30 Days Homeless

Since I haven't been blogging consistently for 1.5+ years, I miss opportunities to highlight some really cool things that cross my path, make me think, challenge my living, etc. I really should have highlighted this earlier in the month, but just wasn't thinking that way. Shame on me. Better late than never?

Anywho, the church we attend has been highlighting this month a pastors pledge and passion to bring awareness to the plight of the homeless here in Dayton. Ryan Riddell is bringing light to a very dark place and giving names to those men and women who live on the streets of the city I live in. He is doing this by living homeless himself for 30 days in the month of January. Some really powerful stuff as he brings the homeless statistics to life by interacting with the very people these numbers represent.

You can follow Ryan and his buddy's journey at www.30dayshomeless.tv by watching video journals, interviews, and sketch work art. It's pretty radical and powerful stuff. I'm not sure what to do with it yet. We are tapped in regards to where/how much we give. Is there a time element that God wants me to give away? Is there a relational component that he's asking me to invest in? Is there a prayer piece that he's calling me to partake in? Something else?

I wonder what is going on in your city to bring to light a very dark, depressing, and desperate world. Is your church doing something? Is your small group reaching out? Are you engaging the issue spiritually and practically and financially?

I know for me this is an issue/these are a people that sometimes I'd like to wish did not exist. It's a scary place to enter into with the violence, drug use, and mental health issues. Plus sometimes it doesn't fit my "pull yourself up by your boot straps or self-reliant" cultural/political ideologies.

It wrecks me. Jesus wrecks me.

What Keeps You Working Where You Work?

This is one of my favorite articles in the year. It's about the best companies to work for in America as rated by employees. I've been reading this article for about 4-5 years now.

But this year an employee quote really got me. Got me thinking. Got me wondering. Got me looking (not for another job or employer). Got me listening. Here's the quote:

"People stay at SAS in large part because they are happy, but to dig a little deeper, I would argue that people don't leave SAS because they feel regarded — seen, attended to and cared for. I have stayed for that reason, and love what I do for that reason."

People don't leave...they feel regarded. Seen. Attended to. Cared for.

Wow...that is deep...vocationally, emotionally, communally, and spiritually deep. It speaks of value both for the individual and to the team. It speaks of value that who I am and what I do matter to the company, to the culture, and to the coin (or bottom line).

You can hate what you do even though you love what you do because you are not valued. It doesn't mean you don't become a slacker and not work hard or do the right thing. Even though your boss (bosses) is an ass, egotistical, aloof, etc. can play a HUGE part in what you feel about what you do that doesn't mean you pass that on to your staff, students, clients, and/or team.

But it's a reality that how we value people matters...and not just with words, but with some jack/perks/schwag/etc that is creative, thoughtful, and intentional. This article is filled with all sorts of value-added perks that make people feel regarded and, thus, love doing what they love doing, simply like doing or maybe even hate doing.

Makes me what want to lead, serve, and be apart of creating a culture of seeing, attending, and caring for those that work for me and with me. Makes me wonder what I'm doing to make that happen right now in the school in which I work. Makes me what to take account of my work/ministry culture by asking and listening to the heart of those in the trenches with me.

What Living Life Together Should Look Like

Love this story. Brings tears to my eyes. Did you see it? If not go here and check out the full length article from Time via Yahoo!. A Southwest Airline pilot teaches us so much and modeled for us what Martin Luther King Jr. meant when he said, "It's always the right time to do the right thing."

Here is part of the story that I just just grabs me by the collar and says, "This is what living in community is supposed to look like! This is what friendship is supposed to look like! This is what leadership is supposed to look like!"

"According to Nancy, he struggled to hold back tears as he pleaded with TSA and Southwest Airlines staff to fast-track him through the lines that were moving like molasses. Even though missing his flight could mean missing a final chance to see his grandson, no one seemed to care.

Too much was at stake to simply roll over and cry. When he finally cleared security - several minutes after his flight's planned departure - he grabbed his computer bag, shoes and belt, and ran to his terminal wearing only his socks. The pilot and the gate agent were waiting for him.

"Are you Mark? We held the plane for you and we're so sorry about the loss of your grandson," the pilot reportedly said. "They can't go anywhere without me and I wasn't going anywhere without you. Now relax. We'll get you there. And again, I'm so sorry."

For the Rev. Martin Luther King...SING!

The Original Music Video