dougrutter.org

The Arrow & Bumper Truck

noreply@blogger.com (Doug Rutter) — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 19:00:54 PST

I travel 35 minutes on the Interstate every day for my commute. Because I live in Illinois, I see plenty of construction. But I've noticed a new truck on construction this year. It has an arrow on top and on the back is a long trailer made of plastic. It looks something like this...

I looked up what it was called and the technical term is an "Impact Attenuator." This truck doesn't carry equipment. It doesn't transport workers. It doesn't have sophisticated machines that repairs the road. It doesn't pain the lines.

The entire purpose of this truck is to protect the road construction workers. The arrow alerts motorists to move over and the bumper is designed to absorb the impact if a car is heading for the construction area. Essentially, this truck is designed to be sacrificed to protect those working up the road.

It reminded me of the commitment that we make when we become leaders. We will do everything we can to keep danger away from our kids. We will flash our lights and point our arrows, but ultimately we must place ourselves between dangers and those we lead. Leaders are never insulated from danger. Instead, the best leaders intentionally seek out how to protect those we lead.

Tolerably Broken

noreply@blogger.com (Doug Rutter) — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 13:49:48 PST

Do you ever notice that there are things in our lives that are broken, but not so much that we actually fix it? It's that toilet you have to jiggle the handle on...or the car you have to pump the gas just right for it to start...or the furnace that makes that noise that isn't normal.

We tolerate these inconveniences because we don't want to go to the trouble to fix them. It's only when a stranger encounters them that we realize how broken they really are.

The brokenness we tolerate isn't just confined to DIY projects around the house. There is brokenness in our spiritual lives that, sadly, we tolerate. Fixing these areas of sin, temptation and guilt may take hard work. But we will never be whole without doing it.

If its already broke...

noreply@blogger.com (Doug Rutter) — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 14:11:43 PST

Our kitchen sink was leaking. We first noticed drips coming from the basement ceiling. I found that the faucet was leaking and would have to be replaced.

We got the replacement and I started disconnecting the old faucet to replace it. I was struggling to get the old faucet off. Because if the rust and gunk it just didn't want to budge. But the real reason was I wasn't committed to it fully. I was trying to disassemble it in a way that I could still put it all back together.

Eventually I took out a saw and just started cutting the faucet into pieces. After a few cuts I got everything off. I was able to install the new one and everything is working again. Now I'm wondering why I was being so gentle with a broken faucet.

But it was a reminder to me that even when something is already broken, it still takes an initial act of courage to fix it. Sometimes you have to commit to the change fully before you can make the progress you need to truly change.

Good King Wenceslas

noreply@blogger.com (Doug Rutter) — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 09:44:30 PST

This Sunday our preacher mentioned this Carol in passing in the sermon on Sunday. But I looked it up and was amazed by the words to the hymn.

Most people know the first verse (or at least half of it). In it the good king looks out from the castle over a wintry night landscape. Through the blowing snow he sees a poor man gathering fire wood.

In the second verse the king asks his servant where the poor man lives. In the third verse the king tells his servant to gather up meat, wine and firewood and tells him they are going to take them to the poor man’s house. So they set out together into the blizzard to bring to this poor man everything he needs for a holiday barbeque. In the fourth verse the servant starts to complain about how cold it is and how strong the wind is blowing. The servant is afraid that he can’t go on and will freeze before they reach their destination. But the king tells the servant to walk in his footsteps and he won’t be so cold. In the last verse the servant finds that when he steps in the footprints of the king he could move thru the snow much easier. The servant also seems to feel actual warmth when walking in the king’s steps.

I’m sure you’re already making the application. The king calls his servant into a cruel and bitter world to do good for someone who needs it. However the way is so hard the servant despairs. But if the servant walks in the footsteps of the king he can continue in the journey and fulfill his mission of mercy.

When the Kingdom of Jesus comes into our broken world, He calls his people to acts of mercy confronting injustice, rescuing the oppressed, caring for the marginalized, and healing the brokenness. When we follow, often we find that the journey is hard and fulfilling our mission stretches us beyond what we think we can bear. But if we stay close to our master and follow diligently after him we will find encouragement for the journey and the strength to join our King in his mission.

That’s such an awesome story being told in that old carol!!! I love the last line: “Therefore, Christian men, be sure, wealth or rank possessing, Ye who now will bless the poor, shall yourselves find blessing.”

