Many of us need to begin to see battle as our calling. There are situations, occasions, times in our lives when we must do battle. Times when we must rise to the occasion and fight with all of our might for what truly matters. Because the cost of giving in is too high.

“When principles that run against your deepest convictions begin to win the day, then battle is your calling, and peace has become sin; you must, at the price of dearest peace, lay your convictions bare before friend and enemy, with all the fire of your faith.” ― Abraham Kuyper

I remember reading a book, Born For Battle, years ago. One of the short stories addressed the topic of “slackened bowstrings” The French word is detente. Simply put, it means compromise. It means that we allow things to go on in our lives that should not take place but because we just want to live with the appearance of peace, we give in and give up. Far too many people live in a state of detente.

“I won’t bother you as long as you don’t really bother me.” The only problem with this approach is that we are continually drawing the line of being bothered a little further into areas of conviction. What once would have been the breaking point for you soon gets set back a few feet and you allow it to remain in your life. Shortly after, the line gets pulled back further. Over a period of time we don’t even know what we stand for anymore.

In realizing this for myself I made a point to right down a list of personal standards that I would not allow to be adapted to fit into certain situations in my life. Rather than appear legalistic or prudish here I will keep that list to myself. The point is, we all need to have certain standards that we cling to. Things that are non-negotiable. I will however, give a few standards that help me process my list.

• My first and greatest filter is the Bible. If something conflicts with the Word of God in my life I make earnest efforts to rid myself of it.
• My second filter is my family. Things that work to invade my family are things that I battle with diligence. I love my wife and children and value them greatly. When things work to diminish my value of family I strive to cut it off quickly.
• My third filter is health. When temptations come at me and attempt to assault my health I fight tooth and nail to eradicate them. I have watched too many people choose the unhealthy vices of excess. At times in my own life I have walked that road and suffered because of it. No more.

Battle is our calling. Don’t forget that. If you are one who has loosened the bowstrings and allowed enemies into your territory – get to work. Rise up and act on your convictions. In the words of Gandalf, “You shall not pass!” should become your new mantra.

Go get ‘em, Tiger!

Getting shot hurts.  Still my fear was growing because no matter how hard I tried to breathe it seemed I was getting less and less air.  I focused on that tiled ceiling and prayed.  But I realized I couldn’t ask for God’s help while at the same time I felt hatred for the mixed up young man who had shot me.  Isn’t that the meaning of the lost sheep?  We are all Gods children and therefore equally beloved by him.  I began to pray for his soul and that he would find his way back to the fold. – Ronald Reagan

In reading the memoirs of President Ronald Reagan I have been taught volumes about character and integrity.  Here is a man who had just been shot, filled with many conflicting emotions, and yet he chose to think about the young man who had intended to kill him and not only offer forgiveness to him but also pray for his salvation.

Unbelievable.

I would have an extremely hard time responding in a similar fashion.  I’m challenged today in this.  Many days I am challenged in this.  Forgiveness is a difficult offering to give.  It’s difficult but necessary.

He may be right. The point is that imagination is a great thing. It’s powerful. It opens the creative side of our mind. It allows for limitless opportunities within our mind. In all the reading I have done from great thinkers in history, one of the consistent characteristics is the great sense of imagination found in them. Imagination is an incredible tool in the right hands.

“Logic will get you from A to Z; imagination will get you everywhere.” ― Albert Einstein

The more I can do to encourage creativity in my kids the more I will do. The more I can cheer them on in their free play the more I will do. One of the greatest offenses of our time is that which comes in the stifling of the imagination. We need more ideas today. We need people who think about what could be without the filter of what can’t be done. Too many of us have grown up and become realists.

Somewhere deep down inside I have died. Ideas are pitched to me and I look at all of the reasons why something can’t be done. Creativity has found no home in my life. That saddens me. Greatly.

I’m doing all I can to keep my kids safe from the dream police. I want my kids to continually dream new dreams. Think about what could be. Live with the ideal of what they can do without a filter of can’t, don’t, never. That part of me seems to have shriveled. I want it back. I want an infusion of creativity and imagination. I beg for childlike faith again. I want to imagine that I can be Spiderman, Ironman or Thor. I want to dream of flying, building ginormous structures held together by no law of physics, being who I think I can be without the limits of what others say are possible.

