See a Need and Jump In

Being a lifeguard has never appealed to me. The thought of sitting for hours and monitoring a pool of water waiting for something to go wrong seemed to me a great source of both boredom and anxiety at the same time; the fact I am a poor swimmer may have a small part in it as well. Don’t get me wrong, I admire lifeguards. I grew up catching the last wave of the original Baywatch series and watching The Sandlot (I REALLY hope you get that reference). All kidding aside the very fact that they do monitor a situation hour after hour, day after day and stay ready to spring into action when they are needed is very admirable and noble. Think about it, you are at a pool on a hot day crowded with people and all of a sudden someone yells “help!” just as you notice a struggling swimmer stranded in the deep end. What would you do? As you ponder your decision you hear a distinct splash pierce the clamor to notice the lifeguard jumping in and quickly closing the distance to the victim and then slowly, but surely guide them to safer waters. A key difference is that when they see a need they do not hesitate, their instinct triggers and they have the courage to jump in. 

As an OSU undergrad studying veterinary science Chelsie Vukovich was talked into being a lifeguard at a summer camp for kids in the foster care system by her grandparents 11 years ago. The Royal Family Kids Camp (RFKC) as it is known is the Nation’s leading network of Camps, Clubs and Mentoring for children of abuse, abandonment and neglect. With 209 camps in 40 states and 4 international countries RFKC has served over one hundred thousand kids since its’ inception in 1985. Little did Chelsie know how much this favor for her grandparents would end up impacting her life trajectory as she describes her feeling after that first camp: “I just remember falling in love with the kids and when I returned to OSU I knew I had to switch my major so I began studying social work and volunteering at RFKC every summer since then; I absolutely love it”. This passion continued growing and since then Chelsie has earned her Masters in Social Work from USC, has been a Royal Family Kids Camp Director for 5 years and is the Behavior Specialist at Sherwood school district where she meets the mental health needs for students there. On top of this Chelsie volunteers with Cares Northwest at the Randall Children’s Hospital emergency department where she partners with DHS and police departments to serve child trauma victims in the greater Portland area stretching from Vancouver all the way to the coast.  This is where you pause reading and give Chelsie a big air high five for being awesome…I will give you a few seconds to do that, so go ahead.

Her work is anything, but easy and can be exhausting. Chelsie reflects “I have to admit some days when I get home I am just tired and have to find the energy somewhere because I might have a double shift that night…remembering to pray helps as well as knowing what I do has an impact, I know because I have seen it…it may not happen instantly, you know you have to plant the seed and seeds grow at different speeds, but the important thing is that the seed is planted…when you see your work pay off it is a thrill that helps me keep going”. Asked why some people may not find that extra kick in the butt to reach out in help, or try something new Chelsie’s answer echoes a common response I have heard before of fear and being comfortable. “It can be scary to try something new and if you are comfortable it is easy to stay where you are at, but how are you supposed to grow? The thing is you can’t. To grow you need to take that next step even if it seems uncomfortable…the part that can be scary is when you run into conflict with others and you have to stand firm in what you believe”.

The nature of Chelsie’s work exposes her to being involved in many traumatic experiences where she needs to stand firm and embrace the uncomfortable in order to grow. One recent example is the revelation of an Oregon law that “to convict a suspected child abuser of felony assault or criminal mistreatment, prosecutors must prove that the victim suffered a ‘physical injury’ under Oregon law. And that, in turn, means proving that the person experienced ‘substantial pain.’” (excerpt from Oregon Live article). We live in the 21^st century and yet have a law on the books that allows someone who beats a child to face no criminal charges simply because the child does not, or cannot say that they felt “substantial pain”. When a lifeguard sees someone drowning they do not wait for the swimmer to say “I’m drowning!”. What do they do? They see they are drowning and jump in and save them! Waiting in this scenario could very well mean the difference in losing, or saving a life. Now will each child that is beaten with their abuser not facing justice necessarily lose their life? Not likely if you limit the definition of “living” to just having a heartbeat. However, as I hope most of us know, an abused child can grow up to suffer immensely below the surface physiologically, emotionally and spiritually when the figure charged to protect and nurture them does the opposite.

You may not realize it Chelsie, but you never stopped being a lifeguard.

To all those reading, if you see a need around you that you have an ability, or skill to help with then what are you waiting for? Jump in and don’t be afraid to act because the sad reality is the majority will stand around and do nothing.

