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In Welly...

I stayed at the Wellington Airport Motor Lodge last night in Lyall Bay. Something about waking up, seeing and hearing waves, even on a wet and windy day, makes the small basic room worth it.

Will stay here again....

Perspective

Read this morning in the NZ Herald that the 6 largest companies in Australia are each, individually worth more than all the companies listed on the NZX (NZ Stock exchange) which is currently valued at about $54 Billion Dollars.

The largest BHP is worth $281 Billion The largest company worldwide Exxon Mobil 581 Billion.

I am reminded that we are such a small drop in a very large ocean...

Stomping on white grass

Yesterday was a picturesque day.

As I headed to Tauranga for work I had my kids in the car who were destined for a stay at my parents house.

We had some ice on the car before we left home but as we progressed east most fields and roadsides were covered with a brilliant crisp white frost.  The sun had yet to rise sufficiently above the Kaimai ranges to burn off the white ice and return the scene to lush green grass.

I had a reasons not to stop. Work, my mum was waiting, and it was cold.

But I stopped anyway.

Let the kids out of the car to stomp on the thick white frozen grass. The loved it, had ice on their shoes as they returned to the car and were invigorated by the fresh air. (just what my mum needed!)

In my journal this morning I rated the trip to Tauranga A1.

A1  A = Builds Energy;   1 = Very Productive

This week I have dedicated a couple of pages of my journal to tracking my days with the specific purpose of reviewing energy and productivity. In broad stokes I am giving activities ABC ratings for energy and 123 ratings for productivity.

I was thinking about why I would rate letting the kids out as very productive. After all it cost my 10 minutes and when compared to some other meetings I have had this week that I rate 3, unproductive, it is kind weird.

I realised that, for me, productivity is about production.

About producing.

                            But is not about producing something.

It is about producing me!

When I stop to let the kids stomp on white grass I am producing a father who values fun and living and adventure and the impromptu.

I produces a better me,
                                      therefore
                                                      I am productive!

vividly live...

Death is more universal than life;
everyone dies but not everyone lives

- Alan Sachs

Like a wild donkey at mating time.

I was reading about Jeremaih this morning and came across this phrase that Israel was like a wild donkey at mating time.

I briefly thought about it, having no knowledge about donkey mating, and decided that it must mean the donkey bangs one donkey, then goes in search of another.

This would tie up with the general context of the chapter were God says "I remember how eager you were to please me as a young bride long ago, how you loved me and followed me."

Its a grass is greener thing and I thought about this in a few contexts.

Firstly, heaps of people are like wild donkeys in their jobs. They go hard to get a job, promise to conquer huge mountians, but quickly start looking for other donkeys.

Secondly, is marriage and relationships. The donkey element is clearly evident here.

Finally, in pursuit of God. It is easier to chase after other donkeys and forget that they are the very things you orginally turned to God from.

I thought about how much I am like a wild donkey at times. I forget why I chose my current job, why I chose and pursued my wife, and why I sought out God.

I forget easily and pursue donkeys.

Do you?