In The Dash- Unconditional
There are two people who are related to me by blood who have loved me and accepted me unconditionally, my mom and my sister. They have invested so much and sacrificed so much for me in my life and so many times it has gone unnoticed or unacknowledged, but it was never unappreciated.
My mom and sister have been a strength for me in the worst time in my life. They have been an encouragement and a voice of wisdom. I am a difficult person to live with, as my wife would support. There are times when I have been selfish and not been the brother or son that I should have been or could have been.
Regardless they love me. So important to let those who have loved you unconditionally know how important they are. There is a chance they may not know.
Action Step:
◊ Thank your family for loving you unconditionally.
In The Dash- Digital Footprint
I love technology and consider myself a web 2.0 expert however there is a part of me that would admit I’m addicted to technology. Truth is I don’t need to be as connected as I am.
Technology has opened up doors that we did not have years ago. News travels at crazy speeds and social media has shaped what we value, find important, what we purchase and in some cases shapes our values based on others opinions.
However the amount of time I have wasted in leaving a digital footprint does not equal the amount of time I should have invested into my family.
With time running out there are very few things that I feel would be important enough to be online for rather than invest into my family. Technology has its value but as I’ve learned the hard way so does family.
Action Steps:
◊ Disconnect from all technology that is not necessary.
In The Dash- Interruptions
I used to take eating together for granted or think it was no big deal, but I have learned more through failure than success the importance of that quality time. I used to dismiss that time and say things like, “I’ll be home tomorrow”, which I never was or “This is just a season”, which only led to the next season. Why is this important?
Because it allows for a time with no interruptions to stop and as a family hear where each other are. To hear what my kids have learned, what they think is important, and simply put, be a part of their lives. I’ve missed out on too many memory opportunities because of missed meals.
Every opportunity I get I take to enjoy that part of the day with my family. What I used to take for granted I now cherish.
Action Step:
◊ Eat as many meals with family as possible.
In The Dash- Life Experience
There are a lot of things that really matter in life like which way the toilet paper is put on the roll or when is the sink too full to put another dish in. In all seriousness there are a lot of things that I have learned that really do matter and sadly most of them I’ve learned the hard way.
There are things I have learned about careers, family and church that you don’t learn in a book but you learn through real life experiences through success and through failure. Every context is different but the core principle of each life experience is universal, to be able to share that wisdom with my kids is so important to me. They will make their own mistakes however if they can learn from mine it will save them pain and it will give me joy.
Action Step:
◊ A memoir of the things I’ve learned that really matter.
In The Dash- Time Wasted
I waste time, a lot of time, but you probably do as well. There have been times in my life that my career and ministry consumed all of my time leaving my family to wonder what was truly important in my life.
There have been times when sports or technology have consumed my time, once again leaving those close to me wondering what I had become. With 30 days left to live and responsibilities changing I would remove everything and anything that did not strategically add value to the ones I love. Remove everything that was not important.
I have wasted a lot of my life because of choices, selfishness and pride, and before it is over I want to be known as someone who invests my life, who prioritizes what is really important and makes those around me know they are truly important.
Action Step:
◊ Quit my job and all non important hobbies and activities .
In The Dash- Role Players
I don’t like the dark and I send my wife to check out scary noises in the home. However, I do take great pride in taking care of my family, providing for them and being someone they can lean on. When I’m gone I want someone to check on them, and someone to take care of the small things.
After someone passes we are quick to jump in and help but time passes and people forget. A couple of weeks turn into a couple of months and the person that is left behind is expected to handle the responsibility of two people, all while grieving.
It’s important for me to have key friends there to help carry the role, to help fill in to be a male role model for my boys and to help my wife with the things I used to do.
ACTION STEPS:
◊ Make sure key friends would be there to protect my family.
In The Dash- Cold Storage
The day I got my license two things happened… I got my first reckless driving speeding ticket and I became an organ donor. I was an organ donor until I had a family and at that point I took my name off the list because I read an article about how you can register and store your organs for your family after death.
I have no idea the cost or the procedure to do so, but ever since I read that I have been committed to registering and storing my organs for my family for the worst-case scenario that they would need them.
I’ve heard stories of children who received a parents organ and because of that they had a chance to experience a life that they may never have had. A loss of a loved one can provide life for a loved one.
ACTION STEPS:
◊ Register to store my organs for my family.
In The Dash Launch
I have been challenged by many to put my thoughts to a digital footprint about what I feel is really important and about what I have learned over the last year or so. One of the many things I have learned is figuring out and prioritizing what is really important in my life. Faith. Family. Friendships. After those three things most everything else seems irrelevant to me anymore.
I went through a sermon series a few years back called Live Different, and to be honest at the time I took it for granted. It wasn’t until this last year that I applied what I had heard several years before. In some cases it was too late and in others it was just in time. So I began to write what I would do if I had just 30 days left to live. What would I do that would leave a legacy and leave a mark on the life that I would leave behind?
