I have a book called "design for the other 90%"
I have lived in plenty and less so: about 2 years ago i became a " food pantry" user as a primary means of feeding a large family. This is a far different way of living than what is the norm in america, the way I have always known.
steeped. to be immersed in something so that it is re-created.
green tea leaves steeped in water=my morning joy.
as a child i was steeped system during the school year, language and math
in the summer it was dreams as i played outside from dawn to dusk
as a new wife it was making him better and being the woman i should be
as a mom it was the boys. who are they ? and how to help them be all they are to be
in the suburbs it is: our home,where safety is the key.
when had less it was surviving, when i had more it was thriving.
when it is spiritual life it is sacrifice and service that is His key.
I love this world He has steeped me in, one where hope and life flows free, one where people act out as they seem to be made to be. where they focus on what to give, not to get. where they love without an agenda for a net. where help is given to one who is dying or in pain. one where emotions are as physical, both in need, both feel pain. there are so many causes and places in this world trying to steep it in love.
this is not a poem. there are causes and need based organizations by the million out there all lead by people with a passion for more to this life. you must look deeper. you must look beyond the norm. through the consumerism cloud.
to the way humans are made to be
first i packed a hospital bag, ready for that day i would touch you.
then i packed your diaper bag: ready for anything a day would bring.
even placed in their things to help you grow, toys and books that sing.
then i packed your lunch bag with preschool treats and little notes to get you through the change.
then i packed your backpack, making sure you'd be okay- for an entire day. quarters for emergencys that need a cookie or some milk.
then we packed your sports gear, so that you wont get hurt. everything as the coach said, not less, not more.
we packed for vacations: some five star hotels, some tents in the woods.
i showed you to pack for the "unforseen" happenings, useful items like duct tape and safety pins, hold things together in a pinch.
we learned to pack our insides, too. our emotions and character needed to grow ready too.
we learned to pack for a big big life, where we have a part to give to. we learned that its far more than survival, although at times that seems the part.
we packed for sunday church, to learn about faith. we took our bible and our questions. we learned to give and to serve and we packed well, or so i thought?
a long way from the hospital bag, you are no longer "mine". one step into 18, and you belong to the world.
the back pack part was easy, you learned it all so well. a fine man living on your own.
now today is sunday. and i know how it goes. kids come home from college. mom says did you "go to church?" -most smurk "no"? they think "why would i do that?" just to please you? mom, did you go?
it happens with the most faith filled. in understanding the life of Jesus, they see no need for someone to preach at them about sex and greed.
Did I help you pack beyond sunday? did i let you know what to take:
the Holy Sprirt, remember, is God always with you, inside you, like your conscience, He will
guide. He will comfort + give wisdom.
But ASK- and you will find.
The bible, its a good plan, in there you too will find, not preaching, not boring words, not outdated-read between the lines. It is the beautiful story of life. Of creation and the people plan you are. Its timeless in values that you may not find in pews.
Did i tell you its really not all for sunday, even though we made it a huge deal?
Its a moment by moment walk with the Spirit, He is real.
Serving others proved a good pack, its impact is so great. while you helped another you learned empathy and you too, now are truly great.
Serving others isnt just a hobby? a special sunday? giving your old stuff away.
Did i tell you it is worship? and that worship is not just a band? this is so confusing.bait and switch, where did adults get that plan?
Did i help you pack for sunday? or was it all too confused? was church a true picture of the way of Jesus lived out in each breath?
was there too much hype to see how we should be? was there too much noise about how many, how big?
was there too much focus on fun? was there any on how we are "to be one"?
did we help to ask questions? or just shove answers? and not show how?
now you drown in "truth" how are you to know?
did i pack discernment? oh my. where will this go?
did i pack love? its the one thing you will want.
not love like in silly songs, or billboards, or sex, or almost anyone?
love with out agenda, thats what real love is. it has no selfish motive. it is from you- to them. something you give. it is not usually easy. it is though, easily seen, its can even be felt by both giver and receiver the same.
its not a pushy, proud or loud. its not better than, sometimes it doesnt say amen.
it not a word filled way. its action. a true way.
it takes some respect and listening, patience and grace and time.
to keep it simple remember this: see people as made by God, and you will act from that fine.
if you can, hear my apology. i didnt help you pack for sunday. and sunday is today.
My 3rd son was our first to join a mental sport, not football but robotics. While I was happy of course for he and his friends to have all the gifts that being part of a sport brings to ones character, I met -more- at my first standing in their midst.