Fun Questions

What do you want to be when you grow up and why?

• “I enjoy what I do although it is very tiring at times so I hope I can grow up and can continue to have the energy to do what I am doing now; that would be great. Thinking about it more it would be great to be married to a prince since I feel like if you are married to a prince you get to travel the world and serve the needy, that sounds fun” J

Summer is not officially here according to the calendar, but let’s get real, summer is here. What are you most looking forward to this summer?

• “Well of course I am looking forward to the Royal Family Kids Camp in August I am running. On top of that though I am going on my first big trip abroad during June. I will be visiting Malaysia and Thailand while spending time with my cousin and dad, which will be great since it will be Father’s Day while I am there. It will be a great way to celebrate the end of a school year.”

It is also the season of graduations and thus commencement speeches as well. If you were giving a commencement speech what would you say?

• “I would say just keep an open mind. We have an agenda of what is going to happen in college for the next 5-10 years and it rarely stays the way we planned. If my original agenda in college held through I wouldn’t be where I am now. Have a good general direction, set goals and allow time and experiences to shape who you are and where you end up. Do not act like in 5-10 years you will arrive at a destination and you will be ‘done’;  there is always a next phase. Don’t get too comfortable in life and continue challenging yourself; if you stop challenging yourself you will stop growing”.

Life is Heavy, Have a Spotter

I began first seriously lifting weights in high school in conjunction with football practices in the summer of 2001. It was fun to progressively increase the amount I could lift and see the results of my efforts on the field. The most popular lift was by far the bench press. In my experience it was not too far of a stretch to say how much one could bench press was a clear signal of how strong and indirectly how “manly” one was considered by his peers. This was measured by “maxing out”, which meant lifting as much as one could for one rep. I remember the day I wanted to max out and I asked by buddy Briston over to spot me. I recall the moment when I was pushing the weight up and it was a 50/50 chance if I could get it up all the way to the top rack, or if the weight would crash down on my chest. The fact I had a capable spotter ready to step in if needed as well as motivate me to finish gave me the confidence to finish the lift successfully. Fast forward a few years later to college where I was bench pressing at Dixon Rec Center at Oregon State University. Not only was I stronger now, but I worked there and was more familiar with weight lifting; the biggest difference was I did not have a spotter. As I foolishly attempted one more rep versus racking the weight and resting for a bit, all of a sudden the weight froze just 2 inches from the top rack. Despite all my effort I couldn’t get it to the top rack and the panic set in as I fought the weight that slowly, but steadily lowered closer to my chest. I was just able to place it on the “emergency” racks and had to embarrassingly wiggle underneath the bar as I sent up a quick “thank you” prayer I didn’t get pinned underneath. I was stronger, more knowledgeable, I had lifted thousands of times before and knew my limits so how and the heck did I let this happen? My realization now is that the pressures of life are heavy (often heavier than we think and with no emergency racksJ) and if we try to withstand them all on our own we will sooner or later be crushed; unless we have a spotter.

In my experience one of the seasons of life where life is heaviest and we need the most help is ironically during our traditional college years. No not just with maxing out at the university rec center, or gym, but with the exploration of new relationships, new communities and countless opportunities while for many feeling the first true taste of freedom and independence. A man who understands this and is skilled in “spotting” when someone in this demographic needs support is my brother in Christ Dan Fitzpatrick. A fellow Oregon State alumni Dan has been involved extensively in the “Fragua” program offered to college students primarily at Oregon State and Portland State Universities. Dan describes Fragua as “somewhere for college students to retreat from their lives for at least a little while from the stress from home, from classes and anywhere else they may be feeling it…it allows a place to feel an interior silence”; a rarity in the world of Facebook status updates, YouTube clips and mountains of procrastinated homework. Designed to meet people where they are at through a simple approach of dinners, talks and short retreats Fragua is a Catholic program that encourages college students to live a Christ centered life in college and beyond. Whether it be organizing the programming, music ministry, recruiting, giving testimony, or filling in recently at the last minute to help lead a retreat Dan is very familiar with what the program has to offer because he himself attended it when he was an undergraduate at OSU. When asked what motivates him to do it all he said “I remember the impact it had on me; I grew up Catholic, but this was different, these people were normal <laughs>…not trying too hard to be someone they weren’t, they just lived a Christ centered life in a normal way and that attracted me and since then I just wanted to pass that on…plus the food at the events is pretty good, you definitely need to try the chicken parm”J.

