Revelation Knowledge

Do you ever simply get off track and have a tough time? I do! This last week was an example of being off track in my life! 

It seemed like nothing went right. No “miracle mornings”, none of those  “over the edge accomplishments”. I missed the gym, didn’t follow my eating plan,  or drink water. There was no plan to my wardrobe. I failed to write thank you notes!  It was rough. 

This morning in my quiet time I was reckoning with myself, “It’s ok; you're entitled. You had lots of reasons”. It all made sense to me!

Then it happened, as it almost always does. My current study book is, “Battlefields of the Mind” by Joyce Meyers. She hit me in my pity party:

“Reasoning is one of the busy activities in which the mind engages that prevents discernment and revelation knowledge.  There is a big difference in head knowledge and revelation knowledge.”

 “Revelation knowledge”  that was it! 

Immediately an old Frank Sinatra song entitled “PickYourself Up” came to mind.  In part, the song says:

"Nothing is impossible I have found, 

For when my chin is on the ground 

I pick myself up, dust myself off, Start all over again 

Don't lose your confidence if you slip, Be grateful for a pleasant trip  

And pick yourself up, dust yourself off,  Start all over again

Work like a soul inspired, Till the battle of the day is won, You may be sick and tired

But you'll be a man, my son…Nothing is impossible I have found,

For when my chin is on the ground, I pick myself up, dust myself off, Start all over again

Don't lose your confidence if you slip, Be grateful for a pleasant trip, And pick yourself up, dust yourself off, Start all over again

Work like a soul inspired, Till the battle of the day is won, You may be sick and tired

But you'll be a man, my sonWill you remember the famous men, Who had to fall to rise again?

So take a deep breath, Pick yourself up, dust yourself off Start all over again….”

My Mom would sing this song when I was a kid. So here’s what I did. I reached for my calendar; the grocery list; a big glass of water and started my “to do’s”.

I am the only person who can change me and my outcome.  I simply need to change my activities and live out my plan.

This is  “Revelation Knowledge”. Thanks, Joyce!

A Reminder Post ...

Life is busy with the remodel of Park Plaza - where we are using our lists. I thought I would share a much read post from last year.

June 4, 2014

When our children were growing up, Saturday mornings were a family affair.  After a biscuit and gravy breakfast (to this day a family favorite) the five of us would sit around the kitchen table and develop a list of family chores.  (Yes, we were lucky everyone was home Saturday morning.)

Collectively we considered all the weekly household needs: dusting, vacuuming, laundry, cleaning the kitchen, bathroom (we only had one) and yard work.

Everyone participated, regardless of age. Everyone worked at our house. 

Our 3 kids knew this was our family habit, therefore do not ask to go anywhere until the house was clean and the chores were done.  It was a wonderful yet often stressful morning.

To this day I believe our Saturday morning ritual facilitated family growth, for both the individual and the collective.  It taught us to work together in order to achieve common goals, while enabling us to understand the diversity of the individual. 

Over time, Cory’s project became the bathroom, where he would spend an hour cleaning.  I have never known anyone else who could clean a bathroom like Cory.  Karen generally dusted, and I believe I purchased a can of Pledge a week, just to keep her supplied.  Kevin, our eldest son, elected to vacuum  and I could count on a spotless carpet every weekend.  It is so much fun to be the first one to step on a freshly vacuumed  floor.   I was responsible for the kitchen and Ken the yard.

When you finished your chore, you helped someone else finish their chore until the entire project was complete.

Parents often ask Ken and I where we learned this.  Ken is an “ole farm boy”. We thought  it simply made sense.  A phrase we often used , “You eat don’t you!”  We all lived in the house; so we were all responsible for how it looked .

Years later I would learn about Stephen Covey and his book “7 Habits of Highly Effective People”.  Business leaders, authors and teachers have spun off his historical work.  His principals work.

Unlike the game Jenga where you start with a stack of ordered blocks then attempt to see how haphazardly you can stack them so the blocks fall on your opponent before they fall on you, Mr. Covey teaches systemically approaching life.

This is what we taught our children.

