Finish Line of Greatness

The finish line of Greatness lies beyond an inescapable cement wall. Faith, Wisdom, Hope, Desire, Vision and Love enable passage through the wall.

The wall's thickness and density are proportional to the awaiting Greatness.

See Christ, Believe Christ, Achieve with Christ!
Rick

Rick E. Meyer
See, Believe, Achieve Inc.
www.rickEmeyer.com

What do you focus on?

Earlier this week I reviewed videos of a few my speeches from 2002 to 2010. I am working on a blog for the Fourth of July and wanted to recapture past thoughts and perspectives. Included on the same mini-DV tapes were videos of past Christmas gatherings.

Watching these videos generated frustration and shame towards myself. I wanted to see more of the people in the room where I shot the videos. Instead, I focused the camera more on gifts than people.

Specifically, I wanted to see my dad. Yet, I only placed the camera on him a few times. If I outlive my mother, I will later wish I had her in more of the videos.

Ten years from now noone will care who gave what gifts to whom. However, we will care about the people in the room.

Watching these videos reminded me of a lesson all of us have heard numerous times in numerous ways. Whether videoing, taking pictures or conversing in a room with friends and family, Focus on People, not Things.

See Christ, Believe Christ, Achieve with Christ!
Rick

Rick E. Meyer
See, Believe, Achieve Inc.
www.rickEmeyer.com

Second Hand Negative

(Originally presented as a speech by Rick E. Meyer in Toastmasters in 2000 or 2001)

Have you received a multitude of warnings regarding the dangers of second-hand smoke? Some suggest our lungs fill with tar from second-hand smoke, as do the lungs of smokers. A plethora of studies, documents and discussions exist regarding the effects of second-hand smoke. I lack any desire or intention of picking-on those who smoke.  

When you or I associate with smokers, especially if we gather in a smoke-filled room, smoke saturates our clothes. The smoke-filled environment causes our eyes to redden, and the deepening and raspy sound of our vocal tonality. Enough exposure to smoke eventually causes our sense of smell to adapt, leading to eventually accepting the aroma of smoke as normal.

Those with whom we encounter after leaving the smoke-filled environment instantly sense the environmental effects of second-hand smoke. They instantly know we had been in a smoke-filled environment, they smell the smoke on our clothes, the see the redness in our eyes, and hear the deep, raspy tonality of our voice.

Even if we become accustomed to the smell, no longer noticing the effect on our clothes, eyes and voice, others still notice. It is nearly impossible to avoid the powerfully obvious effects of second-hand smoke.

The mention of second-hand smoke serves only illustrative purposes in this discussion. I believe another second-hand contaminate contains exponentially greater damaging effects than smoke—Second-hand Negative.

When we associate with negative people or gather in a room filled gossip and complaining, the negative begins infiltrating our attitude. Just like smoke, even if we become calloused to the effects, no longer sensing negative, the effects remain. As others detect our presence around smoke, they too detect our presence around negative.

What are the effects of second-hand negative? Our attitude diminishes, our eyes and smiles lose their optimistic sparkle. Our voice shifts from a cheerful tone to one of despair. The brief illustration of a negative person speaking—when presenting in a keynote or seminar—causes loss of optimism, and energy. The tar of negativity ruins our creativity, imagination, vision, encouragement, and optimism.

Those with whom we encounter instantly detect our previous association with second-hand negative. They hear negative tonality in our voice, see despair—at minimum they sense a lack of optimism—in our eyes and face. We lose our attractiveness—negative causes us to become unattractive. It is nearly impossible to avoid the powerfully obvious effects of second-hand negative.

The effects second-hand negative hinder our physical and emotional health in real ways. Negative emotions significantly impact the secretion of neurotransmitters.

Neurotransmitters affect:

1. Appetite
2. Cardiovascular System
3. Control of Muscles
4. Immune System
5. Injury Recovery
6. Motivation

Moreover, stress from anxiety or depression causes the excessive release of cortisol, which can potentially destroy our immune system over time.

