Web Theologian

Many people fear change, and then there are those that are more like me.

I did not start playing lacrosse until I was in my second year of college. If you are unfamiliar with the sport check it out. It is the fastest roughest sport on two feet here in the U.S., I used to say the world until I discovered Hurling and now I pay my respect to the Irish.

After a summer of throwing around with my friend I jumped in. During three years I ended up playing three different positions: mid-field, close defense, and then finally and best of all long stick mid-field. Not only was I elected a captain my senior year and made all conference, the role of long stick mid-fielder fit me like a glove because it was the chaos maker.

The goal of this role is to be where the action is and cause turn-overs by the other team, disrupt their flow, and push the ball to give my team an advantage. There was one circumstance when the coach would have me play another position and this was when we would need a ‘must have goal’ at a critical moment of the game. I would grab my short stick and coach would run a play for me that always ended with and attempted shot and most times a goal.

I LOVED the variety, the challenges of learning new roles and improving in them kept me motivated. They also allowed me to excel faster then I would have if I only did one thing, and lead others more effectively. But most of all I found joy in the changes.

Professionally I see this as a theme for me as well. I think there are a few things that are in common with my lacrosse experience.

• Energy comes when you are learning
• Challenges push you to be better
• Variety of experiences makes you more well rounded
• Joy comes from being in the action

Grateful for a company that encourages people to grow, and now I’m working on deepening my thinking and skills for continued growth. Make it a goal to take advantage of change where you are and you’ll find great things lie ahead.

The myth of a balanced life has always frustrated me. The need to make sure that work fits properly into a box, then family life, then spiritual life, then social life, and all need proper attention and watering in order for you to healthy and successful. This has never worked for me, as a whole person the many areas of my life blend and mix into something that becomes a fun adventure. In theological terms all of life is under the domain of God, therefore to separate it out goes against a natural order.

Today after arriving early for a coffee meeting at Miir, I realized that I was sitting in the flagship store of a business that is trying to do the same thing with a company. The store has the closest thing to the vibe of a Mini Dealership that I have experienced, and just after writing that in a person note to Bryan Papé  (CEO Miir) I ran into him at the counter. Bryan and I did some localization work together while he was at Little Hotties, then connect personally afterward.

We caught up on life and things business. They are experiencing growth and even profitability while experimenting with this idea that a business can be holistic, this has a ton to do with brand but even more mission. Miir sells tea, coffee, water bottles, beer, bicycles while providing clean water, transportation to people in need around the world. 5% goes directly to help people. Check out their story, think about their vision and the work that you are doing.

**warning this topic does discuss the business of an adult emporium

Just about two years ago we moved into our current office building. Moravia took up space in the South Lake Union area of Seattle, a booming neighborhood mostly because of Amazon.com growth and the housing that goes along with it. When we moved in there were two large craters across the street in my view awaiting more Amazon office space, and across the block was Fantasy Unlimited. Immediately after moving in I took pictures and sent it to folks on my team asking them why I saw them walking out of there during lunch, which they were not I just have very adolescent humor at times. My assumption was the view of the store would disappear as the buildings go up.

Today I look at two very cool buildings, a wonderful walkway between them, and in the background the flashing lights of Fantasy Unlimited. Not only are they still there, but I still have a view of the shop. It also appears according to an article in GeekWire they have adjusted to the times providing Geek Discounts for Amazon employees. It appear they have experience large growth (no pun intended).

The company I work for has experienced rapid growth in the time that I have been there, not necessarily related data points, and so much change has been a part of my experience here. We are learning to adjust, move faster, think to scale.

I’m really grateful of this experience that I have had. I look at Fantasy Unlimited and realize that there are many places I could have ended up working, and I’m incredibly grateful to have landed in such a wonderful growing environment! A place where we work to treat people fairly and not exploit them or their sexuality for profit. All growth is not the same, some is more positive for our world.

Years ago it was much easier to remain in the background and severely limit the people that have access to you. As someone who gets paid for connecting and meeting others, I live with the assumption that I can get to the people I want to talk to eventually. This is across the board in my life from prospects at work, to CEOs of companies I admire, even the authors I read, all of them I expect to meet at some point. My conversation with Steve Balmer is just one example of this principle for me, that people are available and that must be respected.

