No Excuses: Taking the Shot

I've missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I've lost almost 300 games. 26 times, I've been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I've failed over and over and over again in my life. And this is why I succeed. - Michael Jordan

There are many times when I don't take that shot.

I like to know with 100% certainty that something will work or come out exactly like how I planned or wanted to. But limited only to my imagination and perspective, that kind of attitude can put a cap on potential and progress.

It is precisely when I am willing to make mistakes and begin the often painful process of learning from my mistakes that I actually make any kind of progress.

I played a game of basketball some time back. I left the game with regrets and an uneasy feeling of "Whew, I didn't screw up too bad". I missed some shots early in the game and had stopped shooting altogether. Other players, including my own teammates, told me, "Just stop shooting the ball if you can't make it." There was only one friend who kept encouraging me, "It's OK if you missed that one, keep taking that shot!"

Yes, I have to know my limits and have a sober judgment of myself. But if I don't keep trying and practicing during game time, then when will I ever learn to shoot a basketball under pressure?

However, I must remember that persistence without the right perspective is merely stubbornness. Trying again and again using the same methods is madness. That's why persistence and taking chances must be coupled with a constant evaluation and adaptation in order to improve oneself.

Am I ready to try new things and to try again if my original attempt didn't work? Am I ready for some humiliation, discouraging moments, and times when I feel like giving up? And when faced with all that, am I ready to suit up for the next round and take the shot? If chances aren't taken, then nothing happens.

Ready or not...

No Excuses: Adapt and Overcome

It's the Marine Corps mantra of "working through the problem" and given a situation, "adapting and overcome". The Marines are meticulous planners and we do our best to execute a mission. However, we also often say, "Semper Gumby". It's the ability to always stay flexible to the changing situation that can determine the success of a mission.



At points along the way, I get disheartened that conventional methods just don't always work out in new or different contexts. Tried and true ways that fail can cause me to think, "I can't" instead of "How can I punch through this?"

The past year, I grew increasingly frustrated at others who would quit too soon and too easily. One thing I kept hearing was, "No, sorry, I can't. It is impossible", when given some creativity and effort, the situation was actually not impossible.

Looking back on 2009, I realize that my frustration arose out of my own lack of creativity and my own quitter mentality.

Going into 2010, I need a fresh outlook. Sometimes a "fresh take" is looking around at what I have available to me and making the most of it instead of wishing I had something I can't get. That really gets me going, a pioneering spirit. That's why I think I'm a huge fan of MacGyver.



That's the kind of stuff that inspires me, riles me up. The "never quit" endurance and ingenuity that results from thinking that nothing is impossible.

On the physical side, I've really "let myself go" in the past year. Instead of thinking of new ways to work out outside of the conventional gymnasium, I felt lost without the neatly arranged dumbbells. This attitude was accentuated by my 14 day trial at a local fitness club, which was over-the-top: pumping with techno music, walled with mirrors, the latest weight machines and health tonics, all served by perfectly tanned physical trainers. It was "all that I could ask for", except that I grew sick of it. It was too contrived and formulaic... I didn't feel free to work out with the level of intensity and range of motion I wanted to. When in actuality, I am completely free to work out whichever I want to, I just didn't want to accept that freedom to think outside the box.

Adapt and overcome.

Jabroni

I've been running into five kinds of people; oversimplified so that I can make one point:

Person 1: "I've always wanted to be _______. But now I'm stuck doing _______.

Person 2: "I would've never imagined I'd be ______ and doing ________. But wow, here I am!"

Person 3: "I'm so tired and so busy. This sucks."

Person 4: "I always knew what I wanted to do and be. And now I'm living the dream!"

Person 5: "This is my life and I've accepted it."


Person 1: This person had an idea of what he wanted to do and be and probably invested a lot of time, energy, thought, and resources into achieving that goal. When "life happened" and he didn't achieve his goal, he feels as if he is "stuck", useless, discouraged.

Person 2: This person either used to resist the idea of what he is currently involved in, or he simply never seriously considered his current position to be a reality. But now that he is where he is, he is grateful at all the new opportunities to learn more about himself and the world and is ready for more.

Person 3: This person may or may not have found his "dream job". His self-centered perspective may be hindering him from enjoying the fullness of life. He may even be looking forward to this enigmatic, intangible period of happiness and rest once he is not busy or tired (and he's in for a rude awakening!)

Person 4: This person may have found temporary satisfaction with where he is and what he is/is doing, but if he doesn't snap out of it, he will become disillusioned. There are simply too many twists and turns in life - life is NOT a dream! He would have to be a very flexible and forgiving person if something were to drastically change his way of life, otherwise he may be devastated.