If this seems unachievable to you…Join me in dreaming. There is a chance at rebirth. We can regain the belief that anything is possible. Let’s kill the adult inside of us. Put to death the skeptic. Ignore the sensical jerk that shuts down each new idea. Dream. Create. Explore.

The world needs more of that…

Laughter and positivity open doors that no negativity ever could. I have been able to engage in dialogues with people because of my attitude towards life where others may have never been invited into. Part of that is why I try to avoid negative conversations. I don’t want my mind to go in darker directions. I know full well the depravity that my mind is capable of. I have been to dark places in my soul. The descent was not fun nor was it one that I would ever desire to return to. I choose to walk away from the pessimism of others. That mindset can find plenty of company – I just won’t be involved in it.

In the words of The King:

“When things go wrong, don’t go with them.” ― Elvis Presley

Even more so, I choose to bring hope and light into the dark places. One thing that I have learned over my many years is that we have three options in life.

1. Be negative.
2. Avoid negativity.
3. Be positive and share that optimism with others.

All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing. – Edmund Burke

It’s not enough to just walk away from negativity. We, us who would be seen as the upwordly (yes, I just George W. Bush’d that word), must spread positivity. Be the change that you want to see in the world. Share hope. Exhibit grace in relationships that don’t even deserve it. Grace is something that is undeserved – that’s why it’s called grace…

There’s far too many stories that we hear of in the news that are all about what is wrong with the world. Let’s start being what is right and share that with many others. Infect the world with love. Make frequent deliveries of viral compassion. Let’s be the carriers of a communicable cure for negativity.

Get to it.

We took advantage of late night sessions on some hills because the traffic was reduced to the point of having an all-access pass to the road. There was nothing better than a warm summer night and a long downhill stretch of road unencumbered by automobile travel. Many nights were spent soaring down the hills and walking back up only to do it all over again. It was a rush.

One experience that every downhill skater encounters is the speed wobble. Speed wobbles occur when you are not comfortable and you tense the muscles in your ankles. This causes you to over correct your movements which, in turn, causes your body and board to turn from side to side uncontrollably eventually resulting in you getting trampolined off sideways unless you can stop them.

The best way to avoid speed wobbles is to relax. The more relaxed and confident you are as your speed increases the more you flow in your movements and ride without the increased undulations that usually end in you being thrown from the board. Relax. It’s hard to teach that. Often times you experience flesh meeting pavement several times before you learn the “feel” of the board. It’s when you and the board become “one”, like the board is just an extension of your feet, that you truly relax and can carve along the descent.

Relaxed descents are the best. Speed wobbles are not.

You can achieve stability at speed as long as you refrain from getting too tense. Even now, as a cyclist, the greatest rush comes from descending a steep road at over 50 mph. The idea of a fall never occurs to me as I race down the hill. Stay loose, move as one with the bike and flow.

There are days when I try to put what I learned as a young skater into practice. Times when I have to remind myself that when life seems to be zipping by at an uncontrollable pace that I need to relax. If we’re all honest with each other we all have those days.

• The days when none of the dots seem to connect.
• Each new project is a struggle.
• Every encounter seems tense and strained.
• Words spoken are misunderstood or misinterpreted.

No matter how hard you try to make things work you just get more and more tense and stressed and then it happens…you get thrown from the board and slam into the pavement.

Loosen up. Relax. Enjoy what you are doing. Breathe in. Breathe out. Repeat…

“A little nonsense now and then, is cherished by the wisest men.” ― Roald Dahl

What is it in your life that causes the “wobbles” to occur? Where do you need to breathe a bit deeper and ride out the gyrations that could potentially throw you off course? Take a lesson from an old skater who rides a bit slower these days but with great style – relax. Everything will go a bit easier. You will find more joy in what you do and people will enjoy being around you a bit more. The more often you can make it through the tough days while remaining calm the more confident you will become in tense situations. That confidence will carry you far in life and will also draw others to you who can learn from you.

