Lana Vaughan

When was the last time you let someone teach you something?

Something that made your life easier or better or happier?

Something that you never thought you could do but now you can?

A quick glance through the book store will reveal the overwhelming number of books written by someone who knows something and took the time to put it in a book so you can learn what the author knows.

How many hours of television are dedicated to DIY and educational programming?

Never in history has so much information and knowledge ( do not make the mistake of thinking they are the same thing) been available on such a wide scale.

But unless we are willing to learn, willing to admit we need someone to teach us, willing to listen instead of talk, we can remain uneducated and ignorant.

Who is teaching you? Who are you teaching?

What have you learned today?

Who is your personal or professional role model?

If you were to follow in someone’s career path who’s would it be?

If you could have anyone in the world for a mentor who would you choose? Why them?

If you don’t know where you are going it’s a waste of gas to go 90 miles an hour.

If you don’t know of anyone, anywhere doing what you want to do and making a living at it you might want to consider if you are the one in 40 billion who can do something that never ever been done by anyone ever.

If there is someone, somewhere doing what you want to do and making a living at it:

• Find out how they did it.

• Find out if they will teach you how to do it.

• Learn everything you can from them .

• Ask questions.

• Then shut up and take notes.

• Then do what you want with what you’ve learned.

Who are you following? Where are you going? Why are you still just sitting there?????

Reader Digest ran a short article in the late 1970′s that still impacts my daily life.

It was 6 things to do everyday.

    Something you want to do
    Something you don’t want to do
    Something for someone else
    Physical exercise
    Mental exercise
    Prayer of gratitude

Abdominal muscles are sometimes referred to as core muscles. If  you have listed them out or are even conscious of them, the things you do daily are exercising your core values. If your actions don’t match what you think your values are maybe it’s time to do a quick reality check.

A wise man once said “People are going to do what they want to do.” So, do you need to change your actions or get honest about your values?

My to-do list is out of control. No, that’s not accurate. My list of things I want done has gotten long enough to intimidate me into not picking anyone to get started on because the others start screaming at me for attention. The sheer volume can be deafening.

But here’s the really scary part. Each and every one of them I added myself. Sure there are things God has given me to do but I don’t actually put those on the list. Somehow they feel too Holy to type into my reminder program or add to the paper list I make of the things I put on my digital lists. I like the things on His list. They seem like they have a richer feel, a deeper purpose, a sense of Him. They feel more like an invitation into something that matters instead of a striving to make a difference.

Which leaves me with the question…who’s the harsh task master…me or Him? Jesus said “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Today is one of two days this month I get 6 hours to myself. This year I am homeschooling our 8th grader. She attends class just two days a month on the first and second Monday for 6 hours. The rest of the month she works on the curriculum independently. Throw in a rotating band rehearsal schedule and private music lessons, orthodontist and chiropractor appointments and you can see keeping up with her schedule chops mine up a bit.

But Monday School…that is the day I drop her off at 9 and pick her up at 3. The temptation to use that time to blast through house cleaning and errands is pretty easy to resist. Other focus intense activities far out rank rotating dishes and laundry. Those can be worked into the shorter blocks of time. Today I have two big projects. One I can complete and mark as done for the year. The other is creative and only a looming deadline will push me across the finished line on it.

If you had 6 hours to yourself how would you use the time? What would you like to accomplish or create? Would you consider resting and silence a good use of your time? Would you fill it with friends and play? What would you do today?

I’ve been teaching Genesis again. This is my 5th or 6th time through. Each time I learn more and see more of the heart of God. This time the questions have jumped off the page at me. There are three from God that are very direct and show so much of His heart. Today I wonder how you would answer the questions.

The first two come coupled together. An unmarried pregnant woman running from the life of slavery and two pillars of faith who treated her badly is asked “Where have you come from and where are you going?” (Gen 16:8) Now, I’m pretty confident God knew exactly where Hagar was coming from and had a pretty good idea where she would be going. But so often, when we are in the midst of crisis, it’s critical to get our bearings. Knowing where we’ve come from is vital to deciding where to go and what to do next. If we don’t know how we got where we are how are we to move forward?

“Where are you going?” takes our focus off the road behind us and helps us realize we have choices to make. I have never accepted the excuse “I had no choice” as valid. There are always choices. Joshua broke it down to the most basic, choose life or death. Everyday, we make choices that determine where we are going.

The third may come as a shock. After explaining to God the horrible circumstances she was fleeing from and her plan to keep fleeing, God sent her back to the same circumstances with two things, His name, El Roi and His promise, her son would be the father of nations. So when she finds herself sixteen years later sitting in despair again the question, “What is the matter with you?” may sound a little harsh. Her circumstances didn’t improve during the 16 years she had the name and the promise, but it didn’t change the heart of God, His name or the promise. The same God who protected her for 16 years, who saw her not only in the desert but in the camp, who gave her His promise hadn’t changed.

So today, looking at your circumstances, looking at what you know of His heart, how would you answer…

Where have you come from?

Where are you going?

What is the matter with you?

When was the last time you changed your batteries? I mean other than something being totally dead. For months I have walked past our indoor/outdoor thermometer and thought it was broken. This morning I decided to replace the batteries. Low and behold! It works! But this makes me wonder if my carbon monoxide detector and smoke detectors need fresh batteries, too. When was the last time you changed your batteries?

When was the last time you changed your routine? You know, the familiar way you start your morning or end your day. The route you take to and from the same places you’ve always gone. It’s called a routine because you do it the same way over and over. Honestly, can you say what you do the way you do it works for you or is there room for creative improvement?

When was the last time you changed your opinion? I mean really changed your opinion not just changing your mind. We all know how easy it can be to change your mind. “I changed my mind, I’ll have the fish instead of the chicken.” “I’ve changed my mind, I really don’t want to go to that party.” “I’ve changed my mind….” But to change your opinion, well that’s a very different story. That requires admitting on some level that your opinion might not really be as “right” or as accurate as you thought it was. Your evaluation of a person or a situation might have been lacking in information or insight or (gasp) compassion. You might have to make some public statements indicating your opinion has changed, which could open you up to questions and the very real possibility that other people’s opinions could change, too.

You can’t smell carbon monoxide in your home but it can kill you.

You may be comfortable with your routine but if you’re not growing and changing you are dying.

You may have held your opinion for a long time but if you are not willing to reconsider it you may already be dead.

What are you going to change today?

If it means failing a few times before you succeed are you in? I have written today’s question six different ways so far and the opening few lines have given me a really struggle. But I want to ask this question today and as much as it’s fighting back I think it’s a good one.

How many shots does a marksman take perfecting his aim?

How many miles does a marathoner log before getting to the starting line?

How many unfinished books are saved on millions of computers that are really good?

How many times does a gold medal ice skater fall?

If you knew you would hit the bulls eye, finish the race, make the Times Best Seller list or take home the gold would your day be different today?

Take the shot.

Put on your shoes.

Finish the book.

Reach for the gold.