Second Timothy, Chapter 3.

“11 Here is a saying that you can rely on: If we have died with him, then we shall live with him.

12 If we persevere, then we shall reign with him. If we disown him, then he will disown us.

13 If we are faithless, he is faithful still, for he cannot disown his own self.”

Simple lessons to follow. Not easy, but simple.

Believe. Persevere. Have faith. Then, you will mirror He who was sent for us all. And you will know peace.

Mind you, the peace is not permanent. In as much as you practice these things on a regular basis, and even daily, so will the peace be easier for you. But it will sometimes be fleeting, and perhaps elusive, and difficult to find, and maintain.

Then it follows that the very practice must be constant. And you will know when peace is with you. And take strength from those times. And the very practice will reward you beyond measure.

Major theme for this weekend: “SCU’89_R30.” This is the moniker I’ve given our 30th college reunion happening this weekend.

What does this alphanumeric reference mean exactly? My own shorthand for “Santa Clara University Class of 1989, 30 Year Reunion.” Random? A little silly? Yea, I’m like that sometimes.

This coming together, or really, collection of opportunities to get together with former classmates, it’s a unique thing that only happens a few times. Reunions are funny that way: they happen more frequently actually, but the “ big ones” — 10, 20, 25, 30, 40 years…these tend to be more widely attended, I think (I should ask the alumni folks). It’s sorta like wedding anniversaries: bigger focus on the major milestones. 🙂

And so what’s the big deal? The university does a good job of putting a lot of different activities and events together for the various groups that were together during the weekend: teams, departments, etc.

The big event is Saturday night, the main dinner for each class.

Given my own circumstances — kids’ soccer smack in the middle of the weekend — I won’t make many of the events. All the same, I’ll take what I can get. For me it’s about the chance to see folks and catch up in bits and pieces, hopefully have a couple of deep dives in conversation too, and basically recharge the energy all these varied folks shared with me so long ago.

Bottom line too? I value the people still, and value the depth and variety they still offer in relationship. Whatever we can recall and share and remain in relationship, or kick-start that past affection…in whatever manner…to stay connected to our roots we still share from that place called Santa Clara University.

Those Jesuits taught us well, still feeling the weight and the depth and the love, 30 years on. A.M.D.G. “Ad maiorem Dei gloriam“ — For the greater glory of God. AMEN.

Personal Addendum:

Oh and also, it’s an obscure reference to a similar moniker one of my favorite bands used for their 30th year together and the tour associated with it: “RUSH R30.”

Had to get that in there, too. : – )

Big gathering this weekend, a reunion, a couple hundred (or more?) folks getting together to celebrate our years together in college a long time back.

Fun for so many, especially those coming in from out of town, to visit the campus, refreshed big time since we walked those grounds.  And people spending extra time in the surrounding area, with various friends, some who’ve not come together in long long while.   And the university itself, offering a long list of activities, including the new president’s inauguration.

Very cool.   A grand reunion indeed.

On my side, not a lot of extra time, since I’m just back from a family vacation.  I won’t be involved in too much of the wide variety and extended togetherness.   I’ll see folks Friday night, Saturday night, hopefully maybe Sunday morning too.

But though I won’t be spending time in the wine country, or staying in a hotel with classmates down the hall, I still feel a part of it.  Deeply.

I have little flutterings of anxiety about seeing folks whose names I might not remember, but I push that aside.  I valued that time and that collection of people so SO much, and still do.  They are my “great examples” of people doing and living their best.  Doesn’t mean perfect.  Just means good peeps.    I love being together with good peeps.

And then quickly it will follow, fresh anxiety might seep in, my mind begins to race late Sunday or early the next day.  As thoughts of good conversations and good people begin to fade from the immediate…

“How will it go after a busy weekend, early up Monday…fine fine, but you might be surprised by good attitudes.  With the kids, with the wife, with the folks in the office, everyone could very well have good attitudes.  But what if not?

Then finally At Work, anticipating and thinking through the various angles of a decision on a project scope, tasks to attend to, overdue anything?  Any clean up from the week prior…?

The answer is simple really, it usually is right?

“Don’t think it through too much, might be more work as a result.”

Just do the work.  Just take the next step.

I should have known.

This might have been the first song I heard by Bruno Mars, a couple years back. My wife liked it; our kids liked it. That was enough to give a listen. Fun music this cat throws down, and this particular song? Worth solid gold, I’d say. : – )

“24K Magic”

Tonight
I just want to take you higher
Throw your hands up in the sky
Let’s set this party off right

Players, put yo’ pinky rings up to the moon
Girls, what y’all trying to do?
24 karat magic in the air
Head to toe so player
Uh, look out!

