Thanksgiving Prep- What’s on Your List?

 bob-maclafferty  No Responses »
Nov 272019
 
Thanksgiving PrepEveryone has a list of things that must be bought before Thanksgiving. Most of these involve food. As I write this, the predawn darkness and steady rain  bring peace, quiet, solitude. Two days ago, none of those conditions existed.
My sweetheart and I found ourselves strolling through a local Walmart Monday, three days before Thanksgiving. We had just been in the store the day before, but something was different. The number of shoppers in the store was up, but that wasn’t it. The difference was the urgent, almost frantic pace of most of the shoppers! They zig-zagged up and down the aisles at a feverish pace, making the store look like the inside of a beehive on a hot summer day. 

Walmart had done its own Thanksgiving prep. The most prominent feature on entering the store was a literal mountain of yams! Of course, no stuffing mixes could be found anywhere. We did our own zig-zagging, trying to find this one item among the overpowering displays of Christmas cooking items already competing for attention. Maybe it was because I wasn’t feeling the best. Maybe it was a general attitude problem on my part. Either way, I had an overwhelming urge to just get our stuff and get out of the store!

On this day, Wednesday, the day before Thanksgiving, I hope and pray I don’t need to go back to the store for a missing item! I’m sure the pace will have moved from frantic to frenetic (Yes, there’s a difference- I looked them up!).  Turkey, stuffing, yams, cranberry sauce, pumpkin pie filling, Advil, Tums, 40 watt candelabra bulbs, furnace air filter… Hey! Don’t judge! What’s on your list!

On this day, the last day to prepare before Thanksgiving, what am I doing to prepare? Shopping, cooking, housecleaning, finding the extra chairs, installing the table leaf, last-minute leaf raking, toddler-proofing the breakables… the list could go on and on. As I pondered the list and my focus and time, it seemed that most of the prep was centered around the meal and the event we make of it. Suddenly, one glaring omission became apparent. I may be preparing for the meal, the event, but was I preparing to give thanks, which should be the whole point of this day?

Why don’t I spend time clearing my head of stress and my body of frenetic activity and prepare myself to give thanks? And no, I’m not just talking about saying a hurried and cursory grace before the gorging begins. I’m talking about preparing myself to revel in the blessings showered on me every day by my Heavenly Father. I’m talking about considering special family members and friends who bless me in unique ways. I’m talking about key coworkers who brighten our days and call us higher. I challenge you to join me today, on Thanksgiving Prep day, preparing not just for a meal, but for a true outpouring of thanks!

Worship- Is it a lost art?

 bob-maclafferty  No Responses »
Nov 232019
 

worship, singing https://stream.org/misheard-hymns-seriously-silly-catalog/Worship, smership. What is it anyway? I attended worship. I was part of the worship service. I worshiped. Noun, adjective, verb.  Google’s first definition for worship is “the feeling or expression of reverence and adoration for a deity.” A feeling or expression. Reverence and adoration.

Her lips parted as he strode into the room. The look in her eyes was one of pure adoration…. Not a completely unfamiliar scene in a romance novel or movie, right? But Google’s definition finishes by directing these feelings or expressions to God! 

As a member of a somewhat conservative faith fellowship, my expressions are often muted. I slip into the pew silently, soon bowing my head for a quick prayer of focus on my Father. Often my verbal utterances or expressions are limited to a somber “amen” in support of the pastor and a particularly moving sermon passage. 

Stephen Altrogge, a Pennsylvania pastor, writes about our unwillingness to praise, especially out loud.  We use our conservatism or introversion to justify our controlled and subdued responses. If you’ve done such a thing, as I have on occasion, remember with me that our response to something glorious should supersede our personality traits or preferences. 

Several stories in the New Testament refer to paid mourners, those hired to wail and cry at the funeral of a loved one. This tradition has always disgusted me just a bit. However, when I think of my worshipful utterances, how often am I guilty of relying on others to make them for me? I allow a talented and energetic praise band to sing and play, with my singalong lyrics all but inaudible. In fact, I have observed this phenomena several times, seeing the dominating performance of talented musicians, whether praise bands or pipe organs, make congregants feel as if their melodic contributions are unnecessary at best and contraindicated at worst.