What I'm Learning from My Shingles

noreply@blogger.com (Doug Rutter) — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 17:39:59 PST

Sooooooooo...I have shingles.

For those of you who don't know what that is, click here.

So I've been trying to think of a metaphor that I could blog about from this.

The first thing I thought of was that your past catches up with you. Shingles are essentially Chicken Pox that flares up again after a few dormant decades just to torment you once again. I thought about how often things from our past that we thought had been dead for years can suddenly reappear and still cause us damage.

Then I thought of how failure to take early action can really hurt you. They tell me that had I gone to the doctor within 72 hours of the first sign of infection the medication is much more effective at shortening the length of the infection. Unfortunately, I put off doing anything about it for about 5-6 days so these huge pills I'm taking are essentially just expensive placebos. Too often we have the opportunity to take immediate action to resolve a situation and instead we hesitate and the result is that things get more painful, last longer and are overall much worse.

But the honest lesson for me is one about humility. You see, there are three types of people who get shingles: people with compromised immune systems, the elderly, and those under acute stress. Well since I have a fully functioning immune system and I'm only 36...I must be stressed out. I have always taken pride that I'm a person who stays pretty calm regardless of the situation. But the truth is that I am person who "acts" pretty calm.

If I'm honest then I have to say that I really was very stressed out and I could use your prayers.

Life is hard and sometimes I just need to tell people that. As a leader that can be doubly hard because so many people rely on you to set the tone and lead the way. But even the most stoic leaders need a safe place to admit their anxieties.

I know that was a pretty good lesson to learn...but I'm still not sure it was worth it. :-)

Sorry, We're NOT Under Construction

noreply@blogger.com (Doug Rutter) — Sun, 02 Oct 2011 07:48:48 PDT

At the nursing home we are in the middle of a major renovation. So there are these signs posted everywhere: "please excuse our mess..." You've probably seen similar signs at hotels, gyms, restaurants, etc. We go out of our way to apologize to our customers for being under construction.

But the truth is that we should always be under construction. As leaders, we must always be "renovating" not just our buildings, but our processes, systems, people, and assumptions. It's when we become complacent and stop innovating that our customers truly suffer.

Maybe we need to post "Sorry, We Are NOT Under Construction" signs. Signs that communicate...
-we think our service is good enough and we don't intend on making it better
-we don't believe that our mission is really that important after all
-we think this is probably the best performance we can expect from our employes so we don't intend to push them
-we take for granted that you, our customers, will come back so we are not going to worry about how we treat you
-we know that getting better is hard work and we just don't have the energy for that right now
-we are comfortable not being the best at what we do so we just going to work hard enough to not go out of business

I think I'm going to make a new sign. "We are under construction...you're welcome!"

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Location:Stanhope Way,Normal,United States

Homework or Research?

noreply@blogger.com (Doug Rutter) — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 04:18:10 PDT

There is a world of difference between these two things.

Homework is about the activity that has been assigned. Homework is heads down and task oriented. Homework is finite and focused on just getting it done.

Research is about the subject being explored. Research is eyes open and expansive. Research opens infinite avenues of exploration and is focused on the joy of discovery.

Too often we approach our relationship with Jesus like homework. Prayer prayed...Bible read...offering given...church attended...done.

But when we truly walk with Jesus, we must approach it as research. Jesus doesn't invite us to a task list. He invites us to delight in the totality of who he is. He invites us to explore his character and participate in his plan for the world. He invites us to into endlessly new discoveries of his infinite greatness.

The unfortunate end of homework Christianity is either a disappointing emptiness or a self-defeating legalistic pride. The end of research Christianity is a purpose-giving, joy-producing, hope-inspiring, world-changing delight in the God of the universe.

Homework or research: In which direction is your pursuit of Jesus taking you?

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Location:Stanhope Ln,Normal,United States

What is your Leadership Absence

noreply@blogger.com (Doug Rutter) — Sun, 25 Sep 2011 10:25:34 PDT

The activity director for our Senior Independent Living community does a monthly newsletter for all our residents. In it is a section for me to write an article as the campus administrator. I must admit that among my responsibilities this has gotten overlooked more than once.

This past month I didn't submit an article. But when I read the newsletter, I noticed that a section with my name and picture. I asked the activity director about it. She said that whenever I don't submit an article, she finds an story or poem or cartoon and submits it under my name.

