Embracing Weakness

Weaknesses. We all have them. They’re like shadows—always there but often ignored. And in a world obsessed with strengths, highlighting our weak spots feels counterintuitive. But here’s the twist: recognizing your weaknesses doesn’t have to be an invitation to stress or a nod to insecurity. It can be liberating.

The moment you understand a weakness, you seize control. You’re no longer in the dark, subject to some unseen force pulling your strings. Knowing is half the battle, right? The challenge is to not let this awareness spiral into a self-fulfilling prophecy of doom.

Don’t look at a weakness as a final verdict on your character or capability. It’s just a data point, a guidepost signaling where you might need a bit more focus, more effort, or maybe even an ally to complement you.

Weaknesses aren’t fixed landmarks; they’re shifting sands. Today’s weakness could be tomorrow’s strength, given enough attention and the right circumstances. In the meantime, work with them, not against them. Shape them into challenges, puzzles to solve, opportunities for growth.

Stop wrestling with your weaknesses to fit into some societal mold of perfection. Accept them. Learn from them. Pivot when you must. But whatever you do, don’t let them dictate your worth or consume you with stress. They’re just pieces of a much larger, complex, and continually evolving puzzle that is you. And puzzles are meant to be solved, not feared.

He Must Increase

“He must increase, but I must decrease.”

John 3:30 ESV

This scripture has been on my mind a lot recently. It’s a challenging principle to embody. While we may outwardly express a desire for God to take center stage, there’s often an internal murmur hoping for our own elevation too.

“Hey, God. I want you to increase. But, if I could increase a little as well that would be great.”

This tension magnifies when you’re an author striving to both write and promote your work. In an industry where building a platform is crucial, humility and contentment become the elusive virtues we all seek.

Too much success can lead us to erect personal empires, while too little can trigger jealousy, causing us to undermine others’ accomplishments.

My aspiration as a writer is to capture the hearts of young boys and men who are disenchanted with reading. I want to turn their apathy into a love for storytelling.

Yet, when they follow me, on social media, my blog, etc. I don’t want them to see a cultural warrior steeped in politics or riveting with anger. I want to aim for them to see a reflection of Jesus. Have I succeeded in that?

So, how does one sideline their ego? How do you arrive at a point where you’re comfortable with being sidelined yourself?

It’s a tough conundrum.

At the end of the day, our mission as authors should be to inspire thoughts that lead people closer to Jesus.

Do my stories do that? Does my presence?

I’ve Tried the One Year Bible- It Doesn’t Work for Me

I’ll be honest: I’ve tried to read the Bible through in a year, and I can’t do it. Each attempt leaves me feeling discouraged and overwhelmed. The structure, rather than helping me, I find becomes a hurdle. I’ve realized it’s not the right fit for me, and that’s okay.

pink pencil on open bible page and pink
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I grow Spiritually (for lack of a better phrase) by wrestling with individual verses, dissecting their meanings, and pondering their relevance in my life.

Sometimes, I’ll even do a deep-dive study into a specific book for several months, going verse by verse.

Quality over quantity and relationship over immediate knowledge is what we should pursue. What’s important is finding a method that works best for you.

The only key is- A daily habit.

The Art of Mindful Listening

There was a moment in my life when I realized the extraordinary power of simply stopping and noticing. It was as if a hidden switch had been flipped, illuminating sounds I had been oblivious to. These sounds, though always there, had been overshadowed by the constant noise in my mind.

photo of ocean during golden hour
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Our daily lives have become an endless battle against stillness and presence. We find ourselves separated from the tranquility we need, consumed by the digital world and our own repetitive thoughts. Whether it’s scrolling through social media, checking emails, or automatically reaching for headphones when we walk, we rarely give ourselves a moment of silence.

I’m not talking about the new-age hipster type of meditation. I’m talking about actually shutting off the noise and listening.

The idea of breaking free from this cycle might seem daunting, but the solution can be surprisingly simple: listening.

Taking the time to intentionally listen opens a gateway to a world filled with beauty, and a reality that’s always evolving. This isn’t just a theoretical concept – it’s something you can try right now.

Why not gift yourself a 30-second pause? Wherever and whenever you’re reading this, take a brief moment to listen. Hear the sounds around you and let yourself be present in the moment.

By engaging in mindful listening, we reconnect with the world and ourselves, uncovering the beauty that is always there but often hidden by the chaos of our thoughts. Try it, and embrace the calm and connection that await you.