I have also attended services where the singing from the pews, regardless of the music genre, was the dominant source of volume in the sanctuary. And, again, by observing my fellow “worshipers”, I can tell you that the expression of reverence and adoration was far more powerful when we were participants rather than spectators.

I challenge you to re-evaluate how you contribute to the musical part of your next church experience. Unless your voice is so unsuitable for singing that you bring great pain to all around you and window glass shatters, I encourage you to sing, not under your breath, but LOUDLY! BTW, if you are a glass shatterer, please still sing, but maybe at lower decibels. Your outpouring of adoration is still important to your experience and to your Heavenly Father. Let’s sing out loud!

Sing to the Lord, for he has done glorious things; let this be known to all the world. –Isaiah 12:5, NIV.

Also check out Let’s Make a Little Noise!

Culture Change- by Proclamation or Practice?

 bob-maclafferty  No Responses »
May 232019
 

The CEO of a startup company struggled to make sweeping culture changes in his fledgling organization.  His leadership team had been recruited from other organizations, most of which had cultures counter to his vision. They were largely hierarchical in structure and exhibited strong prejudices based on age, sex, religion, and ethnic origin.

He envisioned a company where servant leadership was the rule, not the exception.  Individuals would be treated, not based on their production ability, but according to their intrinsic value as human beings. The elderly would be valued for their experience and wisdom, the young for their energy and pure hearts.

One day, while meeting with a large group at a local cultural landmark, two small children were brought to him by a mother hoping for a job in this new company. His leadership team, impatient with the boisterous children, were embarrassed when their CEO bent down and lifted them up, instantly engaging them in conversation. Two of them moved to take the children away so that more important conversations could occur.

But Jesus was irate and let them know it:
“Don’t push these children away. Don’t ever get between them and me.
These children are at the very center of life in the kingdom.”
-Mark 10:14 (The Message version).

Does your company talk about culture? Is there content on the intranet site that promotes values and principles that define the culture? Do you see actions, words, decisions made every day that provide evidence of the company’s culture?  Some define culture as “the way we do things around here”. If you are a leader, how would your front-line team members describe the culture you define, not by what you post or email, but by your actions, words, and decisions?

In my opinion, the part of your culture that determines interactions with people is one of the most important. Would you say that those interactions often exhibit autocratic behavior and inflexibility? Do they show evidence of viewing a team member as a commodity that can and will be replaced on a whim? Or do those interactions show collaborative efforts designed to benefit all. Do they judge actions based on intent and principle, and viewing team members as valuable and precious human beings? Are those team members worth the effort to be redemptive when things go wrong rather than punitive? Is it your desire to support them in doing their best every day?

Lots of questions, I know. However, the answers to these questions have much to do with the long term success of your company or department and the excellence with which it serves the community.  Whether it’s a frightened phlebotomist two weeks out of school or a struggling supervisor that needs some encouragement and redirection, the culture you display will determine, not only their immediate performance, but also their long-term retention as team members. Choose wisely!

 

Mentoring- is it worth the effort?

 bob-maclafferty  1 Response »
May 092019
 


MentoringThe tiny toddler checked her balance with one hand, lifting cups and plates she could reach with the other. Her young mother took them one by one, putting them in their place in the cabinets. Minutes ticked by. Again she thought of how much faster it would be if she simply did the job herself. And how much safer! Sooner or later, another dish or glass would drop to the floor. “Why don’t they sell glasses in sets of nine or ten,” she thought. But day by day, week by week, month by month, she built value and skill into her little one, looking into the future at what she would become.

The young student, nearing the completion of her internship year, was partnered with an experienced medical laboratory scientist in the chemistry area of the laboratory. She struggled to replace a testing instrument part that was required to meet preventive maintenance requirements. Her mentor bent over her shoulder, watching her efforts. He thought about how easy it would be to nudge her aside and replace it himself, taking seconds instead of precious minutes. And yet he waited, offering a few key words of advice and encouragement.