Loosen up. Relax. Enjoy what you are doing. Breathe in. Breathe Out. Lead well. Today, tomorrow and each day forward.

In my request to him I had promised that I would ride his pace, stick with him throughout the ride and cheer him on the whole way. He said yes. I was excited. Through the following months my friend trained. He participated in spin classes at his gym to strengthen his legs and build stamina. He got outside on his bike as often as he could. Every time we spoke of the ride I encouraged him. “You can do it! I know you can.”

The day of the ride came this past Saturday. We left Pembroke on Friday afternoon to make the five hour drive to New Jersey. (Yes, we drove 400 miles round trip in order to ride our bikes 65 miles.) We arrived at our hotel after a long drive and settled in for a good night sleep. At 5:30 the alarm sounded and woke us for the day. We grabbed some quick breakfast and suited up for the ride. As we left the hotel, my friend in his bike shorts and t-shirt, I commented that we had just become Cam & Mitchell (Modern Family reference – if you don’t understand don’t worry about it) We laughed and drove on to the site of the Ride For The Mission.

The ride began and we were off. We rode along together and commented on the road quality, the number of turns that were on the route, the low hills that we climbed and the size of the houses that we passed. We settled into the ride and found a good pace that would be sustainable for the long haul. The day was overcast and cool which was welcomed by us knowing that we would have a long day in the saddle.

At mile 22 we reached our first rest stop. My friend was doing well. We refilled our bottles, grabbed a snack, used the restroom and were back on the road. Our next leg of the ride passed through large expanses of pastureland and what appeared to be vineyards (I’ve never known New Jersey to be renowned for their wine) I joked with my friend that we were riding through Lyon, France on a stage of the Tour de France.

Mile 37 we reached the next rest stop. Just a quick break to grab a snack and then we were on our way again. That’s when it happened. We were working our way up a hill on a road with a very small shoulder when from behind me I heard the familiar sound of air rapidly escaping the confines of a tire. We had our first flat. After a quick stop to repair the tube we started along again. Thirty seconds along the road and the sound of rushing air repeated itself. The same tire. Flat again. We pulled up into a driveway to remove ourselves from the road and changed the tube. Again. This time taking extra time to ensure that nothing had punctured the tire and was causing the flat to recur. After a careful inspection we inserted a new tube and inflated the tire.

This time I told my friend to take the lead. I figured I would make observations of the tire from behind and ensure we would be riding for a considerable distance before the chance of another flat. Me being in the rear did nothing to stop the flat from happening. Again. This time I decided to enlist the help of the SAG Wagon. After a quick call and a forty minute wait the van arrived. With no supplies.

We started to get the feeling that the only choice they were going to give us was to throw his bike into the van and drive back to the finish line. That was not an option for us. We hadn’t driven five hours to ride 40 miles. Not finishing this ride was not going to happen.

“The only time you fail is when you fall down and stay down.” – Stephen Richards

He called on to another guy and waited for a second vehicle to arrive. In the trunk of this vehicle was all of the gear that we needed including a new tire ($50 tire for free!) After swapping out the old worn tire and replacing the popped tube we were back on the road.

We pushed on. After our unplanned hour and a half rest break we were riding on fresh legs again. Aside from a detour because I missed a painted arrow along the route that signified a turn (we added 6 miles to the route because the planned 65 miles just wasn’t enough) we had an uneventful end of the ride.

As we reached our finish I reached out my hand and we fist-bumped. He had done it. His longest ride prior to this day was 29 miles. This day he had surpassed that number by more than double. I was proud of my friend. I still am. I could have ridden the route much quicker. I could have raced along the ride with the other cyclists and given the potential for a sprint finish and a record time in completing the distance. That was not the purpose of the ride. My friend achieved a goal. A big goal. And I was able to be there to watch him do it.

This ride has given me a new perspective on helping others achieve their dreams.  I have personal goals that I want to attain, but more importantly, I want to be one who helps release the dreams of others.  Life is too short to focus only on my dreams.

Who can you help achieve what they think is impossible?