Pop pop, it’s show time (Show time)
Show time (Show time)
Guess who’s back again?
Oh they don’t know? (Go on tell ’em)
Oh they don’t know? (Go on tell ’em)
I bet they know soon as we walk in (Showin’ up)
Wearing Cuban links (ya)
Designer minks (ya)
Inglewood’s finest shoes (Whoop, whoop)
Don’t look too hard
Might hurt ya’self
Known to give the color red the blues

Ooh shit, I’m a dangerous man with some money in my pocket
(Keep up)
So many pretty girls around me and they waking up the rocket
(Keep up)
Why you mad? Fix ya face
Ain’t my fault y’all be jocking
(Keep up)

Players only, come on
Put your pinky rings up to the moon
Girls, what y’all trying to do?
24 karat magic in the air
Head to toe so player
Uh, look out!

Second verse for the hustlas (hustlas)
Gangstas (gangstas)
Bad bitches and ya ugly ass friends (Haha)
Can I preach? (Uh oh) Can I preach? (Uh oh)
I gotta show ’em how a pimp get it in
First, take your sip (sip), do your dip (dip)
Spend your money like money ain’t shit (Whoop, whoop)
We too fresh
Got to blame it on Jesus
Hashtag blessed
They ain’t ready for me

I’m a dangerous man with some money in my pocket
(Keep up)
So many pretty girls around me and they waking up the rocket
(Keep up)
Why you mad? Fix ya face
Ain’t my fault y’all be jocking
(Keep up)

Players only, come on
Put your pinky rings up to the moon
Hey girls
What y’all trying to do?
24 karat magic in the air
Head to toe so player
Uh, look out!

(Wooh)
Everywhere I go they be like
Ooh, so player ooh
Everywhere I go they be like
Ooh, so player ooh
Everywhere I go they be like
Ooh, so player ooh
Now, now, now
Watch me break it down like (Uh)
24 karat, 24 karat magic
What’s that sound?
24 karat, 24 karat magic
Come on now
24 karat, 24 karat magic
Don’t fight the feeling
Invite the feeling

Just put your pinky rings up to the moon
Girls, what y’all trying to do?
24 karat magic in the air
Head to toe so player
Put your pinky rings up to the moon
Girls, what y’all trying to do? (Do)
24 karat magic in the air
Head to toe so player
(24 karat)
Uh, look out

(24 karat magic, magic, magic)

by Bruno Mars. His bio found here (with thanks to Wikipedia, once again.)

For 20 plus years, The Weekly…

A simple gathering, a chance to get together and share and vent and get a bit of a break from the day to day.

It began when folks in our little group started having kids. Sometimes we’d talk about parenting, a lot of times it’s about getting a couple hour break from the 24/7 gig.

Personal life, professional life, whatever’s on your mind, it’s welcome at the Weekly.

There have been varied participants over that time, those decades; a core group has carried it forward, two or three depending on the week and what’s going on in life, in our lives.

There’s an honesty and a refuge and a refreshment that’s on offer; cold beer and snacks provide just the physical comfort that compliments the banter, the insights, the simple bonds of friendship.

The Weekly is on Wednesday. So blessed a day as Wednesday. So blessed we are to have each other.

At The Weekly.

GOOD.

Sometimes it’s not so much where you are but what you do that matters more.

Do What You Do.

I found myself in the inventory cage getting some work done recently; mind you, the work I was doing related to what was in the cage. So I figured, rather than go back and forth from warehouse to my desk, I’d do the work on the spot.

It wasn’t about where I was — although I like working in the warehouse among the boxes and parts and racks and finished goods and raw materials and much of what physically goes into running our business — but more about getting the work done.

I was in the groove and taping through the tasks at hand; at some point, I got to thinking about the very work I was doing in that moment, in my current role, and then shifting to my varied career and positions I’ve held and things I’d call accomplishments. It’s a mixed bag of some goals set, but also plenty of situations I’ve responded to, opportunities that have presented and converted to wins.

But it’s not all been wins, of course. There has been plenty of challenges and learning and failure and lessons and improvements and new skills needed and developed and on and on. That’s how life goes, most of the time I think. Learn, try, fail, eventually achieve some measure of improvement, learn more, face new challenges, strive again, and…repeat. That’s how we develop and add to the Big Picture of our professional life.

And the point is…?

These thoughts all flowed through my mind pretty quickly, along with thinking about many of my classmates from the school years so long ago. I know a lot of folks who have done a lot of different things, pretty well the whole shooting match of professions and careers: business owners in various fields, medical professionals, managers, directors, vice presidents, and plenty of the rank-and-file folks too in many professions.

Funny thing, I’m a guy in a rank-and-file position that feels pretty well on even keel with my peeps up the chain-of-command. And the point of this reflection is really just that: my schooling left me feeling even with my peeps, believing that my professional path has developed as it should, and that I have the capacity and the capability to “rise up” when the moment is right. I’m deep into my career, I suppose that too plays into this sense of possibility and certainty of purpose. There’s a Big Picture still in play.

And so tapping away on my laptop one work-day afternoon in a warehouse cage, these insights filled my head, and left me buoyed and hopeful. Doing what I do, attending to the tasks at hand, contributing to the common cause of our business, and seeing where all this fits into my Big Picture. Doing what I do. That’s a good feeling to have any day. Even working in the cage.