The Caring Catalyst

Who Cares - What Matters

Vereses

By Leave a Comment

The best song’s have more than just one verse, don’t they?

The best song’s not only have more than one verse, but a killer chorus that bounces around in your head like a bullet ricocheting around in a steel encased room.

But we don’t believe it!

We know it, know that the song has multiple verses, might even be able to sing through everyone of them like a long Dylan song gone amok, but we just don’t believe it–or at least act like we believe it.

The Apple commercial with Robin Williams, borrows his speech from his role in Peter Weir’s 1989 film, DEAD POET’S SOCIETY. In the film, Williams plays a teacher who inspires some pretty rigid academy students with his unorthodox teaching methods and passion for poetry. Williams ends the commercial with his oft-quoted line from the film:

[Read more…]

The “Z” in Xylophone

By Leave a Comment

Unknown-1

Question.

Have you ever felt like the “Z” in Xylophone?

It’s not always a comfortable feeling is it? In fact, most of the time, we try severely hard to feel anything but the “Z” in Xylophone, don’t we?

We don’t like finger pointing, especially when they are pointed our way. Most really like to fly under any radar recognition, even if it means not getting properly identified.

In fact, if we’re really honest, we are doing so much to “FIT IN” we give little or absolutely no thought, to stand out!

Can we re-read THAT, in a slightly different way?

How is it that we spend a huge portion and much of what we define our Life as being, devising ways to FIT IN when we are born to stand out?

CAN WE RE-READ T H A T in a slightly different way?

We are born to be OUTSTANDING people and we are constantly looking for a crowd to slip inside of to be counted. . .at the cost of being COUNTED ON!

Have you ever felt like the “Z” in Xylophone?

Psssst: The next time you feel like that glorious “Z” in Xylophone–PLAY IT!

You are an important NOTE in the Symphony that composes this Universe. Without you, the concert may continue, but continually be incomplete.

STAND OUT!

Risk being OUTSTANDING!

Be the Glorious “Z” you were created to be, now, here, in this moment you’ve been placed.

Be of NOTE!

RE-S O U N D!

Ripple on. . . .

Make Toes, Tap.

Make Fingers, drum across table tops.

Make Hearts, Beat.

Make Mouths, Sing.

Z OUT before you Zzzzzzzzz away!

Being THAT GUY

By Leave a Comment

Unknown

Maybe it’s not so much about being Remembered as it is simply not getting FORGOTTEN. . . .

I’ve NOT been remembered LOTS as a minister, a Life-Celebrant, a Spiritual Care Coordinator with hospice, a Wedding Liturgist, a Speaker for Leadership, Communication, Spirituality, End-Of-Life Issues. Maybe too many times. But I have literally, powerfully, emphatically NOT been Forgotten.

Most of the phone calls I get to fulfill any of the roles above is merely been because I’ve NOT been forgotten.

I’m sincerely, intimately, “THAT GUY!”

[Read more…]

“

By Leave a Comment

Unknown

Ok, I will unabashedly date myself and ask NOT for forgiveness.

I remember IT all…the Beatles hitting the USA and the Ed Sullivan Show and the Songs. . .my, my, my, all of the great music they wrote, shared and shaped a generation.

Now, before we go too far, I’m not a Beatle-maniac. Like them, Love them, but not adore or idolize them.

And as for all of the vast Trivia, no, by no means am I even remotely astute…but I know a little and actually am unaware of lots.

So, hearing this story this past week as we approach their 50th anniversary of the Sullivan show, was a little enlightening for me, and now, hopefully, you.

It has to do with VISION!

[Read more…]

YOU, Planter of Seeds

By Leave a Comment

Well, the countdown has begun, hasn’t it. The teams, the Denver Broncos and the Seattle Seahawks, for the Super Bowl have now been decided for their ultimate showdown on Sunday, February 2.

Recently what’s been bigger than the game are the Commercials. Millions of dollars per second are charged for select spots.

What was your favorite last year or have they been that quickly forgotten and very soon replaced?

Paul Harvey’s GOD MADE A FARMER ranks up there for me, for not just last year, but many a recent Super Bowl. The Commercial advertises Ram trucks but maybe like me, they could have saved the millions for the real message we received, and still do from the Commercial.

YOU, we, are all Planter of Seeds, aren’t we?

[Read more…]

Cracked Pots

By 2 Comments

Unknown

The Story’s been told many times, in many different ways. It still asks the same question, though:

ARE YOU A CRACKED POT?

Okay, you caught me. It’s an entirely rhetorical question and the answer is completely true:

YES!

The story is really simple but it’s moral is even more simple and engaging–if only recongized!

[Read more…]

SEEING

By Leave a Comment

There’s such a very huge distance between Looking and Seeing.

When’s the last time you, you just didn’t look but actually saw what’s behind the eyes, the face of everyone you meet?

Granted, we’re all very busy and it would be just so much easier if we could wear a special set of glasses that would identify the pain of each person, known and unknown to us in a very specific way–taking out all of the guess work.

[Read more…]

Your Move

By 2 Comments

images

A Simple game, huh?

But why, why is it we take the Simple and make it so complicated?

To make it more important? For it to be taken seriously? To take it more seriously?

Would it make the Checkers Plan inconceivable?

The plan can be implemented in any area of your life, especially the most troublesome ones.

Hit the Rewind button and go back with me for a little bit. When, exactly, was the the last time you actually played a spirited game of Checkers?

Yesterday or yesteryear?

[Read more…]

The Candle Maker’s Pledge

By Leave a Comment

Unknown

Barely 50+ hours into the New Year. How’s it going?

Wait. . .Did you expect Resolutions Made = Resolutions Accomplished? It’ll take just a little bit more time, commitment and persistence.

Would it be alright if we took a Lesson from my book, The Candle Maker? For the next 28 days in the morning, afternoon and evening would you recite, out loud the Candle Maker’s Pledge?

Give this a try. You only need 95 seconds, three times a day; 4 minutes and five seconds total.

REPEAT:

With unlimited wick and wax, burnout is burnt out. . .so I will remain perpetual. I am not tired or tiring. I am potent and energizing. YES! I am extremely happy and joyous.

My face only know the contentment of a smile. My lips only know how to curve upwards. My nose only smells the fragrance of sweet success. My eyes only search out and expect to see good things.

I cannot be defeated today. I cannot be be let down or disappointed. It is utterly impossible for me to be all used up in this day no matter what happens to me or how often it happens. I am a cup that cannot be emptied, only over and ever flowing!

I intimately know the Candle Maker. I am privileged enough to be always where he stores wax and wick.

I can forever this day, burn profusely at both ends and especially in the middle of the candle without interruption or sputter because I am never without perpetual amounts of wax and wick.

Though others around me will tire and grow weary, I will only get stronger, brighter, more steady and intense as the day lightens into dusk, then a darkness for me to illuminate.

This day, I can neither be snuffed out or burnt up. I am already eternal. I will insure my immortality this day, and all others I am gifted to receive by glowing, guiding, and giving endlessly.

I will burn. YES! Give Light. YES! Provide warmth and all through the day and long into the darkening night. I will leave nothing that the day or night can offer. I have been supplied mightily. My wax and wick have no end. Because the source is so close, so all giving, and in so many locations, I am no match to any darkness this day or ever.

YES! My wax and wick are ceaseless and darkness knows me not!

Don’t Resolve. . .C O M M I T to the Candle Maker’s pledge for the next 28 days, 4 minutes a day.

You just may get a little bit brighter, warmer, illuminated and enlightened. . .and definitely not dimmer!

Professional Speaker, Author, Assurance Man