Welcome to the December 5th 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
This week, I completed the live online training I did.
Every day throughout the 30 days in November, I went online every morning to teach.
Halfway to the whole thing, I fell ill and I was ill till the end of the whole thing but I kept showing up.
At a point, my daughter fell ill and was admitted. Somehow, I was able to be there for the family and still show up.
I had to rush home from a business trip when she fell ill. I traveled all night and arrived by 4 am. I still got up to show up by 7 am.
On penultimate night, I was seriously ill, throwing up and just in the restroom through the night.
15 minutes before going live on Day 30, I thought I might even cancel because I couldn't muster up the strength.
I prayed and went into the restroom. I literally poured everything in my tummy through my mouth in the minutes that followed.
Strangely, that did the magic - I guess my body needed all that stuff out.
1 minute to going live time, I came out of the restroom ready to rock. I started about 5 minutes late.
After all that rest-room drama, 5 minutes is short to refresh
I watched the video and wondered - no one would know what just happened.
It wasn't easy to keep this commitment.
I kept every day simply because of the commitment I made to show up - even if no one showed up.
That's one of the main reasons I kept the 30 days. Despite work travels which also meant that I went live in 3 different time zones during the 30 days.
I look forward to serving more.
Things I Learnt
1-Fighting for Integrity: I was on a review meeting with one of my company's Board committees. I was the one presenting an update on the activities of the subsidiaries I oversee.
As a point, one of the committee members asked if we had gotten government approval on an aspect of a project we were working on.
I said "Yes" spontaneously without giving a thought.
But the answer was "No".
No one was going to know but the real boss "God" knew.
I waited for the next time I had to speak. I referred to the question and said "we don't have the approval yet - we are starting the process to amend the existing approval to include this."
It was so small. But it was a casual overlooking in the way of personal integrity.
I reminded myself that I do it because I want to stand before God knowing that I have done all I can do to bring glory to His Name.
Even if it means, I just said sorry for something I did wrong.
2-The More Silent we Become: One of the biggest effects of spiritual maturity is the unwillingness to enter every fight.
A closer walk with God gives a greater sense to let some battles go.
I was thinking over some fights I would have entered in the past which I just let go of.
It's not because I don't have the right words to pursue the fight. It's because I see little value in such fights.
I am getting to understand better what Jesus meant by "becoming harmless as doves."
And that means "Walk Away" sometimes
Postscript
May you find the quietness of spirit that allows you to be silent when everyone around you is shouting to have their voices be heard. May that quietness imbue you with the strength that only Jesus gives. 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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