Too many times we see things from the outside and immediately make assumptions. We do this most often with people.

Everyone has heard the phrase “Don’t judge a book by its cover.” But we do.

This week has been fantastic. A rich mix of meetings — work, partnerships, nonprofit activity, and plenty of family time as we plan for the upcoming school year. Each conversation was different and unique, but all were full of opportunities to be fully awake and fully alive.

Just this morning I covered it with a small team in one of our Foundation businesses. All of us could use a quick refresh on what God has placed in our hands, and examine how we’re utilizing the opportunity. 

Many times in leadership or in roles where creation or business is the focus, difficult seasons have a way of lingering longer than we’d like. So, we innovate. We make the necessary changes. We do our best to stay positive.

But we’re human. And eventually, the extra effort starts to wear us down.

There are a ton of articles out there on delegation and why great leaders become masters at this art. I absolutely believe that our focus should be primarily on the things that only we can do, and that we should allow others to handle tasks they are capable of executing well. However, from time to time, even leaders need to step up and complete the task at hand—regardless of what that work looks like. There is something profoundly impactful about a leader who truly understands how to get the job done.

This morning, I had the chance to talk with someone older and wiser than I prior to our morning Bible study. He's older, but boy, does he still have energy! He's one of those guys you aspire to be when you're in your 70s. God willing, I will be!

Life has a funny way of timing things. Opportunities, challenges, and flurries of activity in both our personal and professional lives often seem to come all at once. And then, just as suddenly, we may find ourselves in seasons of waiting—times of preparation, reflection, and wondering what comes next.

I love the variety of conversations and viewpoints I get to hear each week. I’m consistently reminded of a quote that was drilled into my head for years while participating in Built To Lead training with Chet Scott:

“We do not see things the way they are, we see things the way we are.”

Ain’t that the truth.

Today, I had the privilege of serving some of the neediest in our city alongside two close friends I’ve known for nearly 15 years. Freely giving time to make others feel seen and known is one of the best feelings that money can't buy.

As Christians, we are given the gift of God’s Word to help us process our next steps. There are many things in the Bible are made perfectly clear to us. These rules aren’t given to us by God to make life tedious or difficult; rather, they provide the freedom to move inside and outside of the lines with clarity