It got me thinking that as leaders we often can have influence even when we aren't present.
-By passing on your leadership values you ensure that the organization operates by those values even without you being there.
-By empowering your leaders to execute with autonomy you communicate that success isn't dependent on your presence.
-By investing is developing your organization's culture you ensure that those norms define your organization whether you are there or not.

We often talk about leadership presence...But what about your leadership absence?

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Location:Stanhope Way,Normal,United States

Contentment and Complacency

noreply@blogger.com (Doug Rutter) — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 08:08:09 PDT

I have to admit that I've been restless lately. I just get the sense that I'm treading water, and I'm not moving forward. I feel that there is something God is preparing me for, but I don't know what it is or when He will choose to reveal it. In times like this, it's important to fight for contentment, but just as important to fight against complacency.

God expects us to have contentment in every circumstance. There are certainly times when God's call on our lives is simply to pause and be faithful in the moment God has us in. Even though these seasons can be filled with restlessness, we should be content and even have joy in these seasons as we learn to patiently wait for God's movement in our lives.

However, we must be just as vigilant to be sure that we don't fall into a malaise of self-satisfaction which leads to inaction.

Even times when God's will for us is to pause are purposeful. Perhaps God is calling us to move deeper into relationship with Him. Perhaps there is a hidden sin we are to do battle with. Perhaps we must learn that where we are is where God wants us to be and our desire for the "else" is a product of our own sinful making.

So I'm praying today, "God, make me joyful enough with where I am to be content, and restless enough to avoid complacency."

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Location:7th St,Lincoln,United States

Compliance or Cooperation

noreply@blogger.com (Doug Rutter) — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 18:22:13 PDT

It seems like too often in my life I want cooperation from the people I lead, but my actions are actually producing compliance, instead.

I want my employees to enthusiastically pursue the vision of our organization, but I settle for them simply avoiding another write-up.
I want Toni to trust my leadership of our family, but I'll settle for her simply not forcing me to get another dog.
I want Karizma to want to be the kind of person who respects her things and cares for them, but I'll settle for her room not being such a disaster that she gets punished.
I want Koke to love and protect his sister, but I'll settle for them just not fighting the whole way to Wal-Mart.

The problem is cultivating cooperation is exhausting. It requires patiently repeating core values. It requires explaining why certain behaviors are preferred again, and again. And hardest of all, it requires that I consistently model those values and behaviors myself.

The truth is that I can't always be looking over my employees shoulders...I know that passionately pursuing Toni's loving submission is my calling in our marriage...I know my kids deserve a father, not just a rule enforcer.

So I'm praying that tomorrow, I'll be more of the leader that people want to follow than the leader that people fear...I'll be more of the husband who is trusted instead of tolerated...the dad who is honored instead of placated.

Phil 2:12

Old Words

noreply@blogger.com (Doug Rutter) — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 05:05:07 PDT

It's interesting how some words make you seem old just by the fact that they came out of your mouth: trousers, davenport, depreciation...

Apparently TRAPPER KEEPER is also an "old" word. Koke started Jr. High and they needed a three ring binder with multiple pockets organized by his classes. Now for anyone who remembers when New Kids on the Block weren't a novelty act, that is a Trapper Keeper.

However, Koke insists it be called just a binder and when I called it by it's true name he looked at me like I had just ordered a prune juice cocktail with my early bird special dinner.

Here's the question, as a parent do you embrace that you are never going not be cool to your kids and just own your trapper keeper dorkiness or do you submit to the binder and hope that you can maintain some sense of relevance to your kids?

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Location:Stanhope Ln,Normal,United States

The Merton Prayer

noreply@blogger.com (Doug Rutter) — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 12:03:46 PDT

A thought for myself, today.

My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going.

I do not see the road ahead of me.

I cannot know for certain where it will end.

Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think I am following your will does not mean I am actually doing so.

But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you. And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing. I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire.

And I know that if I do this you will lead me by the right road, though I may know nothing about it.

Therefore I will trust you always though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death. I will not fear, for you are ever with me, and you will never leave me to face my perils alone.

~ Thomas Merton, Thoughts in Solitude, Part 2, Chapter 2

Avoid, Appreciate, or Participate

noreply@blogger.com (Doug Rutter) — Fri, 05 Aug 2011 18:51:33 PDT

My son, Koke, has a new hobby...public begging.

