It's All About The Stories

Originally Featured in The Javien Chronicles #8

The big day has come and gone. 26.2 miles completed. My knees and shins are sore and my feet are covered with blisters. Despite the wear and tear on my body, I have to say this is the best marathon I have ever completed.

Was it because I surpassed previous times? Far from it, this is actually the slowest I have ever completed a marathon. The reason I will treasure the 7 hours and 7 minutes is because I enjoyed every minute of it.

I started the race with a goal in mind. Take it slow, enjoy the scenery, and Be the Blessing. I trekked along the course talking to strangers and giving words of encouragement. I met local San Diegans and people traveling as far as Louisiana. Everybody had a different story of why they were running and they were all eager to share.

At around mile 9 I had an overwhelming sense of happiness and joy, a feeling that almost brought me to tears. I remembered why I love to run. I love to run because it is the bond between me and my dad. As a kid I would rush to put on my shoes so I could follow him out the door. As I grew older I would join him on runs around Miramar Lake. Even though I’m a little quicker now I would purposely slow down so I could be around him.

Every year on his birthday and Christmas I would give him running shoes, the same brand and size as mine. When I see him I always ask, “How was your run?” That is our bond and that is why I loving running.

Now that I brought some of you tears it’s time to make you laugh. Around mile 13 I conveniently had a cramp in front of Carl’s Jr. Remembering how badly I wanted a burger in past marathons I strolled in and ordered a cheeseburger; a $6 dollar, bacon, guacamole burger, and 2 large fries. I wasn’t that hungry but I knew I would find a few others that would be starving.

I grabbed my food and rejoined the race. Boy a cheeseburger never tasted so delicious! Many runners got a good laugh watching me eat. I offered food to anyone who crossed my path. There was only one runner who actually accepted some fries. I give props to the rest of runners who resisted temptation.

Around mile 15, I encountered a homeless man sitting by the train tracks just enjoying the race. I walked over to him with the food and his eyes lit up like a child in a candy store. I reached in my bag and handed him the $6 burger. His expression of appreciation was enough to make the day perfect.

I continued on my journey and met Joyce, a state legislator; Ester, a distributer of Mickey D’s transponders; and Derrick, a TV producer. Around mile 18 or so the shirt on back served its purpose. A lady named Joyce, a substitute Catholic teacher and caregiver, inquired about it.  For the next 8 miles I was able to share my story and listen to hers. Joyce if you read this, thank you for making the last 8 miles go by so quickly.

So a quarter of a mile left that’s when I decided to jog slowly through the finish line and get my souvenir photo taken. 7 hours and 7 minutes later my mission completed. Many that finished before me may be able to say, “This was the fastest time ever.” But how many will be able to say, “This was my slowest ever and I enjoyed every moment?”

I leave you with this quote, “Life is a journey not a destination.”- Author Unknown

Originally Featured in The Javien Chronicles #7

Originally Featured in The Javien Chronicles #3

By Dr. John C. Maxwell

This story was submitted by my Auntie Trifina

Leadership is about change. If you need no change, you need no leader. In times of change, people seek  out more and better leaders. Those successful sought-out leaders embrace the following thought. “The best reformers the world has ever known are those who began with themselves.”

Mahatma Gandhi said, “We must be the change that we envision.”

Tolstoy said, “Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself.”

The following comments are about personal change:

1. One person cannot change another person.

When I started as a young leader, I thought that a leader could change the people; and boy, did I work at it. I said, “All right, I’m going to give them thoughts, ideas, and principles; and I’m going to change people.”

After several years, I awakened to the thought that the only person who can change himself or herself is himself or herself. You can change yourself, but I cannot change you. You see, I am responsible to you but I am not responsible for you; and there is a world of difference between those two. I am responsible for teaching you good leadership, I am responsible for sharing things that can help add value to your life; but you are the only one who can take responsibility to change yourself, and that is what this whole article is about.

2. Most people need to look at the way that they look at change.

How many times have you heard somebody say, “I sure hope things will change.” The only way things will change for me is when I change. It has nothing to do with hope. You can’t just say, “Well, I just hope things will change around me,” and expect results. The only way that things will change for me is when I change.

I have also heard this before, “I don’t know why I’m this way.” Well, you are the way you are because that is the way you want to be. Let’s expose it for what it really is.

3. When you make the right personal changes, other things begin to turn out right.

So when people say, “I’d like things to turn out better for me, I’d like things to turn out right, I’d like things to turn out better in the organization, or in my family,” I say to them, “Start by making personal changes.”

The following are six steps to successful personal change:

1. When you change your thinking you change your beliefs.

2. When you change your beliefs you change your expectations.

3. When you change your expectations you change your attitude.

4. When you change your attitude you change your behavior.

5. When you change your behavior you change your performance.

6. When you change your performance, you change your life!

This story was sent to me by Aimee H.

A wealthy man and his son loved to collect rare works of art. They had everything in their collection, from
Picasso to Raphael. They would often sit together and admire the great works of art.

When the Vietnam conflict broke out, the son went to war. He was very courageous and died in battle while
rescuing another soldier. The father was notified and grieved deeply for his only son.