Anyone who has met Dan quickly realizes his talent for maintaining a positive presence, cracking a joke and ability to work the crowd with a sincere care and interest in each individual he is talking with. The fact he has found an avenue to care for other people in a way that leverages his strengths is a beautiful thing. He reflected on this when I asked him what makes him raise his standards. “Over time I just became more and more certain we are not enough for ourselves, we need something more to fulfill us and as a Christian I feel that is ultimately God although it also means we can reflect God in the life of others because they need it…for example this last retreat I really was able to interact more with the participants and it was crazy, I REALLY felt like I cared for them when I

heard their stories and my heart grew like the Grinch at the end of the How the Grinch Stole Christmas, which may sound silly because I always have cared, but this was a deeper love… it made me feel for a moment how a father must feel for a son, or daughter when they are sad and hurt and it reminded me how much God must feel for us when we are in those times of loneness and brokenness…Fragua gives me an avenue to help  people in college when the pressures are too much and need a community to support them during these times”. Dan went on to share with me many stories including an agnostic student who stated the Fragua events were the “highlight of his week” along with a student with a seemingly “perfect” life letting her guard down and show the real pain and heartache that can often be masked by what looks like success externally. In raising his standards he has in turn helped this community raise their own and if that is not awesome then go check your dictionary on the definition of awesome and get back to me.

Dan and I discussed more on why people including him and I may not raise our standards. He felt it is fear and loneliness primarily that keeps us from raising our standards. It is scary to reach out for something you know is good and may take more effort when peers around you are content with the status quo, which can lead to a feeling of isolation if you decide to reach out. Self-doubt can sink in the psyche of all of us as we question if we are as good as we think we are so we tend to feel more comfortable shrinking  than growing, or at the very least keeping pace with the masses. As Dan describes, “we become a product of our external circumstances and if we do not have a strong positive internal pressure pushing back then we are bound to be the product of whatever happens at us from the outside…we just buckle”.

What about you? Are you in life right now feeling like you are maxed out? Who is your spotter? Better yet who in your life do you know is struggling and may need an assist to avoid life crashing down on them? Wherever you may be I encourage you to reflect on how you can raise your standards and whatever you feel called to do remember to not be afraid, or fall victim to loneness. Do it one rep at a time and know you have Jesus as your personal trainer spotting you to push forward and nothing is too heavy for Him.

 

Miles

 

 Fun Questions

• The saying goes April showers bring May flowers…what is your favorite flower and why?
  • “Rhodonederen because all the places I have called home have them including good ol’ OSU.”
• What do you want to be when you grow up?
  • “I always wanted to be a rock star growing, but now I would like to be like this couple I know in their 60’s who love having fun and throwing parties. I would love to be the center of social life when I am in my twilight years devoted to a loving wife and with friends and giving life away…I think that would be better than being a rock star…at least 9 out of 10 times it would be.” J
• What upcoming events/initiatives would you like to share?
  • “In general I just want to share we all have something specifically to share and that we should try and do at least one thing in our life for other people because the natural tendency is to only focus on ourselves. More specifically I would want to invite all those interested to join me at 10:30am mass at St Patricks, to see a beautiful church, good coffee and donuts, a community that is growing… a community trying to raise their standards and is made up of Catholics who are normal people.”
     

Living Space

The Oregon State University campus is one of the most beautiful places on earth; in fact I know a few Ducks who may even agree with me. It goes beyond the historic Memorial Union peering over the crisply cut grass of the MU Quad, or the waving shades of orange and yellow leaves that turn the trees lining sidewalks into works of art. It is the life lived at these physical places where I spent four transformative years of my life that catapult it to my list of most beautiful places. Now don’t get me wrong, I have been to several beautiful campuses in my life for various reasons, but it is at Oregon State where I lived, which elevates it above the rest. The Memorial Union is more than a building, it is where I “jumped” into Greek Life quite literally, where I took countless naps in broad daylight and where I played capture the flag at midnight accidentally spooking a few passing students on their way to the library (as the kids say these days “my bad”). The changing colors in leaves may just be “pretty” to a visitor, but for me those falling leaves were calming while I walked to a looming accounting mid-term and to this day bring back memories of raking leaves at the Chapter House and flag football at Chintimini Park. At their bare bones, these were merely buildings and places, just objects to host me temporarily. However, it is the life I lived in them that turned them into home and transformed the surrounding area into a community I still feel connected to today.