Okay, he's not really begging...he's panhandling. Koke loves to take his guitar to Uptown Normal, find a spot on the circle, lay out a hat, and just jam. He's done it a few times now and has brought home some good money.

I have noticed that there are three basic reactions when people see Koke doing his thing.

For some their reaction is Avoidance: Some people just don't know what to make of it. Normal is still a pretty small town and the sight of this eleven year old busking for change is an odd sight. Is this a joke? Is this kid homeless? So, overwhelmed by the oddity of it, they go out of their way to just avoid it altogether.

For the majority, their reaction is Appreciation: they recognize the novelty. "isn't that kid cute?" Or they admire the courage it takes to put yourself out there like this. Or they do actually stop and listen long enough to realize that the kid can really play. They typically smile as they pass by and most of them drop some change into the hat.

For some, though, the reaction is Participation. Every once in a while, a family or a group of friends will stop, make a request, ask Koke where his parents are, etc. These are the ones who most thoroughly enjoy the experience. I have watched from across the circle as Koke took requests, flirted with a pack of sorority girls, and drew in some couples on a group date. These are the ones who have a story to tell..."remember the kid ..."

Anytime we experience something new we have a choice of how to respond. If we avoid it, we stay safe from the unknown. If we appreciate it, we walk away with a small smile. But when we participate in it, we most fully engage in all that it has to offer.

Something new will happen to you today...how will you respond?

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Dirty Laundry

noreply@blogger.com (Doug Rutter) — Sun, 03 Jul 2011 18:11:48 PDT

When the accusers stood up, they brought no charge in his case of such evils as I supposed. Rather they had certain points of dispute with him about their own religion and about a certain Jesus, who was dead, but whom Paul asserted to be alive.
-Acts 25:19-20

I got stuck on these verses from the text for today's sermon. I was fascinated at the way Festus describes the accusations the Jewish leaders bring against Paul. He was expecting a massive conspiracy or some capital crime. Instead, he got some dusty internal debate over, what seemed like to him, religious minutiae.

I wonder how often the Christians come across that way to non-believers. The dirty laundry we air in public...the lines we draw in the sand...they can serve as confusing barriers to faith for some.

Remember, only hardcore fans want to watch an inter-squad scrimmage. Our enemy is way to powerful for us to waste ammo within our foxholes.

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Stay Focused...

noreply@blogger.com (Doug Rutter) — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 18:17:23 PDT

My son, Koke, got a cool opportunity this weekend. He was one of the bat-boys at the Cornbelter's game. (Excuse me..."Dugout Assistant"...I know' don't get me started...)

Koke got to sit on the field next to the visitors dugout. He ran to get the bats after the players got a hit and chased down foul balls behind the plate.

He had a great time, but he realized an undeniable truth about baseball...a lot a time can pass between anything actually happening. Koke has the attention span of an 11 year old boy (read: over-caffeinated dachshund). So he kept getting distracted and missing when he was supposed to actually be doing something. Our seats were not to far from where he was so I just kept mouthing in that exaggerated over speaking that all parents do by instinct, "PAY ATTENTION!!!"

I don't know about you, but I need that in my life sometimes. It is so easy for me to get distracted from what I'm truly here for that I totally space out. I lose focus and miss my chance to be and do what God intends for me.

So let's all look in the mirror today and mouth the words to ourselves, "PAY ATTENTION!!!" Block out all the secondary distractions and ask your self these questions...What can I do right now to make my world a little more like the world God intended? How is God's Kingdom coming into my world right now and how can I join Him? What can I do right now to reflect God's glory into my world?

So stop staring at the JumboTron and get in the game.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Location:Stanhope Ln,Normal,United States

Father's Day

noreply@blogger.com (Doug Rutter) — Sun, 19 Jun 2011 13:17:46 PDT

Well, it's father's day today and I was trying to think of a good story about my childhood to say thanks to my dad. But the story that stays in my mind is the first time Dad cursed in front of me.

I know, maybe not the most sentimental choice, but it was very meaningful to me. It was the summer before I left for college. Dad had just gotten out of a frustrating elders meeting and in that frustration he just said, "these dxxn guys..."

It may seem minor, but I experienced it as an invitation to manhood. My dad was pulling back the velvet rope and inviting me to join him in the adult world...(okay, maybe I'm assigning too much meaning to a single exasperated utterance)

But it highlights for me the thing about my dad that I most want to replicate as a father...my parents were committed to getting me out of their house. They were more interested in "raising" children than "having" children. They were always looking for ways to push me toward more and more independence.