Person 5: On the positive end, this person has accepted their responsibilities and roles and is willing to go through with them. On the negative end, this person may have "given up" or stopped looking for a greater purpose, allowing his situation to dominate his life experience.

Ever since I was a young child, I was thrust into many roles and positions that I didn't ask for. My parents always explained to me that I represented something/someone bigger than myself and therefore should diligently play my role well, regardless of how I felt. The "American dream" of "following your heart" and "pursuing your dreams" weren't emphasized so much as "this is what needs to be done, please do what you can to help".

I was able to conform to this mindset and lifestyle for some time and was seen as a responsible, young man. But bitterness did eventually take over and I rebelled. I wanted to "live my life". Years later, I'm accepting that what my parents were trying to teach me is the way I want to live - in obedience to God and living for a greater purpose that trumps my own personal desires.

Isn't that what having a "role" is? A role implies that there is a greater movement requiring selfless service from each of its multiple moving parts. For example: A movie cannot be created with the actors alone. Just stay 10 minutes after a movie ends and read the "credits", and you'll know what I mean. I like this quote about everyone knowing their roles: "The quarterback gets all the praise, while the offensive lineman did the job".

The more I'm caught up thinking about how my talents, dreams and ambitions are not being fulfilled, the more I lose sight of living in God's will. Complaint is the lens I put on when I want things my own way. And Complaint's older brother is Control. I'm learning to let go of Control, and instead of inviting Complaint in, taking on a Conformed and grateful heart to the Father's will.

So, my one point? If you know your role and understand that it is an essential contribution to the success of the greater mission, then there is no room for complaint; only grateful and loyal diligence.

Now, some words of wisdom:

The Rock says...
Know your role and shut your mouth!
It doesn't matter what you think!
It doesn't matter what your name is, you jabroni!
- The Rock (aka. Dwayne Johnson)

Harsh? Yes, but it is something that I, a jabroni, need to hear sometimes.

Disturbing in his own way, Jesus had something to say on this too. Click here for a contemporary translation.

great expectations

If you haven't heard by now, American President Barack Obama has just been awarded one of the world's most prestigious awards, the Nobel Peace Prize. There were varied responses to his commendation - some were supportive, some were skeptical. But all sides understand the fact that President Obama has only been in his current office for eight months, and critics point out that he hasn't "achieved that much" to be considered worthy enough to win this high honor.

From CNN.com (http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/europe/10/09/nobel.peace.prize/index.html)

Kofi Annan, the former U.N. secretary general who won the peace prize in 2001, called the choice "unexpected but inspired."

"In an increasingly challenging and volatile world, President Obama has given a sense of hope and optimism to millions around the world" and "has shown that the only way forward is through genuine cooperation with other nations."

...The Nobel announcement was a stunning decision that comes just eight months into Obama's presidency.

The Norwegian Nobel Committee said it honored Obama for his "extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples."

The decision appeared to catch most observers by surprise...

One famous blogger remarked that President Obama was being awarded for his display of effort. The writer compared this year's awarding to an elementary school student being awarded an "A" grade for "effort", regardless of actual performance and results. Haha... maybe...

This was interesting to note (from the same CNN article):

Nominations for the prize had to be postmarked by February 1 -- only 12 days after Obama took office. The committee sent out its solicitation for nominations last September -- two months before Obama was elected president.

President Obama was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize at the same time he was elected president! So I wonder what exactly prompted his nominators to nominate him when they did? Prior to his actual election as president of the US, then-candidate Obama only had a relatively short-lived public servant's record and a lot of inspirational campaign promises. In other words, Barack Obama was initially nominated based on "hype" rather than actual achievement. Therefore, the motivation behind his initial pre-presidency Nobel nomination very well could have been different from the motivation and reasoning behind the decision made for his actual win.

It's as if Obama's Nobel nomination was made in anticipation of his potential to fulfill his promises and not much else. That's a lot of faith put into what is essentially just... a lot of potential.

I think that's part of the challenge of leadership. There can be a lot of hype and expectation put on leaders and public figures. Leaders often represent something - a vision, a movement, a group, institution - bigger than themselves. Therefore the success of that "bigger thing" is based on good leadership. Not everyone can do it - the pressure to perform and deliver on these hopeful and well-intentioned promises must be enormous. If Obama is unsuccessful and doesn't live up to his super-hyped up image, he may be seen as a fluke. It may be very difficult for people to see past his character flaws and focus on his legacy. But all leaders are criticized - it's all part of the deal.

