Ramblings on “Social Networks”

There seems to be an emphasis by some these days to accumulate a lot of friends and expand their “social network.” Internet social utilities such as Facebook and MySpace have created a unique phenomenon whereby our circle of friends (or lack thereof) is publicly displayed and distilled to various lists and rankings. And so the race is on to see who can accumulate the biggest list of buddies, thereby boosting their on-line popularity quotient.

Reminds me of another race currently being run; that is, the race to see who will be the next leader of our great country. Not unlike those interested in boosting their on-line popularity, the runners in this race are frantically trying to accumulate friends of their own; often willing to remain elusive on issues so as not to risk offending anyone by taking a firm stand.

Be careful to keep friendship in perspective. Strive first to live a life of consistency and integrity and then enjoy the company of those who are drawn to you for the life you live out before them. King Solomon reminds us that “a man of too many friends comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.” Think about it.

Excellence in Everything

I often struggle with how to define “excellence.” Sometimes it’s obvious, like the winning goal on the basketball court, or the well written best seller, or closing the deal on a multi-million dollar sale. Other times it’s not so obvious; like the mundane board room decisions, the last load of laundry folded on the couch, or cleaning out the email inbox.

But tonight Bijay gave me a lesson in excellence. I know Bijay only from his name tag and from watching him perform his job to perfection tonight at one of my favorite restaurants, Pei Wei Chinese Bistro. I enjoy going to Pei Wei, especially when I’m eating alone, because I can entertain myself by watching the staff in their open kitchen layout. I enjoy watching the young men and women work together with such skill and orchestrated precision. But tonight, it was Bijay who caught my attention. His job would be what I believe is called the Aboyeur, or the person who puts the finishing touches on each dish and makes the final inspection before the dish leaves the kitchen. Bijay was the guy who put the sesame seeds on top of the Teriyaki Chicken and the chili pepper on the Dan Dan Noodles. When Bijay was ready to hand off the dish to the wait staff (and ONLY when he was ready) he would very meticulously place it on the counter under the heat lamp using only the tips of his fingers, give the dish a 45o turn, slowly move his hands away, and take a step back to give his masterpiece one last inspection before it was whisked away. Bijay performed his job as though he had great confidence that what he was doing held incredible significance to the success of the restaurant. Seemingly unconcerned that others might not appreciate his attention to detail or might think it extreme. It was as though every dish that passed through his care was to be served to royalty…..

……..Oh that I would do my work always as unto the King.

Calibrate the Compass

As I look ahead at 2008, there’s no way to escape the reality of the change that lies ahead. The coming year promises a few swells and surges that will rock the tranquil boat ride I’ve enjoyed over the past several years.

* My wife begins the New Year with a major change in her schedule having just left her job,
* We will embark on a new ministry opportunity with young married couples in a few weeks,
* Our middle child will be changing colleges; moving 3 hours away from home,
* Our youngest will graduate from High School in May,
* Our oldest will be getting married in the Summer,
* And a major re-organization at work has left several senior executive positions up for grabs, guaranteeing some unnerving instability for a while.

Although these events are exciting and mark positive milestones in our lives, they all involve stretching me into uncharted territory which, to say the least, can be pretty uncomfortable.

Times like these call for a well calibrated compass; a dependable gauge that will ensure a consistent heading as the once familiar elements around me surrender to the unfamiliar. For me, that compass is the confidence that comes from faithful prayer and Scripture reading. By protecting my time alone with God in prayer and Bible study, I can maintain a “true North” heading. I invite you to help me stay the course!

“If Christ himself needed to retire occasionally to the mountain-top to pray, lesser men need not be ashamed to admit that necessity.”—B. H. Streeter