So, happy Father's Day, Dad, thanks for everything...and you were right, those dudes were...

Kingdom Living

noreply@blogger.com (Doug Rutter) — Sun, 12 Jun 2011 15:25:52 PDT

It seems to me that often when preachers talk about Kingdom living (if they do at all) it is in the context of making more discretionary time and money available for church participation. We need to have less busy lives so we can volunteer more (at the church). We need to spend less so we can give more (to the church). We need to diminish the influence of sinful people in our lives so we can fellowship (with church people). We need to influence non-churched people to invite them (to the church).

These are all worthwhile and God-honoring goals, but it seems to me that a Kingdom living mindset doesn't seek to get more of our lives into the Church but to get more of the Kingdom into our lives.

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Self Awareness or Self Obsession

noreply@blogger.com (Doug Rutter) — Mon, 23 May 2011 08:06:24 PDT

On my desk is a binder that reads "Management Development Assessment Report Profile for Doug Rutter."

My company sent me to a pair of Industrial Psychologists in the hope that they would evaluate my "advancement potential" and "professional acumen." A few weeks ago I went to their offices and took a number of cognitive assessments and personality profiles. The results of these tests are contained in this binder. I am assigned to review their findings and journal about what the tests have revealed about myself.

You know, there is a thin border between productive self-analysis and destructive self-obsession. And I must confess that sinful pride is among my most vulnerable areas for temptation. So it is with a small degree of apprehension that I spend any time focusing on me.

But the exercise has produced some God-honoring self-analysis. I am reminded how remarkably blessed I am and what a responsibility the skills and capacities that God has baked into my DNA are. I am reminded that I can be impatient and unconcerned with the emotional needs of others. I am reminded that giftedness is a responsibility not a privilege.

Most of all I am reminded that the only good I can do in the world will not be because of my aptitudes or abilities but it will be the result of my submission to Jesus and the only kingdom I should hope to establish is not my own but is the one He is bringing into the world.

But above all I'm ready to stop thinking about myself...I do that too much naturally...I don't need to do it for homework!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Location:7th St,Lincoln,United States

There will always be birds...

noreply@blogger.com (Doug Rutter) — Wed, 18 May 2011 07:58:23 PDT

The Rutter family is engaged in an epic struggle. It is an endless battle between good and evil. There have been causalities on both sides. There have been victories and defeats...but the war continues.

Our enemy has a name: The Blackbirds of Carriage Hills.

Three years ago they invaded. They claimed the trees in our back yard. They "bombed" our deck (and our children).

We placed plastic owls and hung CDs. But they are relentless...I'm not giving up, but I'm coming around to the idea that there will always be birds. We can do things to minimize the impact they will have on our lives...but we simply can't shut down the sky.

You know, there's an odd peace that comes with that acceptance.

It easy for us to allow the small annoyances in our lives to become the central focus of our attention and energy. This robs us from truly living. We must give these issues the attention they deserve, but not a moment more.

I'm not surrendering, but I am choosing to not make the war my reason for living.

Are there birds in your life that you need to spend less time and energy on?

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Location:Stanhope Way,Normal,United States

Crazy Like Everyone Else

noreply@blogger.com (Doug Rutter) — Mon, 16 May 2011 08:46:23 PDT

Toni and I started a new small group last night.

We had been out of a regular group since my job transition and just getting back to a place of healing where we felt comfortable reengaging in the life of the church.

The group is very diverse. Singles and marrieds...Parents with little ones, with teens and with grown children. Toni had a moment of clarity that. I thought was awesome.

Afterward she said, "it's nice to be reminded that you're not the only crazy person in the world." Whenever we become isolated it's easy to start to imagine that you are the only person dealing with difficult life issues. We imagine that everyone else is well adjusted...living the abundant life without roadblocks, challenges, or disappointments.

Whenever we renege Christian community we are reminded just how irrational these thoughts are. True Christian community encourages, strengthens, celebrates, and mourns together...but it's greatest. Ministry may be to remind us that we are in fact crazy...just like everyone else.

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Rizzi Checks In

noreply@blogger.com (Doug Rutter) — Sat, 30 Oct 2010 17:44:28 PDT

I got a voice mail from Karizma today.