Brainstorming sessions don’t go so well for me either – especially when they are not anticipated in advance. If a subject is sprung upon me and my opinion is desired I stumble with my words. I need time to process most things. That doesn’t really come across as a strength in my line of work. People call into the office and set up times to talk. We get together and we dialogue about the issues that they are facing. Then we sit. They look at me with a longing to know what I think they should do.

Blank stare.

It takes a bit of time to work through the issues in my mind. It’s not that I am slow. I just think silently. Whereas extroverts speak then think. I think then speak. I personally find it to be the better of the two methods. But it is a slower process. The other day I spoke with an individual who had fallen out of love with their spouse. At least that is the way they felt. In discussing this for a while it turns out the real belief was that there really never was love.

I asked this person to recount the best times that they had experienced in life. Nine out of ten experiences were shared with their spouse. I then asked what dreams this person had for the future and who they felt they would be shared with. Every one of the hopes and dreams for the future were shared with their spouse. It seems as though love was there – it just wasn’t some magical feeling that they thought they would always have.

“Happiness is only real when shared” – Jon Krakauer, Into the Wild

Maybe that is something that people who isolate themselves miss out on. Sure, I find myself energized during periods of solitude, but don’t leave me alone for too long. I’ll go nuts! Solitary living causes us to miss out on so much. We need each other. We are better together.

I went out for a bike ride today. I rode with two other cyclists. The wind was whipping up pretty fierce and it seemed to be in our faces the whole ride. In a group you can share the burden and cut off the front for a bit to rest by dropping back behind the other riders. They break the wind and help you refresh from your own effort up front. We rode better together than we would have if we spread out and each rode our own line.

Life is like that. Husbands and wives need each other. Moms and dads need their children in their lives. Extended families serve as a support system for each other. Even when our families drive us crazy we still know who to call when an emergency arises.

We’re better together. Two is better than one. Always – unless you have to poop… you should do that alone.

There are plenty of people in the world who know nothing about sacrifice and go about living their lives with not a care for another person but themselves.  That’s not real life.  To be known for sacrifice, generosity, compassion, empathy – those are the markers of a great life.  That’s the life I want.

Tomorrow afternoon a friend and I are making the drive down to Elizabeth, New Jersey.  We’re driving there to participate in a 65 mile bike ride – Ride For The Mission.  The ride goes to support the work of StreetLight Mission.  StreetLight Mission is a not for profit (501c3) faith based community outreach center located in Elizabeth, New Jersey serving men, women and children of Union County and the surrounding areas who struggle with poverty, mental illness, substance abuse and most of all hopelessness.

For me, the distance of this ride will be like most weekend rides.  65 miles will be a fun Saturday ride.  My riding partner will be making the ride of his life.  His longest ride since starting to cycle a year ago is about 40 miles.  He checked out the elevation gain on the course map and is a bit concerned by it.  The original description of the route is “flat with rolling hills”.  He’ll be fine.  We’ll ride together.  Riding at his pace.  I’ll hang out and encourage him the whole ride.  It will be fun.  Personally the sacrifice will come from not going all out and setting a course record (personal course record, not course record – I don’t think that highly of myself…)

I want to give you all the opportunity to join us on this ride.  Maybe not physically, but intentionally through the act of sacrifice.  Take a few minutes and listen to the story of the Yuschak family.  These are the people that began the work of StreetLight Mission.  Watch this video and then give to the mission.

You should support me in my ride.  The money doesn’t go to me.  It goes directly to the incredible work of StreetLight Mission.  Your giving will go a long way in helping them reach out into the despair and bring hope to the hopeless.  You can give by clicking here.  Thank you.

I’ve been making a concerted effort to ride my bike consistently throughout the month of May.  It’s National Bike Month after all.  Each day so far I have been riding back and forth to the office.  Commuting is a great way for me to get some miles in and also get where I need to be.  It also gives me the ability to break up a 25-30 mile ride into two smaller segments.  Cycling brings me joy.  The only downside to creating goals for consistency is that some times you just want (or need) a break.

