that I would hit one of the three spots out of twenty marked winner. The wheel gently slowed and the rubber stopper pointed to the word winner! I know right.... a new car and $500 dollars!!!!

I thought today was going to be busy, but I had no idea how it would turn out. However, I began the day with faith that God would be with me through it all, and I definitely felt his presence during every single amazing event. Using extreme trust and a positive attitude, I have found stronger relationships, better health and blessed memories.

Everything Will Work Out

Needless to say, it was very easy to wake up this morning. I immediately walked into the bedroom adjacent to mine to look out the window. As my eyes adjusted to the bright morning sun, I produced a huge smile after looking down at the beautiful car in the driveway. I guess I just wanted to confirm that the previous day's events actually were real.

After pouring my morning cup of coffee, I went outside and drank it in the charger while listening to some music. I once again found myself in disbelief and spent some time praying. I was so excited to get into my new car and drive to work. However, I also knew that I had a lot of things to take care of to finalize the purchase before my shift started at 1. With help from my mom, I began to call banks and insurance companies looking to get the best possible deals on a loan and insurance. I did not anticipate how difficult it was going to be and at one point began to fear that things may not work out.

As soon as I noticed my thoughts turning negative, I immediately turned to God to help me relax. Even though there were unpromising conversations with several companies, I trusted deep inside that if it was really meant to be everything would work out. Everything from finding the car to driving it off the lot seemed so unbelievably natural that I truly felt nothing could keep me from becoming this car's next owner.

I was unable to make it to the dealership before starting work. I spent most of the morning on the phone trying to work out the best deal. With the help of my very supportive parents, I was able to find affordable options that will fit into my budget. Even though it is not officially mine, it looks like I will be signing tomorrow night. In the mean time, I will be thinking nothing but positive thoughts and keep my faith that everything will definitely work out the way it is supposed to work out.

Titanium

Right now I feel as if God has literally picked me up and placed me directly on top of the world. Seriously, I am not joking around when I say this right now. I am absolutely in awe of his work in my life. He has blessed me beyond belief with amazing amounts of love, hope and faith. On top of all of these wonderful blessings, he somehow found a way to go beyond my boldest dreams.

First of all, I absolutely love my new job and everything that goes with it. I completed my first day of off-site training today. I have been doing really well at adapting to my new position and learning the required responsibilities. I sincerely believe that the opportunity was made for me. I am looking forward to growing professionally and realize that my future with the company is full of endless possibilities. It is a wonderful thing to feel like I am exactly where I am supposed to be.

Secondly, there is a shiny titanium 2008 Dodge Charger parked in my driveway.

I absolutely cannot believe it. After returning home from the dealership, I sat parked in my driveway shaking my head in complete disbelief. Before stepping out of the car, I spent some time talking to God with tears filling my eyes. Somehow, Someway he has provided me with transportation that surpasses anything that I could have ever hoped to drive.

After getting home from work, my mom suggested that we go to a car dealership to look at a car. She said that an advertisement caught her eye this morning and that she had an undeniable urge to check it out. I definitely needed transportation and have been praying for a safe, reliable vehicle. However, I have very limited funds and knew that it would take something close to a miracle for me to find it. I never would have guessed that it would come disguised as my favorite car.

Ever since I saw it for the first time, the Dodge Charger has had a special place in my heart. I rented one for a vacation I took to Miami two years ago and for a whole week experienced what it might feel like to actually be an owner. From that point on, I always knew I would own one. I just never thought it would be now.

Going back a short two weeks, I would have never imagined that I would be driving the car of my dreams to a job that I really enjoy. Yet, that is exactly what I will be doing tomorrow. I find myself asking, "What did I do to deserve this?" As I search for an answer, I will continue living my life centered around Christ. I am so grateful for the blessings in my life and praise God for providing me with everything I need... and the Titanium Charger.

Shadow of Confusion

The message at church this morning started a 3 part series called "In the Shadows". Upon reading this title, I started to think about all the things that the title brings to mind. I must admit that the term carries quite an ominous nature for me. I immediately began to imagine a dark figure lurking on a shady corner. Nonetheless, I am very interested to see where this series will go.

The message today began the series by discussing the topic "Shadow of Confusion". I found this discussion to be very relevant to my own spiritual journey. Over the course of my life, I have survived many challenging times. Even though I have always been blessed, I did not always recognize the source of that blessing. My attitude toward Jesus has seemed to change with the many seasons of my life. However, this message made it very clear that Jesus has never changed. It is actually the "Shadow of Confusion" that can make it seem that way.

Confusion can be caused by many factors, but I mainly recognize it in my life when I can not identify a purpose for why something happened. I desperately want everything to make sense and when it doesn't I react in strange ways. I find that I look for someone or something to blame. I might get angry and frustrated especially when I do not have the power to correct something. It is a very powerful emotion. It can be so powerful that it often leads to significant consequences that can drastically change the outcome of events if handled incorrectly.

I think that confusion gains power through our own inability to deal with something we do not understand. When I find myself in such a situation, my mind begins to race with exaggerated thoughts. It is very easy to begin assuming worst case scenarios leading to a feeling of panic. Once I enter this state of mind, I can no longer effectively make good decisions often resulting in undesirable outcomes that could have been prevented.

