Fecundity

I do not read nearly as much as I ought. From authors hardbound that is.  A trend that is overdue for reversal. Like many of you, scanning and skimming through articles that crawl across various feeds or are born of various searches have become the norm. 

Getting the bulk of your reading done in this manner mandates that  both electronic, personal and BS filters be set at optimum levels.  Yet one enduring positive derivative of this practice is the unrelenting exposure to all sorts of thoughts and words.  And if you allow curiosity to assume the point, this begets more opportunity for  learning and discernment. 

By employing this method, one can stumble upon all sorts of verbiage.  Even for the first time in fifty seven some years on this planet, to my chagrin.

Like this one. 

 “Fecundity”.  

Generally speaking, fecundity is defined by various and sundry sites as “the quality or power of producing abundantly; fruitfulness or fertility.  Productive or creative power”.  

Then, following curiosity’s capable lead, a second site went on to illustrate fecundity further: 

“It refers to a powerful productivity, usually in the area of natural growth, either from the earth or by human reproduction. But it can also be used to describe great mental ability and creativity, the ability to create intellectual products. In any case, fecundity has a positive sense, suggesting healthy growth of life-forms and mental abilities.”

Now those of you that have come to know this author’s works may have already sensed the impending drop of the other shoe.  

For it was first a post from Bishop Robert Barron that actually begat all of this introspection.

An alert of sorts, announcing his forthcoming Sunday homily, titled surprisingly enough; “The Fecundity of Your Heart”

An amazing turn of the word.  

For if you can figure out a way to lead with it, despite the inevitable bruising,  battering and bleeding, your heart does have an innate capacity and power to produce in abundance.  Especially one crop that seems always in short supply; good.

The Master Gardener enriched that small parcel within each one of us.  

The ideal soil to accept the seeds He sows.  A “fecundus” environment He purposely designed to provide us with lasting and loving growth. 

“God sows his Word into each of our hearts liberally. He does not solely give his grace to those he knows will bear fruit. He sows the Word in everyone, but it doesn’t flourish for each person due to circumstances (secularism, anxiety, the allurement of the world). Strive to counter that by letting the Word open you to the implications of his Lordship. God is always giving himself to you, listen and act.” Bishop Robert Barron

But being rich in its composition and depth, far too often weeds and thistles become tenant farmers within that parcel of our hearts.  Lacking due diligence, we neglect the soil.  We never develop the necessary commitment to till the land He gave us.  

That parcel within may become barren.  And His words may never take root.  

Our hearts can become overgrown, crowding out  the words He continuously and intentionally sows.  Not just for one season.  But over, and over and over yet again.  

God is always giving himself to us.  If we can learn to listen, and then, act, we can produce an abundance of good for those around us.  And,  reap a portion of that harvest yet for ourselves.  

Fecundity.  

A richness of life the master gardener longingly wants each one of us to experience.  

As the prized fruit of the seed of His word, acts and love. 

“Sonflowers.”

…the genuine embrace…

“…We are continually wanting God to behave as we would, that is to say, withdrawing his love from those who don’t deserve it and giving his love to those who do deserve it. But this is just not the way God operates…”   Bishop Robert Barron

Bishop Barron has this way of articulating the true essence of things.  Peeling back the layers of deception, misconception and misperception that become the obstacles that hinder us from embracing a divine life.  

We don’t just want Him to think, speak and act as we would given a certain situation.  

We expect it. 

Out of hurt, disappointment and despair we impart on Him the worst of our intentions for others. Thinking that’s how He works.  Squares things up.  By wishing retribution via His hand.   Seeking “just” recompense for earthly wrongs from above. 

But as the Bishop states; “….this is just not the way God operates.”

I must confess; those represent  some of my thoughts, words and deeds.  Things I have done.  Things I have to own. 

Wrongs needing the forgiveness of others. But ultimately the salvation of His mercy.  Only then can I move forward.  

By bringing Him down to my level, rather than focusing on elevating my game, that distances me from reaching the divine life.  

And feeling the genuine embrace of His love.

“…it’s not about you…”

“ One of the most fundamental statements of Christian faith is this: your  life is not about you. This is not your project. Rather, you are part of  God’s great design. To believe this in your bones and to act  accordingly is to have faith. When we  operate out of this transformed vision, amazing things can happen, for  we have surrendered to “a power already at work in us that can do  infinitely more than we can ask or imagine.”   

Bishop Robert Barron

This captures the very essence of the struggles one encounters on a daily basis.  

Heck, let’s be honest, minute by minute.

It is one thing to think it’s not about you.  To convince yourself to get your heart and mind right.  Commit to expressing that in the  words you choose, no matter the outlet, setting or audience.  Fully embracing a discipline to dedicate your personal forces to that  mission.  Aspiring to live as if it is not about you. 

But, it is another thing altogether to do it.  Let go, step aside and make it not about you. 

‘Cause when that starts to happen?  

Whammo. 

Colleagues begin to succeed.  Winning customers, landing projects and earning accolades for projects  that were once your bread and butter.  Those are no longer yours alone.  Roles have shifted.  And it  is now your time  to support their efforts,  to build them and enhance their career.