What is without periods of rest will not endure. -Ovid

I could lie to myself and say that I am invincible on the bike.  That when I ride I am one with my carbon fiber steed and we fly – we fly on effortlessly over each ascent and valley.  I could lie.  But that is all it would be.  A lie.  Some days cycling is work.  Some days I would rather hop in my car and get where I am going without the production of dressing for a ride, running through the pre-ride checklist, ensuring that I have a spare tube in my jersey pocket, “have I eaten today?”, etc.  Sometimes it’s easier to skip the ride.

Too much of a good thing can be a bad thing.

You can tell me that you love chocolate cake but if I gave you the opportunity to ONLY eat chocolate cake for the rest of your life you would soon find yourself craving peanut butter or apples or asparagus for that matter.  Variety in the things that you do help you to better appreciate the things that you love.

Today I had plans to ride with a new friend.  We were going to meet up after work and hit some of the hills here in town (also known as the Pembroke Alps).  It would have been a good time.  Except, it’s raining now.  An hour or so ago the sky started getting very dark.  A few minutes ago the heavens opened up and not everything is wet.  The plans I had made to ride have changed.  Instead, I’ll strap my bike onto the car rack and drive home.  I will feel no guilt in not riding today.  Today shall be a rest day.  Today shall be a good rest day.

We all have efforts that we make to do certain things.  We can become very driven in our endeavors.  Driven to the point that we can’t back down from our efforts.  Cut yourself some slack today.  Take a break.  Slow down and enjoy doing something else.  This evening I will sit on the floor and build a Lego house with my kids.  We’ll release our imaginations to create far off worlds where we will explore as we design new landscapes and buildings.  We’ll find contentment in the moment and it will occur because I won’t be crouched over a tiny saddle while clipped into my pedals moving briskly down the road.  That will bring me joy as well…

Is there something that you need to let go of today in order to be more at rest in your life?

It was said of Thomas Edison that he would sit with a handful of coins while thinking so that if and when he drifted off to sleep his hand would loosen and release the coins. The cacophony of sound awaken him and he would return to his thoughts. A relentless pursuit of improvement. That was his desire. Edison did not believe in giving up, rather, he would pursue a thing to its completion. Being known for tenacity he is quoted as saying:

“Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is to try just one more time.” ― Thomas A. Edison

and

“I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work.” ― Thomas A. Edison

We often pursue a thing only so far before quitting on a venture and allowing the thought to pass. Rather than roll up our sleeves with the mindset that we will experience victory on our quest to create we succumb to failure and dismiss the dream we had.

Quit at quitting.

Allow yourself to achieve the things that, in your own mind, appear unattainable. Perspire greatly at the work of thought. Think long and hard and when you tire, think more. Jot down notes. Figure out all of the ways that a thing will NOT work – take copious notes on how NOT to build a thing. Exercise stamina in your endeavors. Push us all forward with your progress.

Because each failure has the ability to advance you to achievement.

Risk involves sacrifice. Risk requires a conviction within you that maintains the course of direction that you have set yourself upon. Even when the seas get rough – stay the course. If you have set out to do a thing – do that thing. Make it happen. Don't give up. See it through.

“Five percent of the people think; ten percent of the people think they think; and the other eighty-five percent would rather die than think.” ― Thomas A. Edison

Don't desire death above thought. Don't shy from dreams that require persistence. Advance forward in your efforts. Exert yourself to your utmost then begin again. Repeat the process. Treat your thoughts like that of a shampoo experience. Lather. Rinse. Repeat. Lather. Rinse. Repeat. Lather. Rinse. Repeat.

Just like the inventors of olden days – make progress within your world. There are new things to be discovered. Ideas to fashion products that the world is waiting for. Creativity can spark a revolution and it could begin with you.

Or…you could sit in your comfortable chair. Drift through life for the next 30, 40, maybe 70 years and fade away into oblivion. Having accomplished nothing with your life, your last breath not bringing with it the end of thought, because your thoughts had passed long ago.

I'm not content with that. I pray you feel the same. Drop your coins. Awaken your thoughts. Create. Invent. Inspire. We need you.

Pursue discontentment with the state of progress in a way that moves you forward into new adventures. Discover processes that improve upon what we already do. Don't settle for mediocre. Innovate. That's the world I want to live in.

Would you care to join me?