I've been thinking a lot about legacy. In the end, it is what actually remains that matters, not necessarily the characters who played a part. Building a legacy can be likened to a physical building. Someone wealthy may have helped fundthe construction of the building, an architect designed the layout, dozens of laborers helped construct it, many will live and work in the building, and many will help maintain the building. After years have gone by, the names - the who - will be forgotten. Only the physical building - the legacy - will remain. People come and go. It is the actual change brought about that counts.

So I wonder if there is real significance and legitimacy behind Obama's Nobel win in that he is the facilitator of change by instilling the motivation and hope into many peoples

"His diplomacy is founded in the concept that those who are to lead the world must do so on the basis of values and attitudes that are shared by the majority of the world's population," it said.

Taken at face value: that comment could make Obama sound like a people pleaserwith a lot of pizzaz and charisma to inspire people.

Or it could imply something deeper - that maybe President Obama attempts to understand and connect with peoples of different cultures in a deeper way in order to be an effective international leader.

For me, I just see that there is a growing discontentment within people's hearts of the status quo. That's why President Obama's message of hope and change and "we're in this together", "Yes we can" was so well-received and inspired millions all across the world. People see how messed up their world is around them and see the need for good, effective leadership. But the truth is that people, no matter how inspirational and charismatic, are not perfect and they fail. Every leader - good or bad - has their critics. That's why behind the desire to see good human leadership lies a greater human need for a Savior.

We can only wait and see how this whole thing plays out. And most will agree - it's too early to fully know if Obama is "deserving" of the Nobel Peace Prize. President Obama gets points in my book for at least being inspirational. We need inspirational people, but that one person cannot bring about all the change on their own, he has his limits.

Change can be super-dramatic and fast and powerful and maybe even violent. But change is never random or "spontaneous". There is a definite flow of events that little by little, gradually contribute to greater moments of recognizable change. Change always takes time. And something we have to recognize is not only to have patience in waiting for change, but taking the time to reflect on the many smaller changes that are happening more frequently as a result of and resulting in bigger changes. But that's next week's blog :)

one thing. break mine for what breaks Yours

First blog update since I arrived in Indonesia three months ago in July.

For now, here are some notable quotations that troubled my heart and what God has been speaking to me about recently. Not only do some of them hit close to "home" (physically, emotionally), but they all scream: "This world needs a Savior".

The "Verbatim" section in the October 12, 2009 edition of Time magazine:

'More Czechs believe in infomercials on television than they do in religion.'
DOMINIK JUN, filmmaker, after Pope Benedict XVI used a Sept. 28 speech in the Czech Republic to urge secular Czechs to rejoin the church

'It was never going to be easy.'
DAN PFEIFFER, White House deputy communications director, acknowledging that the Obama Administration may not be able to fulfill its promise to close the U.S. military prison at Guantánamo Bay by Jan. 22

'I am the happiest man in the world. I just climbed a beautiful mountain.'
CLIFTON MALONEY, husband of New York Representative Carolyn Maloney, after summiting Cho Oyu, the sixth tallest mountain in the world, on Sept. 25. The 71-year-old avid outdoorsman, who was said to be in excellent health, was found dead the following morning

'This is a very noble way to destroy the enemies of Islam. This is not suicide.'
DANI PERMANA, an 18-year-old high school graduate from Indonesia, speaking in a newly released video that identifies him as one of the suicide bombers responsible for the July 17 attacks on two Jakarta hotels that killed seven people and wounded dozens

'It's just devastating, like the wrath of God.'
VINCENT IULI, a villager in American Samoa, after an 8.3-magnitude earthquake on Sept. 29 triggered a tsunami that swept away whole towns on the Pacific islands of Samoa, American Samoa and Tonga, killing at least 100 people

'I thought it would make me happy.'
MARK DREIER, a disgraced financier currently serving 20 years in prison for fraud, on why he hatched a $380 million Ponzi scheme that ran for four years beginning in 2004

'It's not a huge shift.'
EILEEN O'NEILL, president and general manager of cable network TLC, downplaying Jon Gosselin's decision to leave the reality show Jon & Kate Plus 8, which followed the Gosselins' lives as they raised eight young children. The couple announced their separation in June; a new version of the show, retitled Kate Plus Eight, will premiere Nov. 2

What are people looking for in their lives? A sense of purpose? A sense of peace and fulfillment? Something that will make them feel good, even for a moment, before looking for the next happy moment? Or maybe some people have stopped looking altogether.

I'm learning there is tremendous hope in God - He restores all things. I ask myself, why do I what I do? My reason and purpose must be fueled by a discontentment with the status quo and a hope for something better in Jesus. A genuine hope that is not distilled by my own expectations, but seeing people and myself as new creations in need of grace every waking moment of the day.

