My day gig?  I work in Supply Chain for a publicly-traded company.

That means a lot of things, on a lot of different levels.

One thing for sure is true: we get busy at month-end, and quarter-end.

We’re not alone. Our friends on the Accounting Side see their game ramp-up at the same time. And our Sales Comrades? They’re hustling to close up any last tid-bits of business, (or big mamba-jamba deals!) that will help the month and quarter numbers.

It actually started ramping up pace and activities last week, but since today is the last day of the month, and a business day, maybe there’s just a little more…excitement. Or maybe it’s just me. But I don’t think so.

So if you find yourself feeling the pace and variety of this particular Monday are a little much, well…you’re not alone.

And that’s the main message. Come to think of it, that’s a fundamental theme of this blog:

YOU’RE NOT ALONE.

So what?

SO LET’S GO! Goooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooood.

I somehow got myself turned around with readings from recent reviews. “Fight the good fight” (one of my favorites, as mentioned earlier) from Timothy was actually intended for 09/29. Or maybe not…? Regardless, I shared it last week.

All GOOD.

It has me looking at other readings for this weekend, and voila!, a little fresh thought and inspiration found in Luke. The passage below is a excerpt from that short Gospel reading.

Luke 9: 43-45

44 ‘For your part, you must have these words constantly in mind: The Son of man is going to be delivered into the power of men.’

This was Jesus talking to his friends, as the masses were in wonder at what he had been doing, the teachings, the miracles, etc.

It was a foreshadow that he was offering his disciples, that he would meet his demise at the hands of his detractors, and in particular, the authorities in charge.

My take away?

Maybe God’s intention for us to understand is…

that sometimes (often, always?), those who strive to do good, do the right thing, help others, play by the rules, even do great things, it might not make any diffence to your ultimate fate on this earth.

Maybe we can do many great things, help many people, bring love and healing and inspiration, thousands upon thousands even, but not be “rewarded” in a manner we expect.

We might even be demonized, or otherwise doomed. Worse yet, those who don’t seem on the same path might reap many material rewards or otherwise have good fortune fall upon them.

Well, good for them.

And maybe that’s God’s ultimate message to us who believe; maybe the message is, do the work, live true to your calling, to what your soul tells you is right, and let it all play out otherwise as it may.

Do not be overly concerned or distracted by worldly things, as long as you have the basic necessities to live.

Realize and trust that Good is in the Good you do, and that’s what matters, full stop. And in the next life, in the afterlife, in whatever is next — what we Believers often refer to as “Heaven”, it is there that another, eternal reward may manifest.

What matters now: the sense of purpose and right action and certainty of intent, that is what matters most in this life, on this earth, in our time.

The Son of man was delivered to the power of men. That power then hung him on a cross and there he died. And then he was delivered to God’s Hands.

Let that be so for each of us. In this life, and the next. To be in God’s Hands.

Saturday night is Date Night for me and my honey. Drafting this post earlier in the week, for Saturday “go live,”, which might indicate:

1/ I’m super exited about having some couple time with my Better Half, and;

2/ I’m already thinking about just what we can do for our date, in addition;

3/ This will be two weekends in a row with a Date Night, and next week we’re headed on a family road trip, so we’ll have even more time together, living and loving the life of “married with three little kids.”

It’s definitely NOT all peaches and cream, and two dates in two weeks is anomaly for us. We’re actually shooting to have two dates a month, just us, spread out a little so provide more balance. But you take what you can get sometimes, and when two back-to-back weekends lined up, well, we said ABSOLUTELY!

The main point here is, even as you revel and celebrate and get deep into parenting and your professional life and the day-to-day chaos that tends to be family life with little kids, even if you love it every minute and never feel overwhelmed or short on time, energy, money (Is that possible?!) —

it’s important in a marriage to MAKE space on the calendars for Couple Time. That time will give you a healthier sense of self, do the same for your partner, be better for your kids, for your collective ability and long-term capacity to handle all that life brings you.

So in short, WHOOOOOOOOO HOOOOOOOOOOO for Date Night, let it be, make it so!

This is the last week of the regular season in Major League Baseball 2019. By virtue of geography and circumstance, I’m a San Francisco Giants fan, and this season will go down as a tough one — they’ll end up way back in the National League West, and done when the regular schedule concludes.

Bruce Bochy is up his final year; not the way I’m sure he would have liked to go out. Then again, he did guide the team to three World Series Championships during the past decade. That’s more success than the majority of managers, or players, have during a pro career. In any sport.

We’d all like to see things turn our well when we begin a venture, enter into a season, start something new. It’s a mixed bag, and you have to take your chances. You have to pay (get involved) to play (and have a chance for good experiences).

I have my own personal micro disappointment for the season too. I buy into seasons tickets every year — several hundred bucks for a few games, and a chance to sit in some great seats. This season I wasn’t able to go to two (or three?) games I had tickets for, and sold them for MUCH less than face value. So I ended up in the red on the season. But oh well, that’s just the way it goes.