I’m grateful to have worked for CEOs of companies that were available. This could mean that it is common place if you had a questions for them it was easy to reach out or if there is a client challenge they are willing to roll up their sleeves and get involved. Time and time again I have been impressed with seeing the joy these folks have gotten when they get the opportunity to get back into the weeds of the work.

One place where I see this advantage slipping away is when it comes to clients having the availability of leadership. It should not be the size of company that determines the availability of the boss to key clients, I have worked for some CEOs that are intent on making sure that clients have their cell phone. In general this is a symbolic act and nothing ever becomes of it, but I think this is an important symbol: We are available for the things that matter in our lives, personal and professional. Companies that fail to realize the importance of this are going to miss out, as availability is becoming the norm.

***Warning this post does have a spoiler for the final episode of Downton Abbey, so if you haven’t seen it yet and want to be surprised on every point come check it out later.

Just last night I caught with on the final episode of Downton Abbey with my family and it was a evening well spent. Just a quality ending to a great show. My favorite moment came from a line involving a subplot, please bear with me as I set it up.

Maggie Smith as Violet Crawley, whom many credit the shows existence to, plays the family matriarch. With wit, wisdom and sometimes spit she throws herself into the thick of family business with great seriousness and playfulness. For such a powerful character she has a rather humble number of servants we are aware of. Denker, played by Sue Johnson, her lady’s maid and Septimus Spratt, played by Jeremy Swift, the butler. Denker is not a kind person and often know to take advantage of others and just be cruel. Spratt has a a secret that Denker listen’s in on and at first attempts to blackmail him, then eventually turns the information over to Violet Crawley in a way expecting Pratt to be dismissed. Nothing becomes of this revelations other then Violet having a good laugh and Spratt later give his reflection on the event in speaking to Denker:

The one thing you did not take into account with Lady Violet, in trying to get me dismissed, is Lady Violet’s tendency to react in a way that is not predictable. -spoken by Spratt with a grin

And that is what makes her so amazing. This morning at mass we looked at the unpredictable response of Jesus having an expensive perfume lavishly poured over his feet by Mary Magdaline. A year of wages poured over his feet, and he responds to the question of why this was not sold and given to the poor by saying an act of lavish love is priceless. Not the response expected from the leader of a new movement or someone fiscally responsible.

There are many places in my life where my reactions are predictable, why and what do I fear? In this last day I have been greatly encouraged and inspired to move past that and live in place where there is freedom, lavish acts of love, and unpredictability.

Last week Karin and I went out for her birthday, we visited a few museums with friends because it was First Thursday and then made our way to REVEL in Fremont. I had just eaten there with a co-worker earlier in the week and knew that she would absolutely love it. We had a great time sitting at the bar, talking about life, enjoying each other and watching the masters cook. It was an eye opening time, just as it usually is when you sit and watch chefs at a good restaurant. It is a time that is both mesmerizing and inspiring.

Just earlier in the week I had written down that I wanted to start working on cooking. I enjoy cooking but the reality is most nights it actually heating up things bought from Trader Joes. So I watched these pros with a different eye then usual. The part that I was amazed with was how clean they were. Any drop that fell was cleaned up immediately. Each bowl was prepared without streaming sauce or flying ingredients. Everything was done with such care and precision. After that night I realized not only do I need to fall more in love with food to become a great cook, I also need to become in love with cleaning. That is something that I can work on all the time, whether food is present or not.

This is a very vulnerable thing to do, asking for feedback. In graduate school for my final theological paper I chose a controversial topic and knew I would have to defend it before as it would be used in my licensing exams. The professor that reviewed it had written extensively on the topic and we shared a similar view, though I remember being more terrified by asking his feedback then having to defend the paper.

Part of my maturing has been understanding that feedback is good and not scary. It became the big hairy monster for me because of the debilitating criticism I would put on myself. The cycle was not a healthy one, but a cycle that I can imagine many people can relate to.

Some of the things I have found out about feedback:

• It ALWAYS helps me improve
• It is not always correct
• Often it is more favorable then I expect
• At time it is more critical and often for my good
• Quality feedback shows that people care
• Poor quality feedback can be very accurate at times too
• Unsolicited feedback will come regardless of if you want it
• Emotional reaction to feedback is okay
• Emotional reaction to feedback need to be explored and not dominate the process

Anything you’ve learned about feedback would be appreciated, so share…

The first and great commandment is: Don’t let them scare you. -Elmer Davis

To this day my favorite Pixar movie is Monsters Inc., in addition to the jazz and over all aesthetic in my opinion it has the greatest message of any movie I’ve watched. You have an entire culture based on fear in Monstropolis, their life is literally powered by screams. The door ways they pass through to another dimension/world are used only for exploiting those on the opposite side for the monsters personal survival. There are forces like this at work in our world.