We have a third cell phone that is technically Koke's. He uses it when he's playing around the neighborhood so we can call him home for meals or to remind him that it is dark. (It's amazing hoe often he doesn't notice.)

But today Koke didn't have any pockets so we put Karizma in charge of it. What's obvious is that Karizma doesn't have a reason to call, but she calls because she wants to use the phone and she wants to make sure that she's doing okay.

Isn't that a great metaphor for prayer?

How often do we take for granted that we have the opportunity to speak directly to God? Karizma doesn't get to use the phone much so she is just loving the chance to use it. We should constantly be reminding ourselves of the amazing privilege that prayer is. It should be a toy that we delight in constantly. We should offer prayers to God just because we can and we delight in the fact that God hears us.

But second, Rizzi is calling just to check in. She's not hurt. She's not lost. She's not even wanting to come home. She just wants to say, "Hi." If only our prayers were so routine. I tend to pray about the big things and assume that God wants me to handle the day-to-day stuff on my own. Let alone praying just to say Hi. We should offer more "meaningless" prayers. Relatinoships are built as much in the everyday stuff as the major life-events.

I need to pray more like Rizzi leaves voice mails...and besides...isn't that the cutest little voice ever?

Jingle Bell Run

noreply@blogger.com (Doug Rutter) — Fri, 22 Oct 2010 19:59:07 PDT

Toni, Koke, Toni & I are running together in the Jingle Bell run this year. The Jingle Bell Run is a 5k that raises money to help fight arthritis. If you're interested in helping our team or donating to a great cause, click on the link below. Thanks!

2010 Jingle Bell Run/Walk - Normal, IL - Team Statistics

Lightning Delay

noreply@blogger.com (Doug Rutter) — Mon, 11 Oct 2010 18:18:43 PDT

It’s Monday night and I’m sitting in my basement watching the ESPN crew fill time because the Vikings/Jets game is delayed by lighting. First of all, I was shocked that they delay professional football games due to lightning. That just feels like something you do for youth soccer, not the most watched professional sport in the country.

As a high school soccer referee I have some experience with weather delays. By rule we have to suspend the game if we see any lightning. It has happened to me four times this season alone. The problem is that in central Illinois we have a lot of afternoon storms and the land is so flat that I can literally see storms in Missouri! Only once of those four delays did I feel that there was any actual danger...the rest of the time we were riding out a storm two counties over.

But it got me thinking..There’s a fine line between practical and reasonable caution and paralyzing paranoia. It’s easy to cover our own insecurities in the faux wisdom of “discretion being the better part of valor.” Too many times I know exactly the action that I should take but I delay just out of fear.

The reality is that there will always be storms on the horizon and I will always be able to find excuses not to do what I know I should. The secret is having the wisdom to discern if those are my storms to manage or just my excuse not to get back on the field and finish the game.

Well, gotta go...they are about to kick-off.

Leadership

noreply@blogger.com (Doug Rutter) — Mon, 11 Oct 2010 17:47:19 PDT

I've been thinking about leadership lately. My new job is all about leadership. Overseeing a nursing home is a daily battle of resident expectations, employee concerns, government regulations, corporate directives, and opportunities to really minister to marginalized people. But to be successful at any of it, I'm becoming more and more aware that I need to be a better leader.

I need to spend 90% of my brain listening and 10% formulating my response...not the other way around.
I need to know that most of the time a complainer just needs to be heard, not told why their complaint is invalid.
I need to understand the perspective of women better!!!
I need to see every interaction as a opportunity to tell the story I want our nursing home to be known for.
I need to be invest in patience now so I can spend in boldness later.
I need expertise in everything, especially relying on real experts.
I need to know that true leadership is accepting the responsibility for things that aren't your fault.
I need to focus on the opportunities in the future and not make excuses because of the failures of the past.

But Most of all...I need to trust that God put me here, so God will empower me here, so I should shut up, let Him, and stop worrying so much about it.

There's a verse that is carved into the cornerstone of our facility.

Cast me not off in the time of old age; forsake me not when my strength faileth. -Psalm 71:9 (KJV)

I really like that...

Today's Haiku

noreply@blogger.com (Doug Rutter) — Mon, 04 Oct 2010 12:59:32 PDT

Cracked screen and all
The web in 3.5 inches
Love my iPod touch

Sent from my iPod.