| The scoreboard reads the following... bottom of | | | | there are moments when I strongly feel that if I |
| the 9th, bases loaded, 2 outs, 3 balls and two | | | | can just give up and move to Jamaica all would |
| strikes. You are up to bat and the weight of the | | | | be great. Nonsense, departing in the midst of a |
| entire season is on your shoulders. You strike out, | | | | turbulent time is like rationalizing jumping out of an |
| the season is over, you get a hit and the run | | | | airplane simply because it's experiencing turbulence. |
| scores from 3rd sending your team to the World | | | | All things might seem fine when you step out of |
| Series. No pressure right? Ya, right, pressure like | | | | the plane but soon you realize that you were |
| you have never felt before would be a better | | | | much safer in your seat with your seatbelt |
| way to describe it. As I sit and watch the baseball | | | | fastened. The same principle applies to our difficult |
| playoffs this 2008 season, I sit in astonishment at | | | | times. Sure, giving up and jumping out might be |
| the abilities of these athletes. Some of them have | | | | bliss for a while, but in the long, and sometimes |
| what it takes to answer the pressure of the | | | | short run, it all catches up to you. We have all |
| moment and others seem to get caught up in the | | | | heard the old adage, "The grass is rarely greener |
| moment and fail to perform. | | | | on the other side", well, it's not. Your circumstance |
| Well, you may never stand in a batter's box | | | | is there for a reason. If you fail to endure, you |
| awaiting the pitch that will determine your team's | | | | lose the opportunity to reap the rewards. You |
| future, but you might be in the proverbial batter's | | | | see, I believe that by enduring, we are prepared |
| box of life. You see, there are times in life where | | | | for the next step along the way. If we think of |
| you feel the equivalent or more pressure. You | | | | our lives like a stair case, every step allows the |
| feel like it's the bottom of the 9th and you are up | | | | next step to be less difficult. Can you imagine a |
| to bat. What am you going to do, how are you | | | | 35 step staircase without steps 8-25? Ya, me |
| going to handle the next pitch? What I would like | | | | neither. Getting to step 26 from step 8 is |
| to share with you are some principles that will | | | | possible, but you would have to go to great |
| assist you in your quest to hit the upcoming | | | | lengths to make it happen. There is no way I |
| curveball. | | | | would have been able to handle what occurred in |
| 3 principles: | | | | my life without enduring life crisis moments along |
| 1. Embrace | | | | the way. My turbulent times allowed me the |
| 2. Endure | | | | preparation to endure the most difficult of times, |
| 3. Empower | | | | thus far. You must say to yourself "GIVING UP |
| #1 - Embrace It! | | | | IS NOT AN OPTION", over and over again. |
| So, I'm on a flight from Phoenix to Seattle the | | | | Here's what I did in the midst of my trial to |
| other day. The flight was a non-eventful flight, a | | | | encourage me to endure. I decided to employ |
| typical event these days. Plane was packed, | | | | motivators. I called them "centers'. I would place |
| absolutely no leg room and you were charged $1 | | | | pictures of my kids all over my car, bathroom |
| for every breathe you needed, so it seems. | | | | mirror, walls, office, my mind, etc. Their bright |
| Seriously, you have no idea how bad I feel for | | | | shining, smiling faces everywhere. These smiling |
| the Flight Attendants. They get the brunt of so | | | | and sometimes laughing picturesque moments |
| much. It's not their fault their executives have | | | | would remind me why I fight; they would give me |
| made decision after decision to continually stick it | | | | the "centering" effect needed to endure that day. |
| to the passenger. Anyway, I digress. So the flight | | | | I would also place images of all those who I had |
| endured quite a bit of turbulence, more than usual. | | | | the opportunity to counsel through their difficult |
| As I was sitting there I was thinking, "Just get me | | | | times. My constant encouragement to them was |
| off this plane". What a tremendous thought, for a | | | | to "not give up". I would think of the |
| moment I thought that anything would be better | | | | consequences that would follow my "quitting". If I |
| than what I was enduring, by the way, I struggle | | | | were to give up, up all my counsel and instruction |
| with a severe case of vertigo, so any amount of | | | | would be forever hindered. Even in the darkest of |
| turbulence has the possibility of resulting in a visit | | | | times, these images and memories would drive |
| to the lovely and pleasant smelling bathrooms. So, | | | | me to strive to endure. Then I would think, if I |
| as I sat back in my seat and thought "I just want | | | | endure, I will get to have an active role in the |
| off the plane" the reality occurred to me, the | | | | rebuilding. Same goes for you, if you endure you |
| momentary bliss of being relieved from the | | | | will reap the rewards when all the dust settles. If |
| turbulence would be a great feeling, but, the | | | | you run, it will catch up to you. You will have to |
| moments that would follow that blissful moment | | | | endure it at one point or another. My challenge to |
| would be devastating. Yes, I'm off the plane, but | | | | you is to endure whatever your circumstance |
| now I'm falling 34,679 feet to my doom. Not a | | | | might be, now! Don't give up! Stay connected to |
