Awesome Exemplified

 this series is inspired
by

RIDING
MOBY
DICK

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(a Bowfoot Peter Series)

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How quietly the tree grows; wind announces its presence.

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You would be on point thinking, 

as much as you have the deepest abiding respect for the courage, character and conviction of an icon who assailed insurmountable odds to place an enduring mark on this universe, that icon is not you.

You are different.

Your journey is different.

Your space is different.

Your time is different.

Your odds will never be the same as anyone else's even if both of you are bent on the same achievement.

living water

I am made in the image of God, not your image of God.

Pastoral Quotes

Gratitude

I truly believe that that was what Jesus was doing as he stood on that mountain that day, and as he proclaimed this Sermon on The Mount that was the scripture reading that was taken for this day, when Jesus stood before the peoples and began to layout a thesis, if you will, a new understanding of what it meant to be a follower of Jesus, to be those who would impart Christ into their lives and to allow God's new realm to come here on earth as it is in heaven.

As Jesus stood before those folks all those years ago and proclaimed a new way of viewing the world, a new way of viewing people, just like you and me:

"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for they shall inherit the earth."

How counter cultural is that experience from our own world today, where somehow we believe that those who are seen on the inside of the club are the only ones who will inherit this new realm of heaven.

Jesus turns that paradigm completely upside down and says, no, the new realm of heaven, this new understanding of God's Grace and God's Love, this revisiting of what it means to be a believer, means that every life matters, that all of our lives count, and that each and everyone of us has a place of gratitude in our world.

Jesus begins this paradigm shift and calls on believers who would follow him to do likewise in the world.

That is a cool thing shared.

Mission Impossible

Birthdays. Holidays. Anniversaries. Going-aways. Hugs & Waves. At the clink of glasses. I used to hear it around me growing up, "I wish you health, wealth and happiness," as if sending that one smiling up into a silky dream. Then I began meeting these very people: the ones who got health, wealth & happiness.

Welcome to 'how they beat the odds - every time,' Episode 8, curated by your host Neville DeAngelou. We are exploring some of the world's most incredible events, achievements, individuals, schemes, and stories for actionable discoveries to test if we also can beat those odds.

Along our remarkable journey of life and learning on this Grand Mission now proven Always Possible, we share what we find. We challenge ourselves (and you) toward the reaches of our highest ideals: to be our best, do our utmost, achieve our finest, wherever necessary and practicable redesigning the contours of possibility, reshaping human capability. Join our posse. We are changing the game. We welcome your perspective.

EXHALE !!! Having gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a gift and not delivering it. Having a gift and not using it is like dumping time & energy into a waste basket.

It is a radically bold move stepping into this new domain where a firm foundation is set for each of us (as leaders, as collaborators, as influencers, as creators) to build today, delivering into reality the beautiful dream of our authentic being, solving our vital challenges (as did and do those who inspire us), transforming hope into joy, life into love, gifts into spectacular inspiration. It is priceless! It can be done, pressing through stacked and shuffled odds. This has been done and is being done, demonstrating time and again and step by step the marvel of human creative potential. It is no secret what the odds are! It is no secret what those odds are made of! It is no secret who are stacking and shuffling those odds and exactly what they also are made of! None of it is secret! Eyes wide open! We press on. Jump in. It is time to change the game, wouldn't you say? Come along, you'll meet odds-beaters who by way of their decisons and actions demonstrate how to win no matter what. We are not alone. How about you? What's truly working for you? Keep it up. Do share.

our "personal" map shows us exactly where we are
- can you see where yours points you to next -

an enormously enriched life

Revelation + Mystery. On my birthday a few years ago a good friend, Steven, surprised me with a wonderful (if mysterious) piece of art set off grandly behind thick glass in a guilded frame. It is only in this moment writing to you that I am beginning to wonder how he was able to have his art suspended against a regal backgroud, with no readily apparent attachment. When he arrived with it, shuffling gingerly sideways through my front door, and I unwrapped it, I was gobsmacked. I was unaware he was an artist. He was a medical student then. This was not his first awesome gift, but this one seemed even more impressive. Personal. Once again unique. The only one!

My home at the time was in a historic district. Windows in my formal dining room were of vintage stained glass. So too were those of my formal living room, which with its cathedral ceiling and polished floor frequently lulled new guests into an almost whisper. Overwhelmed at the gesture I said, "where would you like me to place it?" It was as if he anticipated that exact question and came prepared. He smiled then said, "There!" then proceeded to place it prominently (if I dare say perfectly) and securely to command every attention entering the dining room through its central archway. Or if one were to enter by way of the informal dining room, one would observe it on glorious display while dining comfortably at the table finely decorated and always prepped to satisfy eight joyful hearts.