A man who believes a place a person lives should REALLY be a where a person lives and builds community is Kenji Lopez. I first met Kenji over 3 months ago as I looked for a place to stay during my work rotation in Monterrey, Mexico. Over my time in Mexico I grew to know him as Kenji the explorer, Kenji the engineer, Kenji the businessman, Kenji the tour guide and as Kenji mi compadre (as well as the guy you can trust for authentic Mexican taco and tequila recommendations). Kenji runs Urvita, a property development firm comprised of young professionals focused on providing beautifully smart designed residences at affordable prices throughout Monterrey (the photos in this post are buildings he has designed...check out more here http://www.greenfieldmx.com/).  When asked what motivates him to raise his standards Kenji explains “one day I realized I wanted to shift my energy to serving the most instead of individuals” in reference to previously having a higher end of clientele. To understand the weight of his decision the reader needs to understand Kenji’s background. After graduating at the top of his class at one of the most prestigious engineering universities in Mexico, Tec de Monterrey, Kenji had jobs as an assistant project manager for a steel high rise buildings and was the lead auditor for the state government where he earned accolades for taking a process that took 2-3 days and streamlined it to a 13 minute process; all during his early 20s.

It is easy to forget he is a LEED certified engineer and his laundry list of design awards when hanging out with him. One specific time I was in his office and picked up an architecture magazine and noted how amazing the home looked on the cover and turned to him and asked if he knew the designer, his answer “I designed it, it was fun” as he closed his laptop and switched the conversation to local craft brewery in Monterrey and a new Dunkel beer he wanted me to try. The thing is he is often more excited to get you to go climb a mountain with him, invite you to go watch a game, or show you where to get the best cocktail in Monterrey (Maverick is the answer to that question btw). This “work to live, not live to work” mentality are not just words to Kenji; he lives by them. After facing burnout in his 20’s and nearly falling asleep multiple times while commuting between full time work and full time school and going to the hospital as a result of stress, he realizes what is most important in life. After saying no to lucrative offers from big name firms he used his innovative spirit, intellect and eagerness to share life with those who he felt had a right to live in an environment conducive to living, not just surviving. In doing so he has not only raised his own standards, but is striving to raise his country’s standards as well.

“I remember early on as an auditor I was one of the only engineers who would go out in the field. Yes, it was hot and dirty and my peers found it much easier to stay in the air conditioned office, but I couldn’t understand how you can audit a building if you are not in the field. I was shocked at what I saw. The ‘homes’ all looked cookie cutter and had very bad quality; concrete beams had multiple holes in them and to cover them up some builders had tried to fill them with small rocks. It was also common to be auditing a site and see the workers doing nothing, or even having sex in these buildings because the lack of oversight. I knew for those buying these homes it would likely be their first home, that is special, and I did not want them to buy shit; Mexico deserves better and can do better”. From there he has launched a career as an entrepreneur developing a number of amazing award winning properties for his focus on not only creating beautiful buildings, but beautiful living spaces for the common person.

This month remember a home is more than walls and a roof, more than an address and a driveway; it is a living space where people connect, build community, find peace and live. Thanks for the reminder Kenji.

Then my people will live in a peaceful habitation, and in secure dwellings and in undisturbed resting places (Isaiah 32:18).

Fun Questions

• What do you want to be when you grow up?
  • “When I grow up I want to be helpful and ignorant so I can still work and learn with family and friends. :D”
• What was the best April Fool’s joke you have done to someone?
  • “I have been a bit of prankster for most my life. This was not on April 1^st, but I once played a trick on my younger brother. I took him to school each morning early at 6AM. One early morning at about 2AM I turned all the clocks forward, closed the blinds and woke him up frantically and said we were late. In his mind he thought it was 7AM and so he got ready in a rush thinking he was late. When he finally realized what time it was he was furious, which didn’t help the fact that he couldn’t get back to sleep…he didn’t think it was very funny, but I sure did!”


• What is going through your mind when designing, or constructing a building?
  • “I remember someone is going to live there. I want to build cities worth caring about where I think of people in the community as citizens and not just consumers…I enjoy making the most of the natural habitat and keeping the neighborhood/community as the centerpiece of a project…with this mindset I believe the people who live there will take more responsibility for the area they live.”
    