We must overcome feelings of confusion with a solid relationship with Jesus. A strong faith and extreme trust can help us deal with any situation that may arise in life. Also, it may help to turn to God's word to provide understanding. We can also use time in prayer to ask for peace of mind. However, it is extremely important to react before the "Shadow of Confusion" brings darkness to our lives.

Welcome the Overwhelming

This afternoon I was reading an article critiquing the current season of American Idol in Entertainment Weekly when I came across the word underwhelming. Even though I didn't agree with the writer's review, I found his word choice very interesting.

I believe the use of 'underwhelming' caught my attention since I more often contemplate the opposite end of the spectrum. I find that I am much more inclined to identify and refer to things that are overwhelming in nature. In fact, I do not recall ever complaining about or trying to improve a situation that was underwhelming. However, I now believe that there may be a great amount of potential benefit to focusing on such areas in life after reflecting on the idea.

It is entirely too easy to concentrate too much on the people, places and events in life that cause excessive amounts of stress. These overwhelming things in life can often take control of everyday thoughts and actions stealing valuable energy from completing more productive activities. I am suggesting that this wasted energy can be reclaimed simply by shifting attention away from the overwhelming and placing it toward improving the underwhelming.

For example, I have been bombarded throughout the week with unfamiliar policies, procedures and information at my new job. It would have been very easy for me to get discouraged by submitting to it's overwhelming nature. However, I have welcomed the challenge as an opportunity to learn and grow professionally. Essentially, I have replaced an underwhelming unemployed situation with a more overwhelming employed situation... and I love it!

So the next time we feel overwhelmed, what will we do? Will we let it stress us out and take control? Or will we welcome it as a chance to become a stronger person and fill an otherwise underwhelming gap? The choice is ours...

Laws of Leadership

Over the next few weeks, I will be reading a book on leadership called "The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership" by John C. Maxwell. I plan to read a law each day and dedicate some time after completing each chapter to reflect on the lesson. I recognize the importance of actively seeking leadership guidance and am very excited to digest this acclaimed text. I have been looking forward to reading it for a while now and figured this would be a wonderful time since I will be striving to be a leader at my new job.

I am only on the fourth day of this journey, but I already feel that I am gaining valuable information that will help me tremendously going forward. I enjoy reading Maxwell's style of using real people and true stories to bring the material to life. His own experience, professionalism and leadership effectiveness shine on every page as he shares his hard earned wisdom. However, I also realize that it will be up to me to take the time-proven information and apply it to situations in my life. After taking this step, I expect to move out from my comfort zone and into a higher level of leadership.

The book begins with the first law which is named "The Law of the Lid." It basically states that leadership ability will ultimately determine a person's level of effectiveness. It is completely up to us to take control of developing the skills and characteristics of a successful leader. Using a hungry determination, we can achieve the necessary attributes over time. Basically, we will only go as high as the level of our leadership ability.

The next two laws were "The Law of Influence" and "The Law of Process." A true measure of leadership is influence. Without the ability to make others follow you, you can never truly call yourself a leader. He states that true leadership does not come from a title and cannot be awarded, appointed or assigned. It comes from an earned influence that is acquired through "The Law of Process." Leadership is slowly developed through hard work and dedication. The goal of aspiring leaders must be to get a little better every day by building on the previous day's progress.

Maxwell's fourth law is "The Law of Navigation." It outlines the importance of looking ahead to plan for the future by identifying possible obstacles and thinking of solutions before it's too late. He suggests that we look to our past experiences and gather information from available resources such as other people before making commitments that may be irreversible. It is important to always have a clear strategy that will prepare us for the road ahead.

As I get ready to start my fourth day at work, I accept that I am on a journey that will require me to constantly improve. I look forward to every challenge as an opportunity to learn and develop into a person more prepared for the next situation. I have a clear vision of where I want to be and will chase the end result with all my heart. Using focus and discipline, I have faith that I will emerge as a leader.

Beyond First Impressions

The week before I started my first day at work, I decided to go get a haircut. However, my normal stylist was on vacation and would not be back until later in the week. Instead of waiting for her to get back, I scheduled an appointment with another stylist at a completely different place. After requesting a number 1 guard for blending my hair, I immediately noticed it was much shorter than the guard my other stylist uses to cut my hair. I looked like I just started boot camp!

It took a while to get used to the new style, but after a few days I adapted and began to really enjoy having short hair. However, I didn't think about how the haircut might affect other people's perception of me. It wasn't until a co-worker approached me today to ask if I was an army man. Of course I laughed it off, especially when he went on to tell me how him and a few others were expecting me to be a stern drill sergeant.

They quickly found out that I am quite the opposite. I could tell through certain conversations and mannerisms during those interactions that a few associates were expecting me to be completely different. I believe they were pleasantly surprised to discover that I am relatively easy going and wasn't about to start shouting commands.

I have been meeting many new people over the past several days. With every shake of the hand, I am unconsciously putting forth an image that will create a valuable first impression. Some of the encounters will serve as the starting point for a working relationship that could very well determine future team success. On my drive home this evening, I began to reflect on this realization and asked myself the question, "Is there anything I can consciously do to help create a more positive first impression?"

After thinking about it, I have come to the conclusion that I need to be exactly who I am, no more or less. I should concentrate on being kind and strive to always put forth a professional image. Following these guidelines, I am confident that I will be able to establish productive working relationships while staying true to my values. This way I can be sure that it will be my actions and behaviors over time that accurately shape other's perceptions of me... and not simply a haircut.