By building a list of  the what needs to be accomplished, who is personally responsible, by when, and what’s the reward, we are able to influence generations of lives.

While writing this I recalled a phone conversation our grandson, Tyler and I had several years ago.   I asked, “So, Tyler what are you doing?”  His response, “I’m putting soda in the refrigerator, it’s my job.”  WOW 6 years old and he had a job!

Lists help us to accomplish tasks, tasks teach responsibility, and responsibility  will help  to develop pride in the  job.

To this day, Ken and I use lists.  Saturday morning after breakfast, we consider the weekend needs.  We’ve learned that consideration of the other person adds to our love and respect for one another.  In fact the idea for today’s post came from Ken.  Oh how I love my husband.

Think about life - do you use lists?  Lists  help accomplish tasks, hold you accountable, responsible and help individuals,  families, a work team, your  community, or even the whole world grow.

What is your WHO and WHY?

Do you see the big picture, or simply the little pieces?

This is a question that often stops me cold.  It seems to me that each and every day simply gets away from me.

Here’s a short recap for simply today: write a blog, turn in my expense report, prepare staff meeting, and teach a class today, close escrow files, lead staff, fill the car with gas, cook dinner, wash two loads of clothes.  And that is simply what I remembered when I was making this am’s list.  What am I thinking?!

So often I get distracted by the “what” that is in front of my I forget the “who and why” life matters to me.

My husband - that is who matters.  Ken and I were married well over 44 years ago, and on that day we committed to live the rest of our lives together. 

Oh yes, there have been difficult seasons - we have raised three children together, been through the death of my brother and both Moms.  Ken’s dad is now deceased, my Dad remarried and we have a wonderful Stepmom in Doris.  We have learned the give and take of life. It has not been easy, however at the end of the day, the person who really matters to me is Ken.

I would encourage you to stop today. It’s not Valentines, Christmas, a birthday or your anniversary, but stop and tell that someone who puts up with you in the morning, before you’ve had a shower and washed your hair, listens to you when you unpack your day, and walks you through when no one else understands, just how much they mean to you.

At the end of your life they are the one who will be there when friends, acquaintances, and those folks you have worked with are gone.  They are the person who cares.

                                                      

Did You Realize?

Last weekend was a retreat weekend for me.  Ken and I took the RV to the mountains to simply unplug.

We all need to unplug!

The weather in the mountains was cool and it was quiet. Saturday Ken went fishing and I read.  My book “The Carpenter” by John Gordon is a wonderful short story.

The main character, Michael, wakes up in the ER to realize he passed out on a run where a Good Samaritan called 911 on his behalf.  His wife fears a heart attack.  As it turns out, it is simply stress!  Simply stress!!! That is enough to give you a heart attack.

The story goes, Michael hires his Good Samaritan,  a carpenter to build an entertainment center for the family because Michael thinks he owes the guy. 

The  inside front cover of the book says, “Michael finds out the man who saved his life is…more than just a carpenter; he is also a builder of lives, careers, people and teams.”

On  page 63  the carpenter tells Michael, “….even though I’m known for sharing success strategies, true success isn’t about money or possessions.  It’s about people, commitment, loyalty, and relationships.  In the end we won’t be measured by our bank accounts, sales numbers, wins and losses, or the size of the company we built, but by the difference we made in the people’s lives----and we make a difference through relationships.  So don’t be so busy chasing dollars and success that you fail to make a difference and build meaningful relationships.”

WOW, I read that and then reread it----“don’t be so busy chasing dollars and success that you fail to make a difference and build meaningful relationships.”

The book was finished by noon and my afternoon was spent in reflection ---simply pondering,  “What do I spend my time on?  Who really counts? How to I show them?  When do we get together?  Where will all this get me?”

If you do not regularly spend time in reflection, get there.

Stop and consider the next six months.  Schedule time to relax and reflect.  I believe like myself you will realize there is what we do and there is who we are.

It is the desire of my heart that at the end of my life people say “Carolyn used things and  loved people!”

Take time this week to reflect on your life, “What will people say?”