I was instantly overcome by the feeling, vibe or ETHOS in the room. I had never felt or seen anything like it in a competition based group setting. As a disclaimer I will say that I directed youth groups and camps for years and am no stranger to the world of kids, teams and to the "how to compete" discussion. Instantly while standing in the room of robotics students, I was aware of JOY.calm joy. not zany add chaotic kids vying for attention. CREATIVITY. not wacky emo stuff where kids strive to be different and yet are just like the all dressed black purple haired kids they hang with. The kids dressed with creative self expression, non-emotionally expressive engineer types did the macarena, they named their own teams: exploding bacon, thunder chickens , chipenguineers, cheesy poofs and the like. INTELLIGENT ACTION. For fun in down minutes they discussed bionary code, speed of light and how they could make garbage into energy. no mention of low thought bodily actions. All this from a room of engineers,left brainers- where technically precise perfection makes a world winning robot. The goal is out held out there- this team is world wide #1 as i write. It was instantly quite refreshing and very attractive. My next glance at a group always goes to one place: LEVEL OF INCLUSION. Are the people in cliques? are some people left out when they dont want to be? Is anyone being disrespected and put down, or are they pushed positively? Is this a faux, control led situation?, which can be quickly detected. This is where i become overwhelmed. I couldnt find it. No one left in the corner, no one cliqued out, no one down talking, no one behaving out of unhealthy fear but respect....in fact, they cheer on other teams? say i love you to people, and do chicken dances and penguin dances with such teams. Even the kids who are more of a sideline worker are happy and belong. The number 2 kids give praise to the number ones and the number ones humbly help number 2's advance. The kids are entrusted to high tech expensive donated time in Motorolas lab. dang. While I know that there are a number a factors that go into "ETHOS" , I know that there is at least one big catalyst in this, Im gonna find it. First i talk to a few kids and complement them on how well people are treated "oh, thats GRACIOUS PROFESSIONALISM" and COOPERTION". next i hear of an award for such behavior, and then I notice a mentor man. He is cleary well known and well loved. I watch him interact with a "random" kid. He has long grey hair in a pony tail. He has THE DEMEANOR: calm, intelligent, safe, empowering and humble. next i find out that the mans name is the same name as the award for gracious professionalism. I found the big catalyst. His name is Woody Flowers. intrigued, i googled him and found this: "Dr. Woodie Flowers, FIRST robotics National Advisor and Pappalardo Professor Emeritus of Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, coined the term "Gracious Professionalism." Gracious Professionalism is part of the ethos of FIRSTrobotics. It's a way of doing things that encourages high-quality work, emphasizes the value of others, and respects individuals and the community. With Gracious Professionalism, fierce competition and mutual gain are not separate notions. Gracious professionals learn and compete like crazy, but treat one another with respect and kindness in the process. They avoid treating anyone like losers. No chest thumping tough talk, but no sticky-sweet platitudes either. Knowledge, competition, and empathy are comfortably blended. In the long run, Gracious Professionalism is part of pursuing a meaningful life. One can add to society and enjoy the satisfaction of knowing one has acted with integrity and sensitivity. >>So, whats my point? to tell you how great i think woody and my kids team is. ? NO. TO START TO TALK ETHOS in any area of life where MAKING A DIFFERENCE is the goal. I think that there is serious take away value in places where knowledge, competition and empathy are blended. (rather that either element avoided) There is more to the simple statement that acting with INTEGRITY and SENSITIVITY/empathy adds to society That fierce competition and mutual gain mutual and not exclusive. (this is a redefining of competition, a humane one) That Ethos is the wordless soil that produces growth. That an Ethos of respect is a soil that touches and grows healthy humaness, and eventually eliminate unhealthy behavior. That through Ethos we teach, communicate, give and love. because there we are introduced to our humaness. that "where we have not respectful love, we have nothing" to ask the question to what extent can what christians call "the gospel" be communicated without words? to truly look at what it will take to make a real change in our world. more blogs on group ethos to come.......
and, nice job to the 501c3 FIRST ROBOTICS.