An 18-year old who is willing to martyr himself in the name of radical Islam, right here in Indonesia, is not just "another terrorist" incident. Accepting "losses" is unacceptable. That is not the language of love and obedience. Jesus preached that the angels in heaven rejoice over one sinner who repents rather than ninety-nine righteous people getting into heaven. 1>99. He came to seek and save the lost. He charged his followers to carry on his work.

In view of "all that's going on" in this world, instead of looking at the sheer massive impossibility of the situation, I need to find hope in just one thing. One Savior. One soul at a time. One day at a time.

"...you are screwed"

A couple of folk have been asking if I had a "bucket list" since I'll be leaving Ann Arbor next week. A silly thought (read April 20, 2009 entry).

#1. God-willing, I'll be back in Ann Arbor this time next year.


#2. Does it really matter what I do? The "who" is more important.



Regardless of what I'll be doing and when, it's cherishing moments with people that's most important. I'm realizing that this week might very well be the last time I see some people in person. That realization has been a fresh reminder and has changed my perspective on what it means to be urgent and enjoying life, while holding life loosely at the same time.


Questions for myself:

In those last moments, what am I leaving behind?

Am I doing everything I can to ensure that things and people are better off and are set up for success/equipped to take on the challenges of another year before I leave? Read Philippians 1:22-26.

Nobody told me that part of "growing up" means knowing how to keep in touch and learning to let go. "I'm really bad at keeping in touch" is not a personality trait thing; it's a poor excuse for immature carelessness. I had to learn that on my own.

I guess that's why all the older folk I've been talking to recently have all been telling me to cherish every moment I have, because "you never know".

One year is actually not that long - every day counts.

As an old friend and mentor told me:
"If you don't carpe diem, you are screwed"


Really... with all these celebrity deaths and social unrest in other countries as stark reminders, all else fades away and doesn't matter except for those tangible intangibles: faith, hope, love. Forget bucket lists. Just love people to the fullest, to the very end without reservation.

don't judge me

I was correcting someone the other day and it was funny because he reminded me a lot of... me.

He used his outgoing personality to gain favor and to boost his reputation in people's eyes. He was given to talking his way out of things with a smile and a dash of confidence, rather than humbly admitting his fault.

I wasn't so upset about him making the actual mistake, but he had these "I know what I'm doing and I'm going to get out of this" types of excuses. He was trying to justify and defend himself even when it was so clear to me that he was just plain wrong and needed to own up to his mistake! Instead of humiliating him, I let him go. I addressed his attitude but there are just some things that he has to learn on his own, the hard way.

It was like looking into a mirror.

Something I've recently realized about myself is that I welcome "judgment". I usually don't enjoy it but I certainly don't back down or shy from it.

My attitude contrasts with some other people I know who say something like, "Don't judge me!" on a regular basis. These are the types of people who may shy away from correction, will avoid confrontation, and may even use the "Don't judge me" to get out of something rather than actually addressing the issue/sin.

I, on the other hand, have never cried out "Don't judge me!" in my whole life (really). I either think so highly of myself, have something to prove, or am so confident that I've hidden my weaknesses so well, that I feel like I have the authority to take people up on the challenge of their judgment and criticism. This also implies that I look down on others with a "Who are YOU to judge ME?" outlook.

Since I was younger, I can remember whenever people called me names or passed judgment on me, I would fume and my defenses would automatically go up. Seems like I was always defending myself. Even against compliments! I have to force myself to calm down and accept compliments with gratitude.

When receiving correction, criticism, or rebuke I tend to stand straighter, puff out my chest, and tilt my chin upwards in defiance versus the other extreme of sulking with myhead hung low in a corner. In my prideful delusion, I often think to myself, "He/she/they can't touch me. I have thick skin. It's a good thing". Confrontations galore.

Maybe. But there is a difference in having thick, tough skin due to a security in oneself, versus having a humble confidence in the rock solid foundation that is the Almighty God.

Both types of people - the "Don't judge me's!" and the "Go ahead, can't touch this" folks suffer from pride. In other words, a loss of perspective on the truth of God's holiness and man's sinfulness. The funny thing is, even my attitude is really a "Don't judge me!" attitude in disguise. I don't want to be exposed and will defend myself in the light of judgment. While I may welcome it outwardly, inside I really don't want it.

That kind of outlook and life is just constantly measuring myself up against others - or even an unrealistic standard - it's exhausting and relentless. This type of graceless mode of exhaustion truly calls out for Christ's rest, his rhythms of grace. Christ, I need more of your grace. Open my eyes.

There are 12 days left until our scheduled departure for Jakarta, Indonesia. I pray God will change and clean my heart. There is no room for this prideful mess when love must enter in.