| very wise choice, to be sure. | | | | your center and keep your hand to the plow. |
| Now, sure this thought pattern seems a bit | | | | Another old adage... "Things will be better in the |
| outlandish, but the principles are solid. Sometimes | | | | end, if they are not better, then it's not the end". |
| life is a bit turbulent, we feel the answer to all the | | | | Endure! |
| turbulence is to escape it. Well that's just simply | | | | #3 - Empower it! |
| not true. The only way to get through the | | | | So after we have embraced and are beginning to |
| turbulence is to embrace it and hold on. | | | | endure, now it's time to empower it. Allow your |
| You trial is here, whether you want to be or not, | | | | circumstance to be used to bring encouragement |
| you are experience some dark times. The | | | | to one who is going through a similarly difficult |
| moment has seized you, to deny it would be sure | | | | time. I sat across from one of my best friends |
| failure. I can remember when I had to embrace a | | | | the other day, we were sharing stories of life. He |
| huge darkness in my life. It was one of those | | | | mentioned to me that he and his wife were |
| things that you swear would never happen to | | | | having some major issues. After my heart broke |
| you. I always heard of these types of situations | | | | for him and his family knowing what might occur, |
| happening to people I knew. In fact, I was the | | | | I was able to use my current circumstance to |
| one who assisted them through their difficult | | | | shed light on his upcoming circumstance. That's |
| circumstances. Well, I guess it was my turn now. I | | | | what it means to empower your trial. It's very |
| had been married for 10 years to the woman I | | | | easy to get caught up in the self pity movement. |
| wanted to spend the rest of my life with. We had | | | | We tend to focus our energy on the "what ifs", |
| the perfect life, 3 kids, great house and sustaining | | | | and the difficulties of the given circumstance. |
| career. I was on top of the world. Then out of | | | | What you are enduring is happening for a reason. |
| the blue I was introduced to the 4 words that | | | | You are being strengthened for a purpose. I |
| have forever changed my life "I want a divorce". | | | | firmly believe that nothing is coincidental. The trial |
| Have you ever heard those words before? There | | | | that you are enduring can be used to assist |
| it was, my moment, over the next 12 months I | | | | others find hope and encouragement. Don't let it |
| had several individual moments where giving up | | | | defeat you. Ask yourself on a regular basis, how |
| and walking out of the batter's box seemed to be | | | | might what I'm going through be used to counsel |
| the easy way out. I had to daily and still to this | | | | or assist others. It's amazing what happens when |
| day, embrace my reality. There is no amount of | | | | you help others in the midst of difficult times. |
| denial that will make the trial go away. There is | | | | Your burden becomes lighter, your outlook on life |
| nothing I can do or say to change the | | | | brightens. You begin to see the light at the end of |
| circumstances. The results of the divorce are also | | | | the tunnel. You regain confidence that you are |
| out of my hands. My role in this game is to | | | | valuable and the current trial doesn't define you, |
| embrace it and allow it to make me a better | | | | rather you begin to learn that what you do with |
| person. By embracing the circumstance I am able | | | | the trial defines you. My experiences are real, |
| to be a better father, co-worker, son, brother | | | | there are times when I felt like giving up and |
| and friend. I have to realize that though I didn't' | | | | along would come someone who needed an ear |
| choose this predicament, I must and I mean must | | | | or shoulder to lean on. I could barely stand on my |
| perform for the sake of my team. If I decided to | | | | own two feet, but would do what I could help, |
| give up and deny this curveball I would be forever | | | | the end result wasn't the termination of my trial |
| be viewed as a quitter, weak and a detriment to | | | | rather it allowed me the foresight to see the |
| my kids. Whatever it is that currently entangles | | | | potential. |
| you, embrace it. What does it mean to embrace | | | | Can you imagine if the baseball player just up and |
| it? Simply put, to embrace it is to accept it as | | | | left the batter's box? He decides that the |
| your own. This is your time, this is your moment, | | | | pressure is too great and he doesn't want to be |
| good, bad, positive, negative, hurtful, joyful, etc. | | | | there anymore. He would be forever viewed by |
| You can't afford to deny it. If you deny it, you | | | | history as a failure. Maybe you are facing the |
| forfeit the right to rejoice with the outcome. This | | | | darkest of your days thus far. You find yourself |
| is yours. It's imperative to embrace the moment | | | | facing...Unemployment, foreclosure, divorce, death |
| and perform to the best of your ability. | | | | of a loved one, financial crisis, or business |
| #2 - Endure it | | | | struggles. Whatever your circumstance, there is |
| After you have made the conscious decision to | | | | hope! There is an end to the hurt. It's coming! It |
| embrace the trial you must endure to reap the | | | | might take longer than you would like, but its |
| benefits. Sure, there were moments and continue | | | | coming. In the meantime, embrace, endure and |
| to be moments where I want to turn and run | | | | empower your trial and you will notice a dramatic |
| from all the circumstances of my situation. Yes, | | | | benefit. |