  
  

 

 

 

 

Raise Your Standards - Luck is Overrated

When I was a small boy I remember the excitement of approaching a wishing-well as I noticed the vague glimmer of coins representing past travelers hopes, dreams and wishes. Whatever I murmured as “my wish” it really came down to a naïve belief in luck; a belief there was some magical force that would grant me what I wanted as long as I threw a few coins in and wished “really hard”.

If my Excel skills were a bit better as an 8 year old I would have liked to tracked how many of these wishes came true; although I was a nerdy kid I wasn’t quite that nerdy…yet. The ironic thing is the most effort in pursuing something at that time in my life was in the wishing; afterwards it was back to life as usual somehow expecting what I wanted to just happen based on a hope in “good luck”. Good thing adults are so much different right? For those unfamiliar with sarcasm the answer to this is an obvious NO!  As adults we still throw money away --  quite literally in search of our hopes, dreams and wishes. Much like children, rarely do we change our choices and habits to achieve them. When you notice the glimmer of luck in the next proverbial wishing-well of your life, adjust your eyes and instead focus on your own reflection for that is often the beginning of where you will find what you are searching for.

One person who has done so much in serving youth across the world in reaching for their dreams without relying solely on this “wishing mentality” is the Executive Director of Ncompass Katie Matheny; powerhouse “doer”, master strategist, new mom and a second cousin of yours truly. Ncompass is truly an amazing organization that has evolved from serving sandwiches in downtown Portland, to serving, empowering and developing orphans in Haiti as well as being the parent organization of Kidstarter (see my February post for more about Kidstarter). Katie leads Ncompass with a corps of volunteers, while working full time at Life Christian School as their Registrar and has now added “mom” to her list of  responsibilities. But what is it that motivates Katie to do what she does? “Ever since I have been out of college I have wanted to impact kids; in fact it is my personal experience in seeing what education has done in my life and the mentorship I received early on from my high school Student Council advisor, Mrs. Storey, that proves to me education has a powerful impact on kids” Katie says clearly as she reflects on what drives her. And drive it is! Out of all the people I know I think “drive” is one of the best words to describes Katie as I have seen her spearhead several projects and programs in developing Ncompass into the professional organization it is today. I can say her drive in particular to serve the youth in Haiti is just as authentic as it is intrinsic. “My first mission trip was to Haiti and it was an impactful experience for my husband Randy and I; it was one of the first times I felt really pushed out of my comfort zone. It reminded me that regardless if people are materially poor, we are all spiritually poor in comparison to what God has given us.  In that call to poverty we all have a connection to one another since we are all made in the image of God…even those who are different than us, or may occasionally creep us out…if I have raised my standards it is in the way I treat all people as people of God, even those where it may be hard to realize it at times”.

When asked what keeps people from raising their standards Katie boiled it down to two points: fear of failure and lack of knowledge on how to. Some people simply get comfortable and although they may wish to be better they are afraid to make the choices in order to move to a  higher standard. In the situations where it is not fear, it can often be lack of knowledge. “I ask some of the Haitian kids what they want to be when they grow up and they say ‘a doctor’ and I ask them how are they going to do that and they simply shrug their shoulders and say ‘I don’t know’…there is such a large gap from where they are and their dreams they do not know their next step…we want to help fill that transition gap”.

To fill this gap created by fear and ignorance, Ncompass is emphasizing and investing in their Transitions Program during 2016. Katie’s belief in raising her standards embodies the spirit of Ncompass in tackling this new challenge, “each year Ncompass has set lofty goals and we have achieved them; as an organization we continually want to raise our standards, which means not only meeting the basic needs of kids to stay alive, but on showing them how to thrive as well.” The Transitions Program does just that by providing mentorship and guidance that is  so needed by kids who live in a country marred by an unfortunate history of chronic corruption and poverty.  For these kids,  finding out what their “next steps” are can be quite difficult. “We do not want the kids we care for to simply survive, we want them to thrive! We feel this is a way we can contribute to breaking the chain of poverty here in Haiti and who knows where in the future”.

To learn more about the Transitions Program at Ncompass and/or get involved click here to find out more!

http://www.worldncompass.org/#!transitions-program/kq7bu

In your life what chains need broken for you to move from surviving to thriving? Are you simply wishing the chains go away, or are you instead hoping and doing something about it? For answers remember to adjust your eyes to see your reflection and who you are ultimately intended to reflect in the end.