There were several other 'wow' items in that dining room, but Steven's art attracted protracted stares. Naturally, this was not my most used dining room, and dinner was scheduled elsewhere that evening.

I got to know Steven much better, and as time passed - a year or so - two reactions accumulated in response to his grand gift: studied silence (crunched eyebrows accompanying) and "I like it; what is it?"

I don't know, I would say, it is a gift.

Casual acquaintances have frequently assessed me to be 'way too polite' (to be diplomatic), so they are likely to find this upcoming outcome ample proof. I am telling you this for context (not agreement) and to acknowledge I never inquired of Steven what his art is; doing so seemed to me rude - I mean, how does one say of such a grand gesture: what is it? - nevertheless, it would eventually become abundantly clear to me what it must mean.

You see, not so long after, shockingly, Steven died. A young life tragically cut short. An intense life! A brilliant mind. His is a story that needs to be told, has to be told, must be told. For a long while I was silenced by his tragedy. Not silent on the inside. Lots of unusual questions were swirling inside me, and I was ferociously bent on finding answers wherever they might be found. And I did. Two other gifts - an antique bowl (I think it is a bowl) exotically decorated and a crystal clock - keep reminding me his story is far too worthy to be ignored. His legacy is rich.

But let me not digress.

One day a visitor noticed the art and did not inquire what it was; he declared what it was, then pointed to a section of it and asked if that represented one of my cathedral windows. I was taken aback. I was trying to imagine what he was seeing, and was about to disagree, since none of my windows nor my arched stained glass wall window, which delivered each and every morning's sunrise with reverent flare and which was an awesome spot for meditation, held as much mystery as Steven's artwork evoked. Before I could offer my opinion the visitor asked, "What is it called?" Again I was about to answer, it is a gift, but he had already stepped closer and declared, "God's Window."

I said, what?

He pointed, as I got closer. Yes, there it was - the title of the art - as plain as any opened eye could see, "God's Window." Across, to the other side, is Steven's signature dated on my birthday. In the midst of my confusion, wondering how I could have missed those two identifiers for nearing two years by then, the visitor asked, "Who is Steven?" I said, you would have loved him, but he is dead.

He was a voracious reader. Herman Melville's Moby Dick was one of his huge favorites. Steven's clear blue eyes, angel-smile and vulnerability were as enchanting as any grand fantasy turned every bit real, and his discourses were as passionate as a fire in his belly and every bit as poetic as a frenchman on a steed. Our time together - before his tragedy - was awesome. And after - mightily instructive! It is truly not hard to calculate the true full value of one's own time; just check how it is spent.

In that moment, standing beside this tall self-assured visitor, much of what Steven shared with me on the evening of his gift and after began to make an enormous amount of sense: God's Window!

It is, indeed, A View Like None Other.

Steven was brilliant. Everyone knew that. Tragic, but brilliant!

And that smile.

Riding Moby Dick: How They Beat The Odds Every Time is not Steven's story. It is his inspiration. In fact, it is a bite of his shared legacy. You see Steven was studying to become a doctor, but that was NOT his dream. You see? His dream was brutally snatched from him. You see? He became emotionally invested in inspiring and/or convincing those of us who were and are able to do and / or have accomplished even if but a wee-bit of something during our time why, how and by what means we could and should reach out / touch / influence / guide / encourage / lift / love / push folks to dare to respond positively to their authentic passion and to pursue their dream, and to bolster them to never let anyone deprive them of the opportunity to do in loving peace what their heart is calling so loudly for them to be and do. Indeed, their pursuit enriches all of us. Their joy expands our room.

You see?

There is a history here; I'll leave that be in this hour.

I appreciate that it was not necessarily our responsibility, but in my weaker moments I wish I knew then what we later learned, for I'd like to imagine I would have sought some way of extending to him the very favor he promoted, and so convince him he had the power and capacity and wherewithal to reclaim his own dream, that not only was it snatched, he relinquished it. Sadly so. Catastrophically so. But I did not know that then. At times it seems to me I should have known. You see?

In part it is in response to his expressed challenge that I accepted this nudge for us to "reach out and touch" folks who simply prefer to be left to their dreams in fruitful loving peace, who just want to be encouraged or guided or simply not walled-in. And so I was thereby emboldened to share our guiding transformational story: Riding Moby Dick: How They Beat The Odds Every Time. No more shoulda-coulda-woulda! Pure joy. A bite of his legacy! And not only his! We are accompanied. His story will be released! It is truly extraordinary. No authentic story is ordinary. Do not dare ignore yours. "Open your window," he used to tell me, "open your window and let them see. Touch them like you touch me."

He was not shy.

