Giving Good Advice

Moral delimas are good inspiration for me. And I recently had a great moral delima example that triggered my, what else, desire to write and post on the blog. I came across a young man recently who worked two jobs (a fulltime and a parttime job). The part time job, had an awesome opportunity to provide some needed cash that could help the young man. But, the job conflicted with his fulltime work schedule. The man had already been informed by his boss that he could not use anymore paid time off time during training. He had two people in his ear ready to advise. One who encouraged him to make the sacrifice and talk to his boss about it. In the end, a reasonable boss would understand when given the chance to support a worthy cause. The other advised him to take the day and call in sick. The man struggled with the decision. He wanted to do it so badly but he didn't want to be told that he couldn't do it. He took a deliberate opportunity to weigh the pros and the cons. In the end, he chose to tell his boss and alleviate the stress associated with not being completely honest. It worked out because the boss did understand and allowed him to take the time off. It's important to note that we have to be careful when giving bad advice. The end result would have more than just impacted the situation at hand; but, relationships as well. The advice you provide can give the appearance of a harmless solution on the surface and cause a tangled web of deceit that would trap the best of us.

The Brachistochrone Curve

I know you are already saying "huh?" That is, unless you have prior knowledge or if you haven't already googled the title to find out what it is. However, during my research, I thought it would be interesting to make connections to Biblical teachings. And this is what I hope to make clearer to every reader; as I learn I will share what has been shared with me. So have fun reading and hopefully learning something new as I draw from the the past, present, and future and relate this information with influence from the teachings of Jesus or whom Mary affectionately called "Rabboni." (John 20:16)

The Brachistochrone curve is a formula solved by a team of gifted mathematicians, including Sir Isaac Newton, around the 1694 timeframe. It is attributed to the reason that skiers like the great Lindsey Vonn are able to ski downslope at a faster pace. We've been taught that the shortest distance between two points is a straight line. But for skiers, who are able to find themselves sticking to the Brachistochrone Curve or (in their lingo) "find the line", there is an additional advantage. The formula presents mathematical proof that gravitational pull and kinetic energy work together to reduce the friction that tends to slow a skier down. The reason I thought this was all interestingly cool is that this formula was solved centuries ago yet it still can have an influence in how skiers are able adjust their training to win Olympic gold today.

Bibically, I also thought about something interestingly cool, in the book of Matthew chapter 24:45-51 and also retold by Luke 12:42-48. The verses explain the mindset of man in the expectation of Christ's coming. It tells of a parable which describes what could be a man who is faithful and wise. In this state, he could be intrusted by his lord who would make him ruler over his house-hold, to provide them with meat in due season. The Bible/Jesus describes this man as blessed because when he returns this man would be found faithful to the responsibility he was given. As such, the man would be rewarded. But then there is also the description of another man. This man, would take advantage the time where there wasn't anyone watching. He would note that the person in charge wasn't around and wasn't coming back anytime soon. He felt he had time to waste and would take the opportunity to party. The Bible said that he would eat and drink with the drunken. Then he mistreated his fellowservants. He eventually stopped paying attention that his master would come back. He stopped looking. As such, this man would be punished. This illustration spoke to me because it made me understand the importance of discipline. Had the second man disciplined himself, he would never have been in a position to be punished. Olympic gold is the result of disciplining your body overtime to respond to the demands of extreme competition. Today we can review centuries old mathematical formula's to help us explain how a winner wins. But the real gold comes from finding a line and staying as close to it as possible; I'm told once you've crossed a line it's hard to come back. It takes a lot of practice, a lot of discipline, and you may even have to turn down a party or two. But in the end, you would have fed some people along the way.

Mountaintop Experiences

Today I went to the mountaintop. Literally, to the top of Stone Mountain, I went there. It was a hard journey but a few years ago I was walking and I heard God whisper in my spirit "Mountaintop Experiences." It was intimidating. I'd never completed a walk up a mountain before that because my mind had already convinced me that it was hardwork. I was already defeated and didn't have plans to accomplish this at any point in time. I remember my old job had a young CEO named Bryan Mundy that climbed mountains. Before his untimely death, he explained that he had a dream to climb the highest peak on every continent. He even wanted to take underpriviledged youth with him on these journeys to teach them this message that "if you can accomplish this, you can do anything." While I was impressed by his tenacity I was still not moved with anything that even remotely looked like interest. When God said mountain top experiences, I felt a Sarai spirit coming on who laughed at the prospect of being a mother in her old age. Then I reflected on things i'd heard about that involved mountains. How Martin Luther King Jr.'s I have a dream speech touched on going to the mountaintop and seeing the promised land. A reference to the promised land that Moses got to see but Joshua got to experience. And how Jesus was tempted of Satan on a mountaintop. I began to think about the pictures I saw and how the views from the mountain are beautiful to behold. So I began to think, if it was important enough for God to place in my spirit, then I can't not pursue it. I had to fulfill the purpose. Thus began my journey. I had to find which mountain; Stone Mountain eventually became the obvious choice. Climbing it for the first time was an experience. I was exposed to the wonders and beauty of nature. I was excited to have accomplished a goal that I initially felt unobtainable. And I was exhausted because of the extreme mental and physical exertion that was placed upon my being. But I wasn't totally fulfilled. I still didn't know what mountaintop experiences meant. I soon realized that experiences was plural. God must have wanted me to go back. I had to go back and face the mountain again and again. Journey, beauty, accomplishment, hardwork; journey, beauty, accomplishment, hardwork; journey, beauty, accomplishment, hardwork over and over again. But where was the lesson? Where was the meaning? What was the purpose? I stopped going up the mountain. My body immediately responded. A brief visit to a healthfair revealed I had borderline high cholesterol which prompted a visit to my doctor. She said that I could take medicine or control it through diet and exercise. Back to the mountain to start the cycle again journey, beauty, accomplishment, and hardwork. Then I met Chad. When I was tired, frustrated, and ready to go back down the mountain. I saw Chad whose body language demonstrated outwardly what I was feeling inwardly. I went to him and channeled all my energy and I summoned all my willpower to help him make it to the top and we did. At the top was his wife and children. The look on his wife's face said that I took away her ability to punish him for not making it. She could no longer laugh at his inability. But I didn't care because i'd just found purpose. Knowing that I could make it to the top is one thing; but my job that day was to help someone else get there with me.