The toddler grew, and was soon joined by a baby sister who also grew and then there were two tiny, faltering, inefficient little helpers for the young mother. But persevere she did. Older, taller, and stronger they became, learning by working alongside their patient mentor. How much time did it take to complete this effort? Was it worth the stress and strain over years? That question was answered this week in a unique way. While the mother struggled to organize and pack to prepare for her parent’s imminent move, both daughters, now grown, planned time to help. Whether traveling one hour or several, they came and worked alongside her… lifting her burden… lightening her load. And for the hundredth time, she saw the fruits of her mentoring so many years before. Instead of two fumbling toddlers, she had two strong, loving, hard-working, and unselfish young women to lift her up!

The young student soon became proficient at the maintenance task she had struggled with earlier. Under the watchful eye of her mentor, and several others, she made steady progress and now is a trusted, strong, and positive team member.

Is mentoring worth it? Ask the mother and the workplace mentor after a hard day of watching their youthful charges stumble and fail. Ask them again when they see the mature fruit of their labors.

Start children off on the way they should go,
    and even when they are old they will not turn from it.
-Solomon (Proverbs 22:6, NIV)

Is mentoring worth the time invested? In the business world, we talk of Return On Investment (ROI)- when will this project start paying off? Mentoring and training others around me has a reasonably short ROI. If I can answer a request for help with an explanation and a “Let’s do this one together!”, then it is more likely that the team member I am mentoring will be able to handle the issue themselves in the future.

But there’s a better reason than ROI for spending time in mentoring. It builds value into team members… and children! If we truly consider team members… and children… as being individuals of high value, we will be willing to invest in their success simply because we care about them!

I challenge you today to find someone in whom to build value. Is it a child of yours, a team member, someone from church, a niece or grandson? Taking time to mentor someone is one of the strongest statements you can make about their importance to you. Look for that opportunity today!

By the way, I should know about those daughters… they’re mine. I should know about that still young mother… that’s my wife!

 

 

 

America is Us!

 bob-maclafferty  No Responses »
Jul 042018
 

There’s a lot of things wrong with this country, that’s for sure! News media shouts it from the hilltops. Social media… well sometimes I wonder if some folks have anything good in their lives at all. Recently, someone was chatting with me about some stressful challenges we were both facing. I heard myself say, “Well, I still have some good things to do here.” I’ve been thinking about my own words a bit today as we celebrate in communities all across the country.

What if I spent more time preparing food for kids going home from school on Fridays to hungry homes in my community than I do complaining about whether income tax changes favor one group or another.

What if I ensure that I fairly consider immigrants for job openings and assist with their path to citizenship rather than fighting about differences of opinion on undocumented guests in this country?

What if I spend more time investing in the youth around me, listening and supporting, and less time protesting symptomatic causes for school violence?

What if I focused more on how I could give in my community and less on what I expect to get from my government?

What if my goal was to be the best at what I do rather than making sure I do no more than others around me?

What if I pick up trash in the ditches on my community’s streets rather than trashing people or companies who are still learning about caring for our world?

What if I speak more words of affirmation and thanks to my work team members than I do words of criticism and negativity?

What if I share more compliments with my wife than insignificant irritations?

What if I spend more time on my knees in prayer and less time complaining about the faults around me?

What if I did? What if you did? What if we all did? What would our communities be like? Our schools, our churches, our workplaces? What would America be like?

God Bless America! and God bless us when we work and speak for good, uniting those efforts and voices to truly make our own communities and our very own country great!

Thanksgiving… Offended Much?

 bob-maclafferty  3 Responses »
Nov 232017
 

ThanksgivingThanksgiving and sunrise are approaching and my thoughts wander. Need coffee, perspective, vision. Maybe in that order, maybe not.

I want to be known more for what I support than what I oppose.
I want to put more energy into affirming good than decrying evil.
I want to support unity more than critique differences.
I want to take less offense and give more tolerance.

