Giant Footsteps

It is easy to be cynical today. Sometimes I think our lives would be better if we would walk around with real background music playing. That would at least help us capture the special moments.

I keep a pretty close eye on local, state and national politics. As I look back on my life I wish I would have had more political aspirations. A couple of friends told me I wasn't a big enough jerk to be in politics. Then I have those family members that  say no, I am plenty enough of a jerk!

Here are a few thoughts.

A President must grace and honor the office, the highest and most powerful office in the world. The President must serve this country steadfastly and laudably.  

In the end the presidency is more than a simple catalog of policies pursued, crises weathered, battles lost or won.  It's a stewardship and a sacred trust. It’s a commitment to sacrifice every fiber of your being, every thought, every moment, and everything in service to your nation. Despite the political and philosophical differences in our country, the President who does this well and able deserves nothing less than our humble appreciation and heartfelt gratitude.

  

I hope whomever our particular party nominee is, that they strive to be worthy of the example of the great men who have gone before.  Presidents walk in the giant footsteps of Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln and more.  They have magnificent legacies to uphold.  I pray that our next President aspires to their example, and will daily make that sacrifice.

Our President must honor not just the office, but the people that office serves. 

Now before you boo or applaud this, in all honesty, this is para-phrased from an episode from the West (Left) Wing. Honesty, hmmmm, that's different.

Earn This

I was thinking about a scene in the movie Saving Private Ryan. At the end of the movie, the Tom Hanks character is on the bridge dying and he calls over Private Ryan, which is played by Matt Damon. Damon leans in and Hanks whispers into his ear, “EARN THIS.”

Its been a year since I lost my good friend and our community lost a great leader, Robin Hendrick. In watching Robin battle this dreaded disease, I think he was saying, "Cam I'm not fighting this hard for nothing." He fought the battle in a way that tells us all to “EARN THIS?” 

We should all aspire to lead lives that transform and impact the the people around us. How can we take life for granted? Knowing this, can tomorrow really be a day where we just go through the motions? 

In a book by Donald Miller, he writes, "How much does it cost to be rich in friends? How many years and stories does it take to make a rich life happen? I think about all the people that I have lost to that dreaded disease and I think of the terrible loss that so many have suffered, yet we are all richer today because of knowing them. It is as if they all left some emotional inheritance of a life that would continue to be told."   

Touched By an Angel

It was crazy on that morning that I flew to Dallas for the funeral of my best friend's wife. Maybe it was because I bottled in so much emotion that week, but about ¾ of the way through the flight, I started to cry. After about a minute the little old lady in the center seat reached over and just held my hand. She never said a word and I never looked up. It was just a warm motherly squeeze. For a second I almost leaned over and put my head on her shoulder but I regained my composure and shuffled around in my seat.

She was in front of me as we walked off the plane and up the ramp. I was looking for her to just say thanks and to explain my tears, but when I got through the doors of the concourse she was gone. I looked left and right and up and down but there was no grandma. She couldn’t be that fast to disappear like that, so I moved around hurriedly trying to catch a glimpse of her. Finally I just shrugged my shoulders and kind of half expected Della Reese or that English lady from the old TV show Touched by an Angel to walk up.