But scary.

unabashed - appreciation for human potential

Live: Stay in shape. This is your life; only YOU can live it. No one else can live your life for you. No one! Lean fully into it. Own it. Nourish your body, mind, and spirit, suitably for your journey - your mission - the reach of your vision. Map it out. Know it. Revise it. Breathe. Give yourself room to breathe. Don't seek permission to breathe. Breathe. No good comes of submitting to suffocation. Why do it - to please whom? When we are damaged we compromise our opportunities to experience that well-wish for wealth and happiness - the enriched life those who love us bequeathed to us. It is a gift of pure joy. Be energized. Take action to live out who you are at each phase of your growth and journey. Lean in to your moments. Step by step stay in shape suitably for your journey - not anyone else's. That's the hard part; inclusive, discover it all to be pure joy. How? (See RMD - you'll find a guide prepared for you.)

Learn: Stay the course. Keep abreast of seasons - satisfy their needs - and do not deplete your resources keeping up with the Joneses, spending time, talent, energy and finances obtaining what you do not need to impress those who have no need of you. Replenish yourself. Learn. On the road to mastery learning never stops. Master your strengths. Understand your limits. Don't let your limits limit you. The tool you will need to prevent your limitations from sabotaging your achievements is called leverage. Leverage is a skillset. When you are unable to lift the necessary weight, use leverage. When it is unwise for you to perform the task that must be done, use leverage. Learn leverage - it is a necessary skillset on the odds-beater's journey. (More on leverage in our up-coming season, but don't wait.) Don't let your limitations limit you. Don't let it halt your progress. This is your life; only you can live it. Energize yourself. Be happy. Be healthy. Be wealthy. Each requires us taking action. What actions? (See RMD - you'll find a guide prepared for you.)

Love: Celebrate your achievements. Love on yourself. Acknowledge milestones cheerfully, but not overbearingly. Love is a thirst. Quench it. Love is a need as vital to the soul as water is to the body. Love up, down, sideways and all around you throughout. It is energizing. It is fun. When you love yourself you will not suffer yourself to be abused. Love on yourself. There are a whole lot of popular pity-parties raving along the way prepared to mummify love's need, and you are most cordially invited to each and any of them - ego invites you, envy invites you, jealousy invites you, greed invites you; gluttony, anger, laziness, covetousness and false pride are all having a ball there too. The fun ends when the bill arrives compliments of pity. But how will you ever know that for yourself? Hahahaha! Isn't life fascinating? Love on yourself, so you won't pamper yourself out of balance, out of rhythm, and out of focus, as you press earnestly toward sustained health, wealth and happiness. Then you'll discover it is not a press. Pure love is flawless. It keeps us engaged. It keeps us strong. It is a joyous spring; it inspires us into action. Where does this magnificent love come from? (See RMD) It is priceless.

gut

intuition

belief

mind

reason

action

DECISION

ACTION

RESULT

DECISION

ACTION

RESULT

DECISION

ACTION

RESULT

Smile. Live. Love. Laugh. Look. Listen. Learn. Be awesome. You are powerful beyond measure. You are not alone. You can do all things. I am you. You are me. We are one. Keep Sharing.

So, are you an odds-beater?

Yes, you are - if you choose to be!

Discovery: Odds-beaters are active participants in the process and outcomes of their pursuits. They make better decisions more frequently than most. They make continual improvements and rebound well from setbacks. The very foundation of each odds-beater is unqiue and different, and these are very okay with that, no matter what! They are not spectators of their journey.

Action Plan: Be an active participant (fully accountable) for your mission. Make decisions. Make them as often as necessary. Own them. Continuously improve your decision-making as you progress. (UNDERSTAND WHO YOU ARE - today. BE CONFIDENT OF YOUR FOUNDATION OR CONSTRUCT A FOUNDATION YOU CAN BE CONFIDENT IN.) Avoid being stuck in patterns of the past - even though they may have served you well then. The present is an entirely different world. You have the power to choose - use that power - use it wisely - continually improve on your choices. (How about you?) How do you deliver when the going gets tough?

Breathe.
We are accompanied.
Balance - Focus - Rhythm

Dare to lead your internal team. Check this out - Be the best that you can be!

Every new era is marked by a challenge that reveals the true nature of its character, its soul, its heart, our very being; a challenge so pervasive, so corrosive, so corrupting, it indulges our need for respite; a challenge that demands a new breed - A Breed Beyond The Hero.

Some have to reach the mountain top for a good view. Some have to enhance their vision to get a good view. Some peruse snap shots. Nothing wrong with those. Then there are others: some of these see it all live - a view like none other - in full color - throughout the journey. Recommendation: get a good view. Priceless!

Something To Consider

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You are

What POWER!