To avoid second-hand smoke saturating my clothes, causing them to stink, along with my eyes reddening and my voice becoming raspy, I now remain outside of smoky environments. If I open the door to a smoke filled room, I immediately shut it and go elsewhere.

When you and I recognize the detrimental effects of second-hand negative—literally and figuratively—we will close every door leading to rooms filled with negativity. You and I will immediately go elsewhere.

Shut the door to negative associations!

Regain, restore, replenish the attractive sparkle in your eyes, smile and voice. Strengthen your creativity, imagination, vision, encouragement, and optimism. Strengthen your physical and emotional health.

Avoid second-hand negative!

Rick E. Meyer

See, Believe, Achieve Inc.
www.rickemeyer.com

Since the original presentation of this topic, an excellent book published explaining the effects of negativity. I highly recommend: Mathias, Art Ph.D. In His Own Image. Anchorage, AK: Wellspring Publishing, 2003.

To Be the Best...A Great America

To be the Best, we must Think, Prepare and Respond as the Best. To be a Great Nation, a Great America, we must Think, Prepare and Respond as a Great Nation, as a Great America. ~ Rick E. Meyer

Are current American leaders and citizens Thinking, Preparing and Responding as the leaders and citizens who elevated America to Greatness? Great America chooses freedom over security. Great America understands the symbiotic relationship of Freedom and Responsibility. Great America places faith in God.

A nation that Thinks, Prepares and Responds as failing nations, will fail. Failing nations burden people and organizations with excessive regulations. Failing nations trust in Government instead of God. Failing nations discourage and prohibit worship of God--Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Failing nations oppose freedom and responsibility, rather relying on their god, government, for provision. Pride comprises the roots of failing nations, pride comprises the roots of placing faith, hope and trust in man over God. Throughout history, every nation denying reliance on God, fails.

America, we approach the point of no return regarding our Liberation and Freedom. America, Think, Prepare, and Respond as the Great America, the World Leader America, the America that fights for and defends the Constitution as well as promoting Liberation and Freedom around the globe.

America, our Thinking, Preparing and Responding as Great America begins with our submission to God the Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit. Humility, a humble spirit, comprises the roots of humility, of humble hearts. Humility comprises the roots placing faith, hope and trust in God over man.

Saying America is not a Christian nation denies acknowledging God's blessings on this Great Nation. America became great because of her submission and reliance on God. This includes forgiveness, as we all sin and fall short of the glory of God.

To be the Best, to be a Great Nation, a Great America, we must Think, Prepare, and Respond as the Best, as a Great Nation, a Great America. Let every person and Nation pursue greatness, let every person and nation submit to and humble themselves before God. He will lift you and us up, this the Bible promises.

See Christ, Believe Christ, Achieve with Christ!

Rick E. Meyer
See, Believe, Achieve Inc.
www.rickemeyer.com

Father's Day

Once again the son returned to the dugout with his head hanging low, the thrown baseball smacked into the first baseman’s glove before the boy’s arrival. His sprint down the baseline resembled a slow motion replay compared to the real time motion of all other players. The next time at bat, the son’s head lowered upon the umpire’s echoing, “Steerike Three! Your out.”

His father sat in the stands watching this familiar scene of his son’s perpetual athletic failures. He knew only one or two choices remained when playground team captains chose the son for their team. Yet, he understood their choices as his son lacked size, speed, quickness, agility, and coordination. These deficiencies amplified during the son’s junior high school years of participating in football and basketball.

Despite logic, prudence and wisdom suggesting the son lacked attributes of successful athletes, the dad kept encouraging the son, “Just do your best.”

During occasional breaks between tasks on their Kansas farm, or before entering the house for supper, they sat in the pick-up visiting about a range of topics including agriculture, politics—the symbiotic relationship of freedom, and responsibility--as well as right and wrong. He also reiterated the value of a man’s (or woman’s) word, along with developing and honing Godly imagination.

He spoke of the value of both the mom’s and dad’s relationships with children and the encouragement of pursuing dreams. The dad’s emphasis on the child-parent relationship permanently convinced the son to avoid any non-marital sexual relations. The son only desired children if they could enjoy the loving relationship of a married mom and dad displayed by the son’s parents.
 