I choose to exude gratitude rather than radiate condemnation.
I choose to celebrate blessings rather than denounce scarcity.
I choose to see beauty amongst evil rather than thorns dominating blooms.
I choose to speak and stand with honor and respect rather than sit and gripe with disdain and derision.

I am thankful to live in a country that provides freedom, though imperfect. One that allows success, no matter how hard-fought. One that allows diversity, even though faulty.
I am blessed with a family that loves me fully and imperfectly, supports me lavishly, and corrects me gently.
I am indebted to my Savior Who forgives my every sin, Who forgets them all forever, Who sculpts and cuts with my permission to remove more of me from myself every day.

As this year nears its end, a year when so many have chosen to selectively focus on wrongs rather than generously promoting rights, I fear that we are in grave danger of becoming that which we judge and vilify. I challenge us to become seekers of beauty, models of grace and forgiveness, heroes of affirmation, and servants of all.

God bless us all this Thanksgiving with more… well… thanksgiving!

Fourth of July Grumbles

 bob-maclafferty  No Responses »
Jul 042017
 

Fourth of JulyHere we sit on the Fourth of July, halfway through this year. In my relatively short lifetime [not so short according to my younger daughter, LOL!] I don’t think I’ve ever seen so many of us complaining about our country! We are angry about the President. We are angry about the police. We are angry about legal immigration, illegal immigration- oops, I mean undocumented, about the people who are angry about immigration! We are offended about, well… about everything!

I’m starting to think we define ourselves primarily by what we are against!  I sat  at my desk early this morning, at work by choice and joining my coworkers scheduled to provide laboratory medicine support in our region on this holiday. I thought of how many of us express so much negativity about our country. I thought of how many of us choose to identify ourselves as hyphen-Americans, or maybe just the hyphen- and not -American. I thought of how many come to this country and then bad mouth it and work to tear it down. And then I thought, in spite of this, more people immigrate to America than any other country! What does that mean?

Sorry folks. What that means is that this country has more to offer, in so many ways, than any other country on this earth! If that sounds pro-America, well, no apology, it is! Are we perfect? No, no we’re not. Do we need work? Yes, yes we do!

I have a few challenges for you today. Hang on, I’ll get to all of  you!

On this Fourth of July, if you are an immigrant, and you are spending too much of your time tied up in negativity about this country, please, for all our sakes, and your own, feel free to rejoin your country of origin. If you are an  undocumented guest,  and aren’t positive about being here, the road back home is wide open. If you like it here, respect us enough to buy in- documentation, language and all.

On this Fourth of July, if you were born here, you are more blessed than you know. I challenge you to look for the good in the people, government, and countryside around you. I challenge you, and those of you just joining us in  your lifetime, celebrate the differences that make us strong.  Find and revel in common ground that makes us all American.  Keep the uniqueness that adds flavor to us all. Lose the differences that divide and separate.

On this Fourth of July, I challenge you to keep your words and actions only on the blessings, only on the positives that make this country great. If there is something about us that is not worthy, then not today, but tomorrow pledge to be the positive change that will make us worthy.

God bless you. And God bless America!!

 

Coffee, Biscuits and Kindness

 bob-maclafferty  No Responses »
Apr 302017
 

kindnessGritty eyes from lack of sleep.  Stressed with a headful of somber thoughts. “Coffee…. biscuits and gravy, that’s all,” he quickly said to the young waitress.   A minute later, coffee.  Several more minutes,  fresh-from-the-oven biscuits.  She served quietly and quickly, always with a smile. As he finished his second cup, he felt an overwhelming urge to speak to her, sharing his appreciation for her kindness.

“I need to tell you something,” he said. “You never know who you’ll be serving, do you? You probably thought I was just a guy getting his own breakfast before his wife gets up. What you got… was a tired leader, hurting with the knowledge that a favorite former work colleague was dying last night.  I needed a calm, quiet place to get my head straight before starting the rest of my day. What I got, was polite and cheerful smiling service, just often enough to ensure my coffee needs were met,  no coffee drips on the table from refills, super-fast service with one of my comfort foods. Thank you so much for serving me in that way. It meant  a lot to me. Thank you.”

