John Harrell's Blog, page 23

Your Voice

Our voices are more than our ability to speak words. Our voices are shown through our actions, too.

It’s obvious that God cares for all of us. He especially wants us to take care of widows, the poor and the fatherless. By showing we care about others, we are using our voice. Sometimes the loudest voices are those that speak no words.

Use your voice for good. Lift others. Bring them into the light. Show kindness to those the world shuns. Everyone needs hope.

Speak the truth, always. Use words when necessary…

Transformation

I have read a meme that says, “You’re only one decision away from a different life.” I understand. Many people live their lives in frustration and disappointment. Life didn’t turn out the way they planned.

God didn’t create us and then forget about us. He’s present, always, and desperately wants us to find fulfillment. But we won’t find it in a bigger house, a healthier bank account or a hotter spouse. Those are nice, but they are rabbit holes that keep us chasing.

I have seen stories of drug addicts, alcoholics, even porn actresses who have completely transformed their lives into something meaningful. Embracing a relationship with God was the universal game changer. Putting God first will give you what you are searching for, but it takes time. First, He has to change us. By change, I don’t mean you will turn into some religious weirdo. No, God develops our character.

Do you want a different life? Make the one decision to place God’s plans for your life above your own. It isn’t easy because the world is always calling us. But it can be done.

Then you will be unstoppable…

Home

What does home mean to you? In my mind, home should be somewhere you can be yourself. Your home should be a place of comfort, not stressful.

When I was a child, my home was full of stress and, sometimes violence. I grew up in a constant state of “fight or flight,” always fearful of both my parents. I could be severely punished for having an accident such as spilling water. Fortunately I got out alive, even though my dad put me in the hospital twice by the time I was two years old.

We can create the home life we want. It can be peaceful and comfortable. It took a lot of work for me to get there, but I did. In my speaking engagements I have found that a lot of people grew up like me. My story gives them hope. Never waste your pain.

Our real home lies in eternity. That will be our final destination. And it will be perfect. In fact, Heaven is so perfect that we can’t imagine what it will be like.

No matter what you have gone through or what you are dealing with now, this is only preparation for something better.

Stay hopeful…

It’s Valentines Day

In the United States today is Valentines Day, the day of love. Or is it?

This day provides the florists, the chocolatiers and Hallmark cash flow to get them through until Mothers Day. Not a bad thing, but people build this day up to be something that can set the stage for disappointment.

If your significant other truly cares about you, he or she will show you all year long. You will know you are loved. Your relationship will be close and intimate, not one that is taken for granted.

The greatest demonstration of love is one we cannot fully understand. God allowed His son to be tortured and beaten beyond recognition so we, lowly humans, could be reconciled to God. There is no love like Divine love, and God loves us all the time, not just on February 14th.

Show people you care through your actions. This includes every other day besides Valentines Day…

Phonies

You have probably heard of imposter syndrome. People believe themselves to be a fake because they are acting like things are better than they really are. That’s not being fake. It’s simply not airing everything in your public life.

Phonies are like chameleons. They shift their energy from crowd to crowd. You are never sure who you’re going to get. Being a phony is pathological when it is manipulative. Other people are just insecure, so they put on a front.

Get comfortable with who you are. Accept yourself and work on personal growth. You are here for a purpose, and there’s nothing phony about that!

Better Together

As you know, I love music. During my life I have gone to hundreds of concerts. I can’t think of a single performance that was a disappointment.

One thing I love about live music is its ability to take us out of the world for a couple of hours. For a short time, everything is right. We are sharing the experience with several thousand people. Among the crowd are Republicans, Democrats, vegetarians, meat eaters, gun owners and gun grabbers. We don’t even think about who’s sitting (or standing) next to us.

Music is one of the things that connects us. And it’s a great reminder that we are all in this life together. We are more alike than we are different. Everyone has goals, dreams, desires, pains and struggles. We can help each other if we are willing to put our politics aside and see people for who they are, not their political party.

Please keep this in mind when you are engaged in your daily life. People are important, and the goodness of mankind transcends politics…

Saying Goodbye

When someone dies, I don’t think of it as a goodbye. It’s simply “see you later.” Hopefully, much later!

We hang up the phone and never think it might be the last time we ever speak to that person. Our thoughts move on to whatever is next. Recently we had three plane crashes. The family and friends of the dead never thought they wouldn’t see them again. We take life for granted.

It’s best to resolve conflicts with your circle of people. Keep things out in the open so there’s no bad blood between you. In this manner, should their life (or ours) be ended, there is nothing left to work through. We can miss them without any guilt.

People have severed relationships due to politics. In my opinion, this is shallow. People are important and we are way more than just our political beliefs. Would any of us refuse to help someone in need because they have a bumper sticker of the other side? Some have said goodbye and shut the door forever.

Please remember, if you are in conflict with someone else, I encourage you to resolve it. Have the difficult conversations, unless you believe it might cause more harm than good.

Above all, pray for each other…

The Critics

Critics are everywhere. You know who I’m talking about. Critics are the people who have a problem for every solution. They can identify every wrong thing in the world, but they contribute very little to nothing in making things better.

Many people fear criticism, so they stay in the shadows rather than speaking up. Or perhaps they don’t want to waste their time and energy trying to engage with the self-righteous. Self-righteous people have an insane desire to be right, and they will go out of their way to prove others wrong about everything. Those people are energy drainers.

Constructive criticism is essential for improving ourselves. Most anyone is open to learning which facilitates growth, both personal and professional. It is possible to deliver a constructive message without destroying a relationship. Yet, the divorce courts are full and the Human Resources Departments are ever-expanding.

It’s important to not be too critical of yourself. We can hold ourselves accountable while being kind to ourselves. It’s possible…

Dare To Be Different

I need to tell you something. You might want to sit down if you aren’t already.

You are different. There is no one like you now, and there never has been. There will never be another you. Since the beginning of time as we measure it, over 100 billion people have lived. That’s a staggering number. Yet, not another you.

I encourage you to acknowledge and embrace your uniqueness. God created us for a purpose. There was nothing random in creating you. Your life story might not be idyllic, but you can choose to be whatever you want to be. You are only limited by the barriers you create in your mind.

Trying to “fit in” will only leave you frustrated and unfulfilled. Dare to show yourself to the world. Be who you are, not who others want you to be. It’s your life, not theirs. Do not concern yourself with the critics. They are everywhere, but they are just projecting. Their opinions don’t matter.

Pursue your purpose. It’s time to live and thrive in authenticity…

And The Beat Goes On…

Every time I tap into social media, it makes me think we are on the verge of destruction because of politics. We aren’t, and I’m being facetious. I don’t pay attention to the noise.

People have been fighting over their political beliefs since before the Constitution was written. And the people will be still be fighting long after I’m gone. For some, it seems to give them a sense of purpose. They dig their heels in and express their righteous indignation with a passion they weren’t aware they had.

Human decency should triumph over politics. People are what matters, regardless of their politics.

So, my encouragement to you is to take a break from political noise. Enjoy your life today and every day. Get outside. Take a friend you haven’t seen for a while out to lunch. Read for pleasure.

The noise will always be there if you want to return to it. I hope you don’t miss it…