a positive spin on the economic downturn

It is impossible to get away from talk about the economy - impossible.  It is every where. Daily. Stock market values.  Unemployment rates.  Housing prices. And on. And on. And on it goes.

While I have many friends who have been severely, adversely affected by the economic downturn.  While the last home I owned lost value quickly due to the housing market bust and I had to sell it at a loss simply to get out of the six monthly payments I was making on it from a far away place.  While much of the bad news is based in fact, not fiction...it isn't all bad.

When investing in my retirement account, I can actually buy whole shares of stock rather than just portions of it.  In the 90's when I started investing in retirement accounts, I remember only being able to get fractions because of the high value.

When buying my first home around 2001, I remember being told by mortgage lenders that any interest rate under 10% was excellent.  Now a home buyer would balk at such a rate.  Low interest rates is another perk of a sluggish economy.

The area we now live is expensive.  Five years ago, we would have NEVER been able to afford a piece of property or home here.  Home values have dropped 55% since then.  It sucks for those who are now upside down in their mortgage, but for a newcomer like me, this makes ownership more attainable.

Stocks, interest rates and home values were valued so high - it kept out many from my generation.  For those of us who are now lucky enough to be employed, the downturn has made such luxuries accessible.

I don't share this with any disrespect to those who are suffering.  Just to point out, that an economic downturn isn't all bad.

just Sheri, finding the silver lining

you never know...

Last week I was floored by the wonders of technology...and God's provision for our needs.  I received a friend request from a former colleague from across the globe.  He asked if I remembered him.  Of course I did, he was part of our leadership team for a large multi-national HIV prevention effort.  I saw him many years in a row at our annual meeting and a couple of times in the field on one of my many world tours.

I suppose it is human nature to wonder if what we do makes a difference.  I have felt that the time in my old life was cut short, prematurely. I have thought that it just wasn't long enough to have an impact. I needed more time to go deeper in relationships. More time to genuinely share life together - the highs and lows.

Then, unexpectedly, I receive an answer to a question I never asked out loud - was it worth it? Did it make a difference? Did it even matter at all?

It is rare that we get to know the impact of our efforts in Kingdom work...that is unless some kind soul tells us. This week I received that gift. There are lessons this individual learned from my words, and so many more he learned from observation when I didn't know anyone was watching. He told me that he has shared these lessons with many others since then. I had no idea. None. It left me in tears.

Through the wonders of technology, I received a communication from a far-away land that touched my heart and encouraged my soul...and reminded me of something VERY important.

I'm convinced that we can write and live our own scripts more than most people will acknowledge. I also know the price that must be paid. It's a real struggle to do it...It involves living a life of integrity, starting with making and keeping promises, until the whole human personality, the senses, the thinking, the feeling and the intuition are ultimately integrated and harmonized. Stephen Covey (born 1932 ) U.S. author, speaker, consultant, management-expert

Just so we are clear, I have not attained this goal. It is a constant, daily journey. It is a choice and a struggle against internal and external forces that pull in other directions. I share this publicly because I was reminded of the priceless value of a life lived with integrity. There are so many I have learned from, often through observation. I should tell them what the example of their life has meant to me...

What have you learned by watching others?

just Sheri, a work in progress grateful for encouragement

sardines with tomato sauce

Once upon a time I would get a phone call or email and be on a plane to an exotic destination when something like a hurricane, flood, or earthquake happened.

In those days, I would work with a team to put together packets of food and non-food item necessities for families affected by such natural disasters.

There was a common item in our food packets.  It was VERY popular with locals.  It provided much needed vitamins and some protein. As well as a punch of flavor...and since it was a fan favorite it was a winning choice.

What is that item?  Cans of sardines in tomato sauce by the case.

If you just said, "YUCK!"  I second that motion.

I share this because all the recent talk about earthquakes and hurricanes had me thinking about disaster preparation.  This common, and practical item, did not make my list as I am not a fan.

What items would you want around the house in event of a disaster? What's on your list?

just Sheri, picky even in an emergency

depending on the way the wind blows

It has been an eventful week in the Commonwealth. First an earthquake. Now a hurricane.

Whether or not Irene hits our part of the US depends on which way the wind blows.

It just reminds me of how little we actually control in life...only illusions of control.

Psalm 91:2
Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”


just Sheri, resting in the shadow of the Almighty

The Summit - pick yourself

Speaker:  Seth Godin

Seth is best known for his popular blog and entertaining public speaking. I have heard him speak before on Ted Talks. His talk at the Summit is the one that has been the most challenging to me personally.

Because Seth is a creative type, he talked about art. He defines art as; the risky human act of doing something you haven't done before.

He contrasts this with the concept of mass production. Mass production is made up of interchangeable parts and interchangeable people. That is not art.

He challenged the audience to figure out how to rise to the top and to solve interesting problems. He pointed out that the current mindset is that we only do what we are asked and we wait to get picked. His response: "pick yourself."

He also informed us that it is impossible to do art and always succeed. However, at some point, if you don't give up, you are going to do something worth talking about. Unfortunately, too many of us are looking for reasons NOT to put ourselves on the line.

Then he asked a question that woke me up.

Q: How many people would kill for your platform? What are you going to do about it?


To me, this was the moment of reckoning. I have a pretty big platform. I have seen a lot in my young life and been afforded unbelievable opportunities. In meeting with young(er) people, I know how many would love to have walked in my shoes (at least the highlight reel, likely not the day-to-day). Those experiences give me a platform - what am I going to do about it? To be determined, but stick around. This will come up again.

just Sheri, ready to put myself on the line (again)