About a month later, just before Christmas, there was a knock at the door. A young man stood at the door
with a large package in his hands.

He said, “Sir, you don’t know me, but I am the soldier for whom your son gave his life. He saved many lives
that day, and he was carrying me to safety when a bullet struck him in the heart and he died instantly. He
often talked about you, and your love for art.” The young man held out the package. “I know this isn’t much.
I’m not really a great artist, but I think your son would have wanted you to have this.”

The father opened the package. It was a portrait of his son, painted by the young man. He stared in awe at the
way the soldier had captured the personality of his son in the painting. The father was so drawn to the eyes
that his own eyes welled up with tears. He thanked the young man and offered to pay him for the picture.
“Oh, no sir, I could never repay what your son did for me. It’s a gift.”

The father hung the portrait over his mantle. Every time visitors came to his home, he took them to see the
portrait of his son before he showed them any of the other great works he had collected.

The man died a few months later. There was to be a great auction for his paintings. Many influential people
gathered, excited over seeing the great paintings and having an opportunity to purchase one for their collection.

On the platform sat the painting of the son. The auctioneer pounded his gavel. “We will start the bidding with
this picture of the son. Who will bid for this picture?”

There was silence.

Then a voice in the back of the room shouted, “We want to see the famous paintings. Skip this one.”

But the auctioneer persisted. “Will somebody bid for this painting? Who will start the bidding? $100, $200?”

Another voice angrily said, “We didn’t come to see this painting. We came to see the Van Goghs, the
Rembrandts. Get on with the real bids!”

But still the auctioneer continued. “The son! The son! Who’ll take the son?”

Finally, a voice came from the very back of the room. It was the longtime gardener of the man and his son. “I’ll
give $10 for the painting.” Being a poor man, it was all he could afford.

“We have $10, who will bid $20?”

“Give it to him for $10. Let’s see the masters!”

“Ten dollars is the bid. Won’t someone bid $20?”

The crowd was becoming angry. They didn’t want the picture of the son.
They wanted the more worthy investments for their collections.

The auctioneer pounded the gavel. “Going once, twice, sold for $10!”

A man sitting in the second row shouted, “Now, let’s get on with the collection!”

The auctioneer laid down his gavel. “I’m sorry, the auction is over.”

“What about the paintings?”

“I am sorry. When I was called to conduct this auction, I was told of a secret stipulation in the will. I was not
allowed to reveal that stipulation until this time. Only the painting of the son would be auctioned. Whoever
bought that painting would inherit the entire estate, including the paintings. The man who took the son gets
everything!”

God gave His son 2,000 years ago to die on the cross. Much like the auctioneer, His message today is, “The
son, the son, who’ll take the son?”

Because, you see, whoever takes the Son, gets everything.

Author Unknown

Originally Featured in The Javien Chronicles #24

Last May I completed my 5th and maybe my last marathon. During my training I would run anywhere from 10 to 20+ miles a week. After I completed the marathon I took some time to let my body heal. One week turned into two and then two weeks turned into four months.

A few weeks ago my friend Eric asked me if I was still running. I replied to him that I hadn’t done much running in the last four months due to a lack of motivation. He pointed out that maybe the lack of motivation was due to the fact that I didn’t have a race scheduled. 

His comment made me say, “Aha!” His comment was so obvious but at the same time the most obvious things are often overlooked.

That brings me to ask you a few questions. What is your life’s purpose? What are your goals when it comes to physical fitness, finances, and relationships? Once you complete your existing goals what’s next?

I believe you need to write down your goals and be prepared for your next challenge. If you don’t set long term goals you may find yourself in a valley of the unknown. After the excitement of race has faded away you may be left wondering what to do next.

By setting short term and long term goals you can find out if you are doing what your supposed to be doing. By setting goals you can give yourself mini high fives when you win. Life is more enjoyable when you have something to strive for.

My purpose in life continues to be to seek and save the lost (passing on the Gospel of Jesus Christ). My goal in terms of relationships is to strive to be a godly husband, father and friend. My physical fitness goal is to complete the fitness program P90X and my financial goal is to gather 20 bookkeeping clients.

I find the best way to keep focused on my goals is to share them with friends and family that will hold me accountable. So I’m sharing my goals with you. If you feel comfortable I would like to find out what your goals are so I could hold you accountable.

Originally Featured in The Javien Chronicles #25

Today I’d like to share with you an aspect of my life that is a work in progress. That aspect is my ability to listen. I know that it is a work in progress because I am reminded of the fact.

The Merriam-Webster’s definition of the word listen is to pay attention to sound or to hear something with thoughtful attention.

That’s my flaw, I neglect to give thoughtful attention. My process of listening is to hear what my wife has to say and quickly respond with a solution.

I can now see that I wasn’t really paying attention. You see how can you possibly pay attention if you are already thinking of a solution.  In my goal to be Mr. Fix a-lot, I forget to just listen.

I think that is why God gave us two ears and one mouth. He wanted us to listen more and talk less.

I’d like to leave you with this quote. “The world belongs to the man who is wise enough to change his mind in the presence of facts.” God’s Little Instruction Book for Men