“Christ beside me, Christ before me, Christ behind me, Christ within me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me.”

- St. Patrick

• Fun Questions
• What do you want to be when you grow up?
• I wanted to be an archaeologist. I thought it would be so cool to discover pyramids and dig treasures out of the dirt.
• What do people in Haiti do for St Patrick’s Day?
• “I am not sure, I will have to get back to you on that” ☺
• With St. Patrick’s day around the corner I am curious, do you believe in luck?
• “I will have to say no. For everything that happens there is a reason; God can strategically use whatever we choose for his purpose. Everything that happens is a result of someone’s choices, or accumulation of choices”.

Raise Your Standards - Seasons of Growth

Have you ever tried to grow something? When I moved to Portland in 2011 my life was a bit turned upside down with a new job, a new city, new relationships, new digs and for the first time my very own lawn – of dirt. In a very figurative and literal way I was ready to get growing! Raised in a rural area I had an odd enjoyment in doing yard work and mowing lawns, which turned out to be a good way to earn a few bucks as a young kid, work on my farmers tan and see how things grow. With my new patch of dirt I spent countless weekends bouncing back and forth to Home Depot, tilling the ground, leveling the ground, checking the weather, purchasing fertilizer and getting my hands dirty. The weeks after completing the planting process went from moments of anxiety as I wondered if anything would actually grow (did I water it too much? did I remove all the rocks?) to a period of giddy (yeah I said giddy) excitement as small sprouts of green broke through the dirt. I have since moved from that place, but to this day when I drive by I look at the grass and remember the growth I experienced during that patch of my life.

In this second installment of “Raise Your Standards” I interview someone who knows firsthand the power of growth in the different fields of life: Joey Jenkins. After earning his M.B.A. while managing recreational programs at Oregon State University and co-founding a thriving non-profit serving orphans in Haiti, Joey went on to be a certified personal trainer and begin a career as a professional success coach. In one of his latest projects Joey co-founded Kidstarter, a crowd sourced platform connecting entrepreneurial youth with mentors to engage kids in addressing social issues while developing life skills to be leaders in future society. With a track record of focusing on the development and growth of others, what motivates him to focus his energies in this direction? When asked, Joey quickly remembers the powerful influence he had from a 5^th grade teacher and college mentor. “My 5^th grade teacher really spoke into me and made me believe I could be a leader and planted the seed. In college when I was challenged I remembered that belief and was blessed to have a mentor in Troy Snow to further develop me and help me continue my growth. It was like one mentor planted the leadership seed and the other watered it”. Over time Joey began being placed in multiple leadership roles and had the opportunity to develop the seed of leadership in others. In fact I have personally benefitted from this as I feel in a lot of ways what Troy was to Joey during his early to mid 20’s is what Joey was to me. So next time a good friend is “giving you shit”, ponder for a second that it may just be fertilizer for you to become a better person J.

All kidding aside, Kidstarter is an exciting organization when one considers the environment kids grow up in nowadays. Regardless of your political, or religious affiliation I feel the vast majority of us can agree kids are growing up in a screen saturated, “sex still sells” and selfie filled society that prefers short term over long term fulfillment. Joey describes Kidstarter as a wedge to fill the leadership gap in kids’ lives and provide an alternative type of input at this formidable stage of their lives, “kids have a great willingness, desire and network to give back…being able to engage them at a young age with people who believe in them can really optimize this potential”. Good seed needs good soil and good people to care for it; Kidstarter is a great way to give the youth in your community a strong start as they prepare for future seasons of growth in their life.

Speaking of seasons, the growth of a person spans decades and a variety of contexts; not too different when compared to my original example of planting a lawn. The babysitter who makes sure kids eat their vegetables and get enough sleep can be likened to a gardener giving a lawn the right amount of water and fertilizer. A parent setting boundaries by enforcing a curfew can be compared to not letting the first weeds of spring gain a foothold. The ultimate example is that of the Great Gardener (yes, the Big Guy upstairs) who made us from dust, gives us our daily bread through His son Jesus and from time to time needs to prune us for our own good. I have a wheelbarrow of examples, but I think you understand the root of what I am getting at J.