So what you are going to read over the next 30 days is called In The Dash, 30 Day Challenge. 30 things that if I knew I had 30 days left to live I would do. Here is the catch though, there’s always a catch. Why not live as if you had 30 days left to live today? We are not guaranteed tomorrow and what I have learned is that were not all given a second chance to live differently and live with passion. So in the true spirit of a digital footprint, instead of using 140 characters as Twitter has used so effectively, I will write each chapter in 140 words. These are simple thoughts but I believe some of these simple action steps to be life changing and legacy changing.
These words are my passion, my heartbeat and my challenge to myself to live In The Dash with a purpose and invest my life into what truly matters. Maybe you will be able to take away a step or two that will significantly change the course of your faith, family or friendships.
I would love any feedback or comments that you would be willing to give as I try my hand at being an author. Answer for me each day if this something that you are doing or feel compelled to do? If you feel it is important or not? What other ideas do you have? How can we truly make our faith, family and friendships stronger as an online community? As always thank you so much for taking the time to read my words.
Ryan
What Goes In
What goes in usually has a habit of coming out. I’ve experienced that over the last couple days, not that I didn’t already know that, although I will spare you any graphic details. I have heard all my life to be careful what I put in because it will come out. Whether that was the music I listened to which I obviously only listened to for “the beat”, or the movies that I watched, sites I visited or things I read, I was constantly told, “good in, good out, garbage in, garbage out”.
I even learned fun little songs in Sunday school about it, do you remember the song? ”Oh be careful little eyes what you see, ears what you hear, because the Father up above, He is looking down with love, so be careful little eyes what you see, ears what you hear.” Great song. And I am learning how true it is.
Recently I heard my son repeat something that I say all the time, I didn’t realize how bad it sounded till my seven year old repeated it. Oops, now I am on guard with what I am letting in and being even more careful with my filter about what I let out. It really does have the ability to affect other people. If I truly want to be a Godly person and have that show in my marriage and family than I must be the one to set the standard of holiness.
What are some things that you do to protect your family? What are some strategies to make holiness a regular part of your life?
Kids’ Top 100 Searches of 2009
Very interesting read for any parents out there. Google has released their most popular search trends by those under the age of 18. Some of these will come as a surprise to you but for those of us who work with students and children this is an every day battle. Some of you may be offended by some of the researched items, but I am simply posting what Google results have found. I highly recommend following the link at the bottom of the page and read the breakdown per age, you may find it shocking.
- 1. YouTube
- 2. Google
- 3. Facebook
- 4. Sex
- 5. Porn
- 6. YouTube.com
- 7. Yahoo
- 8. MySpace
- 9. eBay
- 10. You Tube
- 11. Wikipedia
- 12. Michael Jackson
- 13. Taylor Swift
- 14. Gmail
- 15. Party in the USA
- 16. Miley Cyrus
- 17. Club Penguin
- 18. Miniclip
- 19. Fred
- 20. Games
- 21. Facebook login
- 22. Google.com
- 23. Hotmail
- 24. Lady Gaga
- 25. Amazon
- 26. Yahoo Mail
- 27. Justin Bieber
- 28. Addicting games
- 29. Facebook.com
- 30. Webkinz
- 31. Yahoo.com
- 32. Boobs
- 33. MSN
- 34. Hannah Montana
- 35. Dictionary
- 36. Walmart
- 37. Selena Gomez
- 38. Dictionary.com
- 39. MySpace.com
- 40. New Moon
- 41. Runescape
- 42. Lil Wayne
- 43. Google Maps
- 44. Down
- 45. Google Earth
- 46. Norton Safety Minder
- 47. Mapquest
- 48. Boom Boom Pow
- 49. Craigslist
- 50. Twilight
- 51. Megan Fox
- 52. Sesame Street
- 53. Poptropica
- 54. Target
- 55. Eminem
- 56. Music
- 57. Fireflies
- 58. Disney Channel
- 59. You Belong With Me
- 60. Utube
- 61. Weather
- 62. iTunes
- 63. Beyonce
- 64. Pokemon
- 65. Britney Spears
- 66. Twitter
- 67. Hotmail.com
- 68. Demi Lovato
- 69. Funny
- 70. Black Eyed Peas
- 71. One time
- 72. Cartoon Network
- 73. Jonas Brothers
- 74. Halo
- 75. www.youtube.com
- 76. Watcha Say
- 77. Family Guy
- 78. Taylor Swift You Belong With Me
- 79. Best Buy
- 80. Taylor Lautner
- 81. Rihanna
- 82. Pussy
- 83. Gmail.com
- 84. Lego
- 85. Gummy Bear Song
- 86. Thriller
- 87. You’re a jerk
- 88. Nigahiga
- 89. Girls
- 90. Free online games
- 91. New Moon trailer
- 92. Translator
- 93. Disney
- 94. Ask.com
- 95. Paparazzi Lady Gaga
- 96. Poker Face
- 97. Chris Brown
- 98. iPod Touch
- 99. Photbucket
- 100. Bing
Check out the rest of the article HERE for a breakdown of who was searching for what, at what age and whether they are male or female.
What are your thoughts? What filters are you using with your kids? Have you talked to your kids about these trending topics? Knowing this, will you do anything differently?
