Finding Your Niche

Often I find myself people watching as many do, and I have had this recurring question pop up, "What if there were more people who had jobs and careers that centered on their natural gifts and passions?" I ask that, I suppose, because as I observe I see a vast number of people who appear unhappy and disconnected. That's purely speculation on my part. We've all have bad days, so without actually interviewing the masses there is no real way to determine who is content and who is not.

As I have thought about this I presume that the world's economy would be stronger or at least more stable. It seems there would be fewer career changes and greater job retention as the desire for more pay would be secondary. Or would it? One would think (at least this one doing the typing) that when a person is doing a job that they are both good at and enjoy that their motivation would differ from the person who hates their job. I have been in that situation. I have been in a job that I didn't like and as I became more and more dissatisfied the desire for increased pay and position grew. Maybe I am totally wrong. Maybe the power of money and status is so strong that even those of us who are content and correctly placed would be persuaded to be disgruntled and ineffective and eventually look elsewhere.

I also wonder about how we would treat one another if the majority of us were in our place of contentment. It seems like there would be more 'servants' active in the community not concerned about how many dollars are being made but how much of a contribution can be made in others lives.

So is it because a person has not discovered his/her true gifts that leaves them empty and misplaced? Yes. Or is it that the pursuit for significance is misunderstood and turns one inward--chasing after money and power? Yes. It's really not that simple I suppose. Staying within the boundaries of gifts and talents doesn't guarantee anything regarding contentment. I was talking with someone the other day about 12 step programs and how these meetings aren't always a fix. He suggested God's 5 step approach...G-R-A-C-E!

Is it against blog etiquette to answer your own questions? Sorry, I didn't mean to delve into why a person may seem unhappy. My main thought is about how the world as we currently know it would be changed if others were doing the things that struck a chord within them? What would my neighborhood look like and how would it function?

My New Favorite Player

Last night's home run Derby in Yankee Stadium was one of the best viewing experiences I've had as a baseball fan. Not because it was held for the last time in Yankee Stadium, although that in and of itself made the event special. The reason this will be a lasting memory is because of the story of Josh Hamilton. Not only did he hit a record 28 dingers in the first round; he absolutely crushed the ball beyond the 500 foot mark several times. If this is where the Josh Hamilton story ends then it's a must read. I have a feeling there will be much more to come of which I will be paying close attention. Unbelievable! Josh Hamilton is my new favorite player.

If you aren't familiar with Hamilton's background and why what he did last night is so significant then check it out in his own words at http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2926447.

Ball Yard Tour

I returned Tuesday evening from an east coast baseball stadium tour. It was a short trip with friends that included games in Oriole Park at Camden Yard, Yankee Stadium, and Fenway Park. My friends and I had been planning this trip since the first of the year and it was well worth the time and money. Highlights.....

BALTIMORE - Oriole Park at Camden Yard was the newest of the ballparks on the tour. The brick facade in right field that you see on TV is actually not connected to the stadium. Watching an Oriole game on TV, I always thought that brick wall was incorporated into the structure but it's not. It is actually a warehouse style building that houses apartments and offices. There is an alley between the stadium and the brick warehouse where many souvenir and concession stands are located. Another surprise was the size of the downtown area. Baltimore appeared to have a smaller downtown compared to Cincinnati.

NEW YORK- The town that never sleeps. Times Square is larger than life and so is Yankee Stadium in the Bronx. This is the last season for Yankee Stadium before the Yankees move across the street. To see this ballpark was the main purpose of the tour. What made this visit extra special was that the Red Sox were in town for the ESPN Sunday night game. There were many Sox fans in our section and of course some jawing between fans. The trash talk was spirited but civil and clean which if you're familiar with this rivalry at all, then that comes as a surprise. The atmosphere was great! Every person in that stadium was zoned in, paying attention to every pitch, every movement, everything that was happening on the field. Baseball fans in Yankee land don't need a jumbo screen, cheerleaders, concourse activities, and silly promotions to be entertained. Baseball is the entertainment. We were entertained. The game went 10 innings with a Yankee win.

BOSTON - Another great baseball town. Fenway Park is magnificent, comparable only to Wrigley Field in Chicago. My friend commented that no matter how hard the new stadiums around the league are attempting to replicate the old spirit of baseball, it simply cannot be done. These new retro stadiums (although nice) cannot capture the classic feel of baseball like Fenway Park does. The fans in Boston were just as passionate about their team. We arrived at Fenway park last Monday afternoon some 3 hours before the start. The streets outside of the stadium were jammed with fans. A weeknight game against the Twins and we were rubbing shoulders with the masses. As we cut, dipped, and turned our way through the crowd we looked for a place to eat before game time. We found a place called 'The Bleacher Bar.' This small bar is located inside the Green Monster. We were seated next to a large opening that peers out onto the field at ground level. So we watched batting practice from the base of the outfield fence while we ate. The Red Sox won the game 1-0 on an RBI hit from Dustin Pedoria (on my fantasy team!) in the 8th and the party continued.

This ball yard tour will be a lasting memory. I couldn't ask for better friends than Spencer, Coleman, and Jon. To share this experience with them is special and one that I will never forget.

Motivational Expressions

So I'm reading Proverbs right now and I've read this book from the Bible many times before. Proverbs is hard but yet easy. I don't really know what I'm saying except that this book comes off as a collection of cool, motivational sayings. Probably the kind of quips that would look good set boldly underneath a breathtaking photograph of a snow capped mountain or the view of a boldly orange sunset. Sure there is value in what seems like isolated words laid out to be decorated, motivational speak. That's why Christians memorize verses and business leaders hang these quote ridden frames on their office walls. What's the ultimate message of the whole book? Isn't there a theme that ties all of these mini lessons together? For me, that's the hard part of Proverbs, trying to gather it all together.

The first 9 chapters conveniently personifies wisdom and teaches that this is something I need and can't live without. No doubt! Proverbs 7.4-5 from The Message says this: Talk to Wisdom as to a sister. Treat Insight as your companion. They'll be with you to fend off the Temptress - that smooth-talking, honey-tongued Seductress. I've been thinking for the past 3 days about these verses trying to come up for a reason why wisdom and insight are the solutions for temptation. Usually when I face temptation I try to block it out mentally, try to put the bad thoughts out of my mind. Sometimes I even attempt to do something different to change my environment. I wonder if these are just passive, band-aid type fixes? What does it look like to use wisdom and insight to fend off temptation? Instead of ignoring the situation and hoping it goes away, a proactive approach may actually mean considering the temptation.

There are many things I don't do or won't do because I am afraid. Fear is a great motivator. Realizing the consequences for myself and others often keeps me from making bad mistakes. Making a judgement about the short term perks versus the long term benefits is another consideration during temptation. Adultery is the specific temptation used in Proverbs 7 but of course the same lesson would apply to any temptation. I've never seen the words 'Wisdom' and 'Insight' all capped in a slick frame centered boldly in a locker room nor a conference room.