Additionally, he instructed the son of the importance of worshipping God, studying the Bible, and singing hymns of praise to our Lord. “You must learn music in school, because it is very important in church.” Other wisdom included, “So what if church lasts longer than an hour. How much does God do in your life each of the one-hundred-sixty-eight hours every week?” The dad frequently sang or whistled hymns while working around the farm along the North Fork of the Solomon River, including Shall We Gather at the River.

In regards to politics, he frequently warned the son, “The people of Germany never thought what happened in Germany with Hitler would happen to them. We must always guard against this type of thing happening in the United States.”

The son frequently spoke of his passion to farm, and occasionally shared his goals of competing on state championship and nationally ranked high school teams. Because of the evidence witnessed on the diamond, field and court, others advised the son, “Get a reality check kid.”

Despite the evidence and discouragement from some, the father continually listened and encouraged the son to pursue his God given goals and dreams. “Just keep working, doing your best, all things (with Christ) are possible.”

The dad’s continual encouragement of and belief in his son, personified faith as the substance of things hoped for despite any visible evidence (Hebrews 11:1). He internalized faith and the resulting optimism into the son.

The father continued observing the son fail, yet maintained encouragement. A few years later, he witnessed the devastation in the son’s eyes as the dad shared the family had to leave the farm because of the bank’s foreclosure. The boy’s grandpa moved on this farm as a bachelor in 1918.

He listened and continued encouragement as the son painfully told of the lady he interviewed with laughing hysterically in his face as he shared his goals. Once her laughter subsided enough to speak, “Let me get this straight. You never qualified for state in this 3A no-name (Smith Center, Kansas) school, yet you believe you can compete on state championship and nationally ranked teams in 6A at Manhattan High School (Kansas), and you think you can place among the top ten in 6A State cross country?”

Controlling his passion, the son quietly responded “Yes.”

The lady resumed her amplified laughter.

That night the dad continued encouraging with faith, “Just do your best, son.”

The father epitomized doing one’s best, exerting every ounce of his energy in achieving God’s will for his life. He illustrated doing your best mandated honesty, integrity and faith while performing the necessary tasks for a job’s completion. He taught that in doing one’s best, we faithfully accept God’s results.

Five months after moving to Manhattan, the father—after years of watching his son hang his head after striking out, being thrown out, failing to make plays and giving up plays—smiled as the boy and his teammates became the youngest team to win Kansas’ 6A state cross country championship.

A year later, the encouraging father who internalized faith and the pursuit of God given dreams into his son, beamed with joy as the son sprinted across the 6A state cross country championship finish line in ninth place. The team earned another state championship trophy, and later received recognition as one of the best teams in America. The dad’s faith and encouragement enabled the failing boy to achieve his goals and dreams.

With a half-mile remaining in the race, the son continued running despite literally blacking-out—losing consciousness—from the intense pain. The son later explained how he kept running after losing consciousness, “My dad said to do my best. This included focusing on my vision, goals, dreams, training and the power of Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit in my life. My dad taught me that doing my best included reading the entire New Testament during the season, enabling me to quote numerous Bible verses during the race.”

Twenty-two years later—November 2006—the son and dad engaged in yet another discussion of life, values and faith. This time they did not sit in the pick-up as they had so many times in the previous thirty-nine years, rather in a hospital room. The dad suffered from hydrocephalus (water on the brain), along with receiving a lung cancer diagnosis thirty-six hours earlier. He requested, “Let’s pray for God to bless everyone we know.”

A short time later, the dad intently looked into the son’s eyes summarizing his lifelong message, “Always trust God. Remember that son, trust God always.”

“I will Dad, I will.” The son observed the faith and love in his dad’s eyes.

This concluded their nearly forty years of conversations. The dad died three weeks later.

As a grown man the son continues striking out, being thrown out, failing to make plays and giving up plays in this thing we call life. Yet, his dad’s encouraging and faith-filled voice and message resonates in his heart and mind