My 3rd son was our first to join a mental sport, not football but robotics. While I was happy for he and his friends to have all the gifts that being part of a sport brings to ones character, I met -more, at my first standing in the midst of the robotics teams. I was instantly overcome by the feeling, vibe or ETHOS in the room. I had never felt or seen anything like it in a competition based group setting. As a disclaimer I will say that I directed youth groups and camps for years and am no stranger to the world of kids, teams and to the "to compete or not" discussion. Instantly while standing in the room of robotics students, I was aware of JOY. calm joy. not zany add chaotic kids vying for attention. CREATIVITY. not wacky emo stuff where kids strive to be different and yet are just like the all dressed black purple haired kids they hang with. The kids dressed with creative self expression. non-emotionally expressive engineer types did the macarena. kids named their own teams: exploding bacon, thunder chickens , chipenguineers, cheesy poofs and the like. INTELLIGENT ACTION. For fun in down time they discussed bionary code, speed of light and how they could make garbage into energy. no mention of low thought bodily actions. All this from a room of engineers, left brainers- where technically precise perfection makes a world winning robot. The goal to win is clearly out there- this team is world wide #1 as i write. It was instantly quite refreshing and very attractive and rare. My next glance at a group always goes to one place: LEVEL OF INCLUSION. Are the people in cliques? are some people left out when they dont want to be? Is anyone being disrespected and put down, or are they pushed positively? Is this a faux, control led situation?, which can be quickly detected. This is where i become overwhelmed. I couldnt find it. No one left in the corner, no one cliqued out, no one down talking, no one behaving out of unhealthy fear but respect....in fact, they cheer on other teams? say i love you to people, and do chicken dances and penguin dances with such teams. Even the kids who are more of a sideline worker are happy and belong. The number 2 kids give praise to the number ones and the number ones humbly help number 2's advance. The kids are entrusted to high tech expensive donated time in Motorolas lab. dang. While I know that there are a number a factors that go into "ETHOS" , I know that there is at least one big catalyst in this, Im gonna find it. First i talk to a few kids and complement them on how well people are treated "oh, thats GRACIOUS PROFESSIONALISM" and COOPERTION". next i hear of an award for such behavior, and then I notice a mentor man. He is cleary well known and well loved. I watch him interact with a "random" kid. He has grey hair in a pony tail. He has THE DEMEANOR: calm, intelligent, safe, empowering and humble. next i find out that the mans name is the same name as the award for gracious professionalism. I found the big catalyst. His name is Woody Flowers. intrigued, i googled him and found this: "Dr. Woodie Flowers, FIRST robotics National Advisor and Pappalardo Professor Emeritus of Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, coined the term "Gracious Professionalism." Gracious Professionalism is part of the ethos of FIRSTrobotics. It's a way of doing things that encourages high-quality work, emphasizes the value of others, and respects individuals and the community. With Gracious Professionalism, fierce competition and mutual gain are not separate notions. Gracious professionals learn and compete like crazy, but treat one another with respect and kindness in the process. They avoid treating anyone like losers. No chest thumping tough talk, but no sticky-sweet platitudes either. Knowledge, competition, and empathy are comfortably blended. In the long run, Gracious Professionalism is part of pursuing a meaningful life. One can add to society and enjoy the satisfaction of knowing one has acted with integrity and sensitivity. >>So, whats my point? to tell you how great i think woody and my kid's team is. ? NO. TO START TO TALK ETHOS in any area of life where MAKING A DIFFERENCE is the goal. I think that there is serious take away value in places where knowledge, competition and empathy are blended. (rather that either element avoided or masked over) There is more to the simple statement that acting with INTEGRITY and SENSITIVITY/empathy adds to society That fierce competition and mutual gain mutual and not exclusive. (this is essentially a societal redefining of competition, a humane one) That Ethos is the wordless soil that produces growth. That an Ethos of respect is a soil that touches and grows healthy humaness, and eventually eliminate unhealthy behavior. That through Ethos we teach, communicate, give and love; because there we are introduced to our humaness. that "where we have not love, we have nothing" to ask the question to what extent can what christians call "the gospel" be communicated without words? to truly look at what it will take to make a real change in our world. a change for our kids. a quick but sure change. more blogs on group ethos to come....... and, nice job "doing good " as we call it here at Shema, to the 501c3 FIRST ROBOTICS. --first.org
I LOVE I.Q. tests, I love the information on emotional intelligences E.Q., I think about integrity quotient I.Q.; I love to study people, groups, interdependence, interaction, culture, birth orders, temperaments, learning styles and the like.
I was at my parent's home for a recent holiday. My parent's parents were immigrants and so my parents earned all they have the good old hard workin' way. They LOVE to tell stories of the past as much as i love for my children to hear them. People who work hard for their things often value them more than their actual market value; creating what we fondly call 'pack rats'. Their basement will be the worlds greatest estate sale some day complete with old post cards, cubs beer cans, kirby vacuum parts,cigar boxes, wooden toys that were too good to play with, tools and old magazines that look like newspapers.
Image that you drive an ambulance. You are on the way to the hospital and blocking your path in the street are 2 men in suits fighting. They are so embroiled that they do not hear your ambulance. You get out assuming that this will be easy...maybe the men are deaf and you just need to shoo them off of the street.
-community

on hospitality of the other 90%