I’ll apply the same attitude I just expressed above. You gotta pay to play; you have to take some risks to have a chance at just about everything. Oh yea, and Bruce Bochy? Thanks for fun ride. Best of luck as you close out your career and go on to the next chapter in your life.

On we go. All Good.

Last Sunday I shared a verse from one of the scheduled church readings for the week, from the New Testament, Paul’s First Letter to Timothy. I correlated the reading to a song by one of my favorite bands, Canadian power trio Triumph. Here are the lyrics to that song. Still inspires me today.

Fight the Good Fight

“The days grow shorter and the nights are getting long

Feels like we’re running out of time

Every day it seems much harder tellin’ right from wrong

You got to read between the lines

Don’t get discouraged, don’t be afraid, we can

Make it through another day

Make it worth the price we pay

The Good Book says it’s better to give than to receive

I do my best to do my part

Nothin’ in my pockets I got nothin’ up my sleeve

I keep my magic in my heart

Keep up your spirit, keep up your faith, baby

I am counting on you

You know what you’ve got to do

Fight the good fight every moment

Every minute every day

Fight the good fight every moment

It’s your only way

All your life you’ve been waiting for your chance

Where you’ll fit into the plan

But you’re the master of your own destiny

So give and take the best that you can

You think a little more money can buy your soul some rest

You’d better think of something else instead

You’re so afraid of being honest with yourself

You’d better take a look inside your head

Nothing is easy, nothing good is free

But I can tell you where to start

Take a look inside your heart

There’s an answer in your heart

Fight the good fight every moment

Every minute every day

Fight the good fight every moment

Make it worth the price we pay

Every moment of your lifetime

Every minute every day

Fight the good fight every moment

Make it worth the price we pay

         
1981. Writer(s): EMMETT RICHARD GORDON, LEVINE MICHAEL STEPHEN, MOORE GIL

The missus and I had a little miscommunication last weekend that had me a little miffed.

It wasn’t that big a deal but it bugged me. Right after the exchange I headed out to the grill; the plan anyway was for me to cook, so I had a built-in retreat.

The kids were inside playing, the wife had headed out as was her plan, and I was in the backyard alone with the grill.

I worked the hot dogs and sausages over the grid that covered the red-hot coals, moving them constantly so they wouldn’t burn. As I rotated them around, the thoughts of my petty annoyance mellowed. I knew it wasn’t a big deal; the perceived slight wasn’t intentional. I was over attached to the situation, as often happens.

In a few minutes I felt much better. And the grub was about done. I lined them up for a final minute.

As I wrapped up the cooking and got dinner together for the kids, I felt a lot better. It hadn’t taken long, but I had to go through the process of feeling and sorting and coming to close on my own.

It helped that my wife let me know shortly after that — as I’d assumed — she’d not intended the slight. Felt good to get back on track in any event.

And the old bbq served me well once again: in the cooking, and the time spent therein. GOOD.

Funny concept, “rework.”   In the role at work I’ve been doing the last couple of years it comes up periodically.   In a manufacturing environ, it’s the idea of “reworking” material to maintain commercial continuity, etc.

Let’s go just a bit deeper on the importance of rework and the concepts of managing it properly.  The main point when you’re applying this concept is that everything must be done carefully, thoroughly, and accurately.   Each step needs to be documented, and processes followed closely by all parties.  This careful attention helps insure that you stay in compliance and preserve the chain of custody.

In my job, I’m one player in a process that involves coordination with stockroom and manufacturing personnel on the front-end of the process, and then in reverse for the back-end.   Working quickly is nice if you can do it, but better to be methodical and thorough.

Come to think of it, these traits — being careful, thorough, accurate — are good for doing “work”, and “rework”; come to think of it, if we apply this approach to our everyday, we will likely see better work, better results, in everything we do.

Be Careful.  Be Thorough.  Be Accurate.

I wrote about this idea earlier in the year, in the context of parenting.  It’s an obvious concept that makes a BIG, positive difference raising kids.  But it applies to so, SO many other areas.

Human beings are social animals.  We’ve evolved and succeeded (survived) because we’ve learned to work together. Teamwork is natural then, as a matter of productivity, optimization, practical approach.  Ego of course, another human trait, is another variable that comes into play and must be managed.

Communication is key.

Good Attitude is key.  A bit vague , though; where does it come from?  Empathy, Compassion, Collective, Common Cause (or Goal Focus).

Recent work with our kids’ soccer team is a great example where teamwork is super helpful.  And I’m not even referring to the children on the field.  I’m talking about coaching, parenting, team management.  All volunteer.

I watch the coach and assistant coach (my wife and another parent) talk during practice, and a little during games; they’re on the same page.  My wife comments that she’s had a couple great and helpful SMS communications with the assistant coach too, ideas about how to help the kids more.

AWESOME.

And I think about the coordination that goes on between my wife and I as we roll into the weekend:  soccer practice is Friday night; we talk about the plan for the evening after practice, keeping our three kids moving along afterward so it’s smooth to bed, and then up Saturday for their game.  We talk about errands for the weekend, chores that are due, other activities planned and unplanned too.

Teamwork goes a long way.  Common Cause helps too.  Stay aligned with those that matter most.

GOOD.