I encourage you to reflect on who has helped you grow in the different seasons of your life and look around you to see how you can nurture those seeds of potential around you as well. In fact, Kidstarter is always looking for new mentors to work with some amazing kids with just this type of potential; take a look at what I mean by watching this short clip: https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=GRXjGRHa0NE

Raise Your Standards,

Miles

 Fun Questions

• How would you say you have raised your standards in your life?
  • “I always want to challenge the status quo, surround myself with people who challenge me, spend time with people who make me feel uncomfortable where I am at. I also feel the higher you raise the bar for yourself the harder it is to keep it there. You can’t always surround yourself with amazing people 100% of the time, but what I have found helps is surrounding myself with good books, video and content. Specifically, I was inspired watching the movie “Selma” and reflecting on the life of MLK. It was a great inspiration and I felt an immediate positive impact in my day.”
• What do you want to be when you grow up and why?
  • “I want to be a great husband and father when I grow up. I think out of everything I do in life those are my two most important roles. The ripple effect of a strong family is worth fighting hard for.”
• Who is your Valentine?
  • “I have two: my wife Stephanie and daughter Lucy; those are my girls. My son Josh is left by himself, but I think his grandma is available so he should be covered.”
    
     
     
     

 

Raise Your Standards

Happy New Year! As promised, 2016 brings with it a pivot in the direction of this blog where we will be exploring the positive thoughts and actions of others in how they raise their standards and in doing so inspire those around them to do the same. While I have been blessed to serve others in a diverse set of contexts, it is with great humility, excitement and admiration that I share with you a snapshot of how the positive thoughts of others are sparking positive action locally and across the globe.

This month I sat down with my good friend and former manager Andrea McFaddin. As a veteran leader at a prominent higher education consulting company she is familiar with a busy schedule managing client expectations and employees in an effort to serve thousands of students across the country to persist, graduate and ultimately succeed in life. Despite her competing priorities Andrea has carved out time to volunteer with the Partnership for a Hunger Free Oregon (PHFO) where she currently serves as a chair for the organization’s volunteer leadership program.   

Describing why people should serve, Andrea mentioned “I feel everyone has something to contribute, whether it is time, money, or some other type of resource. When I see people who may have fewer resources than me (time, money, etc.) who still give, it makes me realize I can stretch and give more of myself. It makes you reflect on the necessities in your life and think how you can give back”. Digging more into the question of why she chooses to serve at PHFO Andrea is open in discussing her personal connection to the cause. Looking back at her childhood she realized her own family suffered from the effects of food insecurity and began noticing how common it is in our communities; this sparked her to act. What impressed me the most about my time interviewing Andrea was the reoccurring theme she brought up of including the hands on element of serving in what she does. Whether it be serving a meal at the Transitions Project in downtown Portland, or being patient and understanding with an elderly man using his SNAP card for the first time at a Safeway, the personal connection is critical in her call to serve. She put it best by saying “you need the hands on piece to remind you of who you are serving…it keeps the reason in sight of why you are doing it in the first place”.

During a time of New Year’s resolutions many of us have created goals and plans for 2016, which may include ways we want to give back, or be more involved in our communities. I encourage you to borrow the wisdom I gained in this interview when looking at your own goals and intentions for 2016. What is your personal connection to a cause? Are you including a hands on aspect to your service experience?

Raise Your Standards, 

Miles

 Fun Questions

• How would you say you have raised your standards in your life?
  • “I have grown by learning how to manage a group of volunteers versus a group of employees. It is very different yet as a leader you still have objectives to meet. It has given me a chance to really show my commitment to a cause for the long term. As you know, in volunteer organizations volunteer participation can waver and deadlines can be “soft”…it is a good experience in keeping high standards personally and doing your best with what you have control over.”
     
•  What do you want to be when you grow up?
  • “I’m not sure. I want to see what opportunities present themselves and take the path based on the opportunity in front of me. This has worked out for me in the past. I believe in taking risks, being open and following what my gut says; let the chips fall where they will.”

• What is your response when you hear “New Year’s Resolution”
  • “I don’t really make resolutions, but I do make intentions. My intention this year is to be present, whether it is with others, or with myself. I do believe in making goals and think they should be in someone’s ability to control. For instance, instead of saying “I want to lose 10 pounds”, it may be more effective to say “I will run 10 miles a week and/or follow a certain diet” and the result will be losing weight. It is important to be mindful of our intentions and check-in on them regularly.”

Curious to know more about the Partnership for a Hunger Free Oregon? Check them out here and keep your calendars open for their annual Gala event on May 12^th, 2016.