Then, true team dynamics can begin to take front and center.  The needs for growth via group goals may call you to become a utility man.  Your experience and abilities now needed to fill in the gaps.  To address the pressing needs that present themselves in  shades of gray.  So rather than assuming  the lead in a role you know like the back of your hand, you step back, and let others step up.

Finally  then, the talents of others can begin to find their way to the surface,  emerge and be expressed. Potential, once  cloaked in doubt and fear , can now be revealed by them and finally “seen” by you.  

Those wobbly, first baby steps of initiative can be taken.  And as their momentum grows, so too will their confidence.   The veil of trepidation is removed and things come into focus for all.  Now, surrounded by a greatness that was already present in all – all can ascend.  As one. 

These and many other similar moments are where the rubber meets the road in life.  But you cannot just wish them to be.  Works of this magnitude take  courage, conviction and commitment. You must convert your  thoughts and words into the deeds and intentions for His project.  

Begin by slaying personal pride.  Squashing ego. Eliminating envy.

And rubbing dirt on the scrapes, bruises and boo boos.

Release your grip and allow His work to proceed in ways that need not be comprehended now but simply accepted with a sincere attitude of gratitude.  

After all, it’s His grand scheme of things. 

Not yours.

You can think it.  And you can say it. But until you  trust and  operate out of this “transformed vision”,  these amazing things cannot happen.  And you can never get to where He wants you to be.  

Where your true talents are fully expressed. 

Potential, no longer cloaked in doubt and fear, can finally be revealed.   

So take those wobbly baby steps. 

Build some momentum and grow confidence by embracing this direction.  Lose the veil of trepidation and allow His vision to come into focus for you.  Lean into His  already present greatness so you might ascend.  Find true joy.  Meaning.  

And belonging.

But until then, it’s all just wishing. 

Gratitude

“Gratitude is a “belief and conviction that serves as a constant reminder of what you have been given, where you came from and whose shoulders you are standing on now. “

It is more than a mere “thank you” and far deeper than simple appreciation.

Gratitude is the humble acknowledgement of the extraordinary role that others have played in getting you to this point in your life.  A modest recognition of how their influence first got you started.  Then pushed you to keep going.  And continued to encourage you achieve whatever it was you desired.

When it comes right down to it, gratitude is a way of being. Thinking, speaking and acting in such a way as to honor how others intentionally gave you all they had to give, so you could achieve, excel and succeed. 

Gratis.  

Gratitude is about developing a mindset that is rooted in humility.  And coming to possess an “attitude of gratitude”.

So if you will, please indulge me for a moment. Take a look back, reflect and think of all you have been freely “given”, gifted or entrusted with by others throughout your life. Not so much in terms of things.  But rather the time. Talent. Wisdom. Support.  And love.  

Now, this exercise can be a staggering undertaking if you attempt an honest assessment of such a big picture.  So let’s just focus on one small aspect of our life. 

Something we share in common.

To be honest, where we are today isn’t so much just because of anything one of us did on our own.  Rather, it all pretty much came down to what others thought of us.  Saw within us.    Believed in each of us. Entrusted to us.

And yes, eventually,  expected every single one of us to do. 

Because those individuals had so much faith in each one of us, our transformation became possible.  They pushed each of us in precisely the right manner.  Challenged us to embrace the work, to make the commitment, aim our aspirations higher and achieve at a higher level than we ever imagined.  

They loved us enough to carry us on their shoulders.  

A vantage point that reveals a bigger picture.  To help insure that our present might match what they envisioned what our future would someday be.  Even now, their all encompassing and enduring support remains.  Taking us even farther and higher than ever dreamed. 

There is no way to repay their generosity.  To compensate them for what they gave us in terms of their time, their effort, their support and unyielding faith.  In a certain sense, we will forever be indebted to them.  And yet, this was never a transaction. 

It was always a “quid pro quo.” Simply a gift.  Freely given without condition.  Strings or attachments.   

So it is incumbent on each of us to acknowledge the extraordinary role that others have played in getting each of us to this point in our lives.  Recognize how their influence got us started.  How they pushed us  to keep going.  And continue to encourage all of us to achieve whatever it was we desired.

Embrace an attitude of gratitude.  

Clear some room on your shoulders.  

And help someone to share the view you were once given.  

Gratis.

Vision 2.0

When vision is bold, there is bound to be discomfort. 

Leadership that chooses to work towards a desired reality far beyond the confines of the known takes a great deal of courage. And to press beyond existing limits is always a difficult task. Not for the faint of heart. 

It is a choice that involves and produces risk. There will be fits, starts and periods of inertia. But without commitment, action with full intention and the fortitude to leave safe harbor, there are no avenues for growth. 

When venturing out into the great unknown is too daunting, there is scant opportunity for improvement. Without embracing risk, average will have to be the accepted standard of achievement. And only wishful thinking can produce any notion of excellence. 

True, leaving the comfort of the known creates discomfort. 

It does command committed effort. Demands personal accountability. Beckons courage and character. Assignments coveted by those that choose to be bold. 

Embraced only by leadership truly visionary.