She started to tear up and told him that yesterday had been a very hard day on the job and that she really needed to hear that right then. She leaned over and gave him a tight hug, right there at his table.  He was shocked into silence. He left a very large tip.

Halfway home, something suddenly hit him. “God, you totally set me up! I went in there for my own selfish reasons.  And you set me up to  give someone an encouraging word at just the right time. And I didn’t even ask for it. Thanks for using me, even when I wasn’t in a listening mood!”

Kindness is usually free. It can be simply the words we use. Or it could be the  facial expression or touch we use when interacting with others.  In the workplace,  it is common to think that kindness is not necessary. Coworkers shouldn’t need  appreciation for just doing their job, should they?  I shouldn’t need to express kindness or concern  for colleagues, should I? It’s not professional to mix work and personal, is it?

Gallup, the renowned polling organization, asks for a response to the following statement when polling employees for job satisfaction:  In the last seven days, I have received recognition or praise for doing good work. Apparently they view it as a crucial issue!

Who should receive kindness from me? A stressed employee, an overworked boss, a thoughtful wife, a caring parent, a struggling child, a committed pastor. Oh, yeah, and a grouchy patient, an impatient customer, a rude friend….

And yes, a waitress. I should know. Those were my biscuits… just this morning.

First Rain and Lotion Bottles

 bob-maclafferty  1 Response »
Oct 022016
 

rainLotion bottles. The ones with a pump. They always leave an inch of lotion in the bottom. My habit for years, when sweetheart requests, I cut the bottom off the bottle so she can use the last of the lotion. This morning? my last slice around the bottle slips, I make an unplanned incision in the base of my thumb, I drop the bottle and lotion splashes everywhere! Large globs adorn the mirror, the counter, the wall. An oilslick of lotion soaks into the rug.  As I start to clean up, blood still dripping from my thumb, another finger runs into sweetheart’s still hot curling iron for a nice tissue-sizzling burn! As I chill one finger and bandage the other, I’m thinking, this is a small scale version of my life right now!

Someone asked me at church last weekend how I was doing. I pondered how to answer. This year hasn’t been perfect. I have experienced betrayal and falsehood and weakness that have caused me pain. I have felt discouraged, disillusioned, disheartened, distrust.  And yet that is not all of the picture!

Early this morning, before the sun, I enjoyed the sound of the first rain of the season as it gently descended on our valley. The smell of the dust being washed from the air, the sound of a million rain drops touching a thirsty earth, the view of the cloud-enshrouded mountains from my office window, these things reminded me of one simple truth- God’s unfailing and all-covering love for me. No matter what drought I experience, no matter what trials I suffer, His love covers me.

I have been reminded of a few things this year. That [profit] Margin without a nonnegotiable Mission that drives all decisions and actions, is dead. That valuing people above all else is the example my Jesus expects me to follow. That life is not at all about position and power.

So, what is my answer to, “How are you doing, Bob?” Not everything is just right in my life, but I have so much to be thankful for.  I have a God who loves me no matter what. I have a sweetheart who thinks the best part of her day is meeting me at home after work,. Daughters who still need and love me. Men in their lives who treat them with God-blessed love and respect. Friends and family, close and far, whom I can truly trust when the chips are down. The clarity to be able to enjoy a good cup of coffee during an early morning rain. And world peace? LOL? Not in my lifetime.

And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.  -Phillipians 4:7 NIV.

Peace that others can’t understand. Peace that makes no sense. This is the gift God gives when we learn to lean on him no matter the circumstances.

So right now, with two bandages on my left hand, I look from my window and see a stray beam of sunlight that, in spite of air still in the 40’s, is powerful enough to steam the rain from my roof. Yeah, maybe everything isn’t the way I want it to be, but I’m ready to keep taking blind steps forward in the journey my God calls faith.

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