Through a series of accidental events the world is flipped upside down. Instead of the culture being based of fear, it is transformed into a culture of joy. The city literally becomes powered by the laugher of children. To me this is one of the most incredible pictures I can personally imagine. And when I think hard enough I remember those moments when one of my daughters made the joke that no family member could refrain from losing their cool and belly laughing, and that is truly the fuel that powers my life.

Wed. March 9, 2015 A gas explosion flattened buildings on Greenwood Avenue North between North 84th and North 85th streets; Wednesday; March 9; 2016. (Steve Ringman / The Seattle Times)

Early yesterday morning a gas leak caused an explosion in the neighborhood of Greenwood, only 2.5 miles from my house. At 1AM two building were destroyed and remarkably no one was killed. The injured were nine firefighters that were working desperately to make sure others were safe, their training was the given reason that these nine only had minor injuries. I bring this event up because I have a child that is working through fear in a way my other two never did. She has been impacted beyond normal by fire drills during her first year at school, and she exhibits anxiety more then our others.

Just last week after two weeks of practice she counted in Japanese during her karate class. This was a huge accomplishment and she was very proud. She over came the fear, and we celebrated afterward going across the street to Neptune Coffee for a brownie. Neptune Coffee was at the center of this explosion. The dojo is across the street on the picture above on the corner that is cut off. The small business owners and community will need support as this is the second major tragedy in the last ten years, there was an active arson burning building blocks away. I am grateful for the work of Emerald City Karate and Sensei Tobey (I know he will be a leader during this time), also our dear friends (and there are too many to name) that we love at Tap Root Theater. If you are not sure how you can help, just watch the video of Sensi Tobey counting and teaching how to hold a fist and perhaps in some way that will be enough or inspire you to more:

Over the weekend and into the early week I had a great trip to the Bay Area  I’m back in Seattle. On Sunday Karin, my wife and I made our way to a lovely brunch spot (MyMy). Sitting outside in the sun I’m admiring all the young people buzzing around and soaking in the joy and energy I get from being in San Francisco. When Karin looks at me and says, “I miss the trees, cities without green don’t do it for me.” Now having been born and raised in Seattle I often understand her love as a result of her upbringing and forgive her, as I am so curious and in awe of global cities including Seattle.

Then the next two days were spent with a co-worker from Portland, so both of us with our beards, stylish jeans, and eco-friendly jackets spent time talking about all things coffee, craft beer and smoothies with handfuls of spinach in them. I realized I have been changed. Today in the gray drizzle of this city I am extremely grateful for where I live and where I am from.

Leave me Manhattan, I want the evergreens
Write me a song I can sing in my sleep
As sure as the rain that will fall where you stand
I want you and the skyline, these are my demands

If you ever get to here Damien Jurado perform “Working Titles”live, I would suggest it. Not only is it beautiful but it is part manifesto.

What is it that you have had to overcome today? In this past decade? In your life so far? Each of us has our list of things, they are our personal journey. There is gratitude in my life for those places that have I had the space, freedom and support to grow through and over some obstacles.

Meeting people who have been knocked down and are looking up from the ground, or starting the journey, that I have the chance to team up with is so exciting. Knowing I have had to move through proving myself to a place of being myself, remembering “failure is an event, not a person.” Slowly coming to the awareness of strength that I have had available, and I see people with that same potential and can’t wait to see them grow.

Seattle Seahawks’ Richard Sherman motions to fans after intercepting in the end zone against the San Francisco 49ers in the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 23, 2012, in Seattle. The Seahawks won 42-13. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

There are two sports teams that I really enjoy right right now: The Golden State Warriors and the Seattle Seahawks. Both these teams are filled with players that are/have overcome. Some say they have a chip on their shoulders. When a team of individual overcomers joins together around a common goal, something magic happens. It is rare, hard, and rocky, but watching the accomplish things no one has ever does brings life.

These days I’m grateful for what I’m overcoming and grateful for those around me working becoming more human and working together to accomplish great things for others!