6/4/2025
Everyone has an opinion about many things. Maybe they share those opinions often and maybe they don’t. People also have values. Where shared verbally or not, those opinions and values can be seen in what they do and how they do it.
People have routines. Habits that they’ve developed over time. Maybe they work for them and maybe they don’t.
I’ve noticed that people who seem to do well in general pay attention to those things. There’s a couple of important areas that I want to do well in, family and work. Leaving the outcomes in those areas to chance doesn’t seem like a good idea.
I’ve been rereading a book by John R. Erickson called Story Craft. Reflections on faith, culture & writing from the author of Hank the Cowdog. I am a big fan. There is a lot about vocation in the book and a section on how Erickson stewards his gift. That gift might be Hank, or it might be the author’s creativity. I think it’s probably both. He lists things he makes sure to do regularly like eat healthy, do physical labor on his ranch, get adequate rest, and maintaining harmonious relationships with his wife and family. Then he lists some specifics. He also lists things he avoids, like fast food, meetings, cocktail parties, television, movie theaters, advertising, music that is loud, dissonant, or depressing.
And he limits his intake of “information.” He says that much of what passes as information is actually just noise. I agree. A quote from the book, “Screening out the noise of popular culture is an important part of my preparation as an author.” I’m no author. My vocation is that of a Christian missionary. But I resonate with what Erickson is saying. I don’t need to be clever. I need to care about others. I don’t need to know much of what is happening everywhere in the world at any given moment. Or ever. What I do think I need to be able to know is what is going on in the hearts of those I’m talking to. I need to be present.
So let me take a first new stab at some personal do’s and don’t’s:
Do’s:
- Live a simple life. Life can get complicated if we let it. I want to run hard and explore and try new things often. But I don’t want drama or confusion. I heard a definition of integrity once that has stuck with me. Basically, it’s not having to remember what you said in order to keep your story straight. You just tell the truth all the time, every time.
- Work hard.
- Wear a cowboy hat. Actually, that’s probably not actually on my list. It’s just that it completes a good song… “Live a simple life, work hard, and wear a cowboy hat.”
- Be active in our local church.
- Eat clean as much as possible. Or reasonable.
- Think of Heather the way I did when I first met her. Hint: Perfect. Better than my dreams.
- Spend as much time with my kids as I can. Meaningful time. Be their biggest champion. Note: that’s actually pretty easy to do.
- Get up early. And get started.
- Be physically active.
- Stay in touch with extended family.
- Read and study the Bible. Alone and with others. Regularly.
Don’t’s:
- Play the comparison game. This is one of the reasons that I don’t do social media. Sure, I miss out on some stuff. But that’s ok. If I’m on track and living hard, I won’t need to live through others at all.
- Consume toxic content. Anywhere, in any form.
- Be easily marketed to.
- Spend time doing things others could do, especially in my work. Conversely, I do want to make sure that I am working on projects that are impactful and excite me.
- Think about what others might think of me. That’s really none of my business.
- Overthink, or think at all about decisions I’ve already made.
- Say yes just because I can’t think of a good reason to say no.