Is there life in your story?

I’ve been devouring Donald Miller’s new Book, A million Miles in a Thousand Years (What I Learned while editing my life). The basic concept is him asking what makes a story, a good story? And much like the elements in a good story, when those elements are present in your life (your own story) you’ve got the makings of a life well lived. Trust me, go grab a copy. (EDIT: Check out Don’s blog post for more on this) Here are a few insights that I found leaping out at me:

p. 38

My uncle told a good story with his life, but I think there was such sadness at his funeral because his story wasn’t finished. If you aren’t telling a good story, nobody thinks you died too soon; they just think you died. But my uncle died too soon.

P. 48

“A story is a character who wants something and overcomes conflict to get it”

P. 59

I’ve wondered, though, if one of the reasons we fail to acknowledge the brilliance of life is because we don’t want the responsibility inherent in the acknowledgment. We don’t want to be characters in a story because characters have to move and breathe and face conflict with courage. And if life isn’t remarkable, then we don’t have to do any of that; we can be unwilling victims rather than grateful participants.

P. 86

There is a knowing I feel that guides me toward better stories, toward being a better character. I believe there is a writer outside ourselves, plotting a better story for us, interacting with us, even, and whispering a better story into our consciousness.

And lastly – P. 124

The ambitions we have will become the stories we live.

There is a question I believe is worth asking: What’s your story? Is there life in your story?

And I’ve also been listening to the new Switchfoot, Hello Hurricane. On it, there’s a song called Mess of Me. Coupled with Donald Miller’s ideas of living a life that tells a grand story, there’s some powerful thoughts here.

I am my own affliction

I am my own disease

There ain’t no drug that they could sell

Oh, there ain’t no drug to make me well

(There ain’t no drug)

There ain’t no drug

There ain’t no drug

It’s not enough

The sickness is myself

I’ve made a mess of me

I want to get back the rest of me

I’ve made a mess of me

I want to spend the rest of my life alive

I’ve made a mess of me

I want to get back the rest of me

I’ve made a mess of me

I want to spend the rest of my life alive

The rest of my life alive

We lock our souls in cages

We hide inside our shells

It’s hard to free the ones you love

Oh, when you can’t forgive yourself

Yeah, forgive yourself

(There ain’t no drug)

There ain’t no drug

There ain’t no drug

The sickness is myself

I’ve made a mess of me

I want to get back the rest of me

I’ve made a mess of me

I want to spend the rest of my life alive

I’ve made a mess of me

I want to reverse this tragedy

I’ve made a mess of me

I want to spend the rest of my life alive

The rest of my life alive

Oh, right

And there ain’t no drug

There ain’t no drug

There ain’t no drug

No drug to make me well

There ain’t no drug

It’s not enough

I’m breaking up

The sickness is myself

The sickness is myself

I’ve made a mess of me

I want to get back the rest of me

I’ve made a mess of me

I want to spend the rest of my life alive

I’ve made a mess of me

I want to reverse this tragedy

I’ve made a mess of me

I want to spend the rest of my life alive

The rest of my life alive

I love the line ” I want to spend the rest of my life alive The rest of my life alive”

Hope For a New Year

With the passing of one year & the beginning of  a new one, it’s kind of natural to think about what’s gone behind you & what’s yet to come. I am thankful for the many blessings that God has given me, but the thing that marked me this year (and years past) has been struggle. Maybe you relate. It’s not that I’m not grateful. I am. And in some odd way (that I hope will increase in the future), I am thankful for struggle, because it leads to the end of me & my resources. Sometimes its hard to barely hang on, but God is faithful. He restores hope, even if it isn’t the way you would think, or in the time frame you expect. So for me in this new year, I’m looking to retire “struggle” and replace it with “Hope”.

Recently a friend of mine (Jud) told me about his news website, called People of the Second Chance (or POTSC for short). I really love their vision statement: “We are people of the second chance. A scandalous movement of radical grace in life & leadership. Failures & messes wanted.” Maybe you haven’t failed, or messed up in some huge way. But maybe you could use some radical grace this year. The good news is that there is more than enough grace in Jesus.

Maybe you just need some strength. You’re limping into this new year. You’ve been running & running. Now you’re running on empty.

If that’s you, let me offer some encouragement for your journey. Check out what God says in Isaiah 40 (MSG):

^25-26“So—who is like me?
Who holds a candle to me?” says The Holy.
Look at the night skies:
Who do you think made all this?
Who marches this army of stars out each night,
counts them off, calls each by name
—so magnificent! so powerful!—
and never overlooks a single one?

^27-31Why would you ever complain, O Jacob,
or, whine, Israel, saying,
“God has lost track of me.
He doesn’t care what happens to me”?
Don’t you know anything? Haven’t you been listening?
God doesn’t come and go. God lasts.
He’s Creator of all you can see or imagine.
He doesn’t get tired out, doesn’t pause to catch his breath.
And he knows everything, inside and out.
He energizes those who get tired,
gives fresh strength to dropouts.
For even young people tire and drop out,
young folk in their prime stumble and fall.
But those who wait upon God get fresh strength.
They spread their wings and soar like eagles,
They run and don’t get tired,
they walk and don’t lag behind.

I love this:

God doesn’t come and go. God lasts.

He energizes those who get tired, gives fresh strength to dropouts.

But those who wait upon God get fresh strength.

Here’s to a new year, one filled with Hope & Radical Grace!

