Welcome to the November 21st edition of Faith & Life Lessons.
You will see this email full of tidbits from my week. My goal is simple. I hope that from how I live my life, you can find a thing or two that helps you as you try to live a life that matters. I am always trying to do one thing - make Christ-focused decisions in love, work, and life. And this was my week.
The Story of My Week
The week was a bit of an emotional stretch for me and the family.
Our daughter was not feeling well. I had traveled for work.
This was our daughter's first sickness so it hit her bad - she was throwing up and just very uncomfortable.
Maybe it was the emotion of not being around but I fell ill on Thursday.
I didn't tell my wife because I couldn't have her getting worried about the pressure she was already fighting.
On Friday, our son came back and started throwing up. Fortunately, it didn't get more serious.
It was probably just an irritation.
I eventually told my wife on Friday about my health.
It's the end of the weekend, I am getting stronger, our son is much better and our daughter is winning the battle.
My wife is feeling so unrested.
Here is to everyone getting back on their A-game so she can get some rest time this week.
What a week.
Things I Learnt
1- Starting in a New Country: A friend of mine asked me to speak with a mentee of his. The guy had been transferred to a new country in East Africa.
He wanted any advice I could offer since I had transitioned 2 countries to date with 2 different cultures and languages from the country I had come from.
The first thing I told him was to give respect and trust to the people he was going to be working with.
Once he could genuinely do that, it would overcome whatever cultural bridge that he needed to cross.
People tend to be defensive when a new guy with a completely different worldview comes into their space.
Assuring them by giving respect and showing you trust them communicates that you are ready to work collaboratively with them.
It allows them to speak with candor to you so you can learn more about their worldview.
No matter if you have a better world-view, you are working in their country. This is now the dominant worldview.
The earlier you can respect it, the quicker the people will embrace you.
And it doesn't matter if you are coming as the boss of the team or a member of the team.
This works for both levels.
How do I know?
My transitions have been on the 2 levels and I can see that it works.
2-The Joy of Starting: As I write this post, I have done day 21 out of the 30 anchors in 30 days.
This means that for 21 days, I have gotten up early, turned up my phones, and gone live to teach.
This may not seem like much to you.
When I was planning the training, I wondered if my work would not get in the way.
Questions like "if I had to travel?, if something came up and I missed a day?"
So many other questions.
I decided to start and see how each day leads me.
Work travels did come in.
I simply adjusted the time I show up online.
But I didn't miss a day.
There were days I was fighting sickness and my body didn't want to get up.
But I got up and did it.
The joy of starting means we can find the motivation to finish what we start.
I've still got 9 more days to go.
In case you missed the previous days, you can join me live tomorrow on Instagram
I have got the joy of keeping me to the finish line.
Postscript
May you find joy in the little things that God has given you to enjoy so you don't lose your peace chasing after what He does not want to give you. May that joy stir up a grateful heart in you. Amen.
Tata,
Tola - The Everyday Disciple
I help Christians like you who want to live intentional lives incorporate their faith into everyday life so they can make Christ focused decisions in all areas of life and truly live to make an impact and make God happy.
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