Charmin helps people get “personal”

2 years ago, while filming some Christmas video footage for True North, a bunch of us stumbled upon something amazing in Times Square in NYC. It was Charmin’s free restrooms. Now, not only is a clean (and free) bathroom in NYC a big deal, but this place was a Charmin wonderland. They had all sorts of cool stuf going on – you could send postcards to friends, take photos in their photo booth and of course, relieve yourself. Charmin created a fun environment that drew people in, even if they didn’t have to go. Great marketing for sure.

They closed up shop after a while, and apparently, they have returned. Today, I was in the city, but unfortunately didn’t manage to get back there, but I did see this:

So Charmin has done it again. Pretty funny stuff. If you find yourself in NYC and near Times Sq. pay them a visit. Trust me, it will be worth it.

For now, enjoy some of these links:

Charmin’s main site
Charmin’s Flicker photos

Until next time, as Charmin says “Enjoy the Go.”

Her Morning Elegance

Another cool & creative video. Enjoy!

Awesome Timelapse

It’s kinda long, but really worth it. Plus cool soundtrack. Check it:

Lessons from Creative Coaching & The Idea Process

In my one-on-one Creative Coaching time with Carlos Whittaker last month, he mentioned to me that I should read this book called “IdeaSpotting: how to find your next great idea.” by Sam Harrison.

I just wrapped up reading  it and one thing that has been so valuable is the idea process breakdown. While there is no formula for creativity, I believe this process is helpful in seeing ideas come to life. It goes like this:

Explore: observe & listen

Freedom: brainstorm & visualize

Pause: stop & detach

Embrace: edit & select

Life: prototype & implement

I think one of the harder parts for me has been the idea of the “Explore” stage. You need margin & the ability to let things inspire you when you don’t need them for a project that is right in front of you. As part of the Creative Coaching process, I have come face to face again with the reality that I am not a naturally curious person. Having to do my assignment where I had to become an Illusionist made me realize just how much I take things at face value and I’m ok with that. I’m not the guy who has to figure out how the Illusionist is doing it. I’m not the guy who calls everything into question, who heads out into uncharted territory. But I’m learning. My standard mode of operation is to find something that works and stick with it. I used to travel the same routes to school & work. I liked the predictable (still do). It was safe. Comfortable. But what I’m also finding is that you can sometime miss out on ideas, inspiration – when you don’t explore.

So I’ve been trying in small ways to explore. To drink something different at Starbucks, to go to a different place to read. I enjoy going to this park that’s pretty huge. I usually walk around the same areas, but recently I have been venturing out to explore other parts. And if you are naturally like this, you might think, what’s the big deal? (or it’s about time dude). But for me, it’s part of my journey. To get comfortable exploring. Not connected to a job, or task at hand. Simply to observe & listen. Stop for a moment. Look around. Get a different perspective. I’m finding it stretching me creatively. And in the end I believe it will inspire me to do things, or try solutions that I wouldn’t have found otherwise.

What’s a potential road block to your creative process?

Thanksgiving Memories

So what’s your favorite Thanksgiving memories?

Mine: I loved watching March of the Wooden Soldiers (also known as Babes in Toyland) every year, being together as big family, of course the food, watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade… but one I will never forget – being in the Macy’s parade!

The year was 1997. Some friends worked for Macy’s and they allowed employees to be a part along with one guest. So My wife & I along with our friends Erik & Jeanine headed in to take our place. We were chosen to be float handlers on the newly returned Fireman Harold float. It was such a blast. The only thing was, this was they year of the crazy winds. Every intersection we had to lower the float so it wouldn’t get taken by the wind. One float didn’t fair too well that year, the Cat in the Hat, which hit a lamppost injuring several people. Aside from that unfortunate event, it was so cool to be a part of it and the experience of a lifetime. I view the parade every year since in a whole new way.

Post your fond Thanksgiving memories & traditions below. Who knows, maybe you’ll discover a something new you’ll want to bring into your traditions!

One Gift logo

Here’s a quick logo I did for Dominick, our Children’s ministry director at True North. He’s got this really great idea of asking kids to choose to give up one gift at Christmas, and have that person donate money to a charity instead. The kids are completely involved & make the choice. In making the logo, I wanted it to reflect a child-like quality. I used my wacom tablet to draw the stuffed animal lion. It may be hard to tell but I left some white peaking through the color on the lion, making it kind of a skecthy vibe. It’s been a while since I’ve drawn anything with my wacom. Always takes some getting used to. Anyway, not going to win any awards, but I’m pretty happy with it.

Camera Help

Ok gang. If any of you have some info/advice on a SLR Canon Camera, I’d love to hear your opinions. Feel free to post some links for further info. I’m in the early (like way early) stages of saving up but would like info for research. I’m not looking to go over $1000 (and even at that rate, i’m probably looking at well into next year) Sound off & help a brother out. Thanks!

Looping Madness

I have long been a huge fan of Phil Keaggy. He is one of the most amazing guitar players to watch live. When he plays acoustic guitar unaccompanied, he does this technique with looping & sampling his guitar to create layers of sound. If you ever get the chance to see him live – do it!! Here’s a video sample of it:

Well, I recently came across a cellist, Zoe Keating, who does a very similar technique. It’s quite amazing. There’s something about a cello that evokes so much emotion. Check her out in action:

I think it would be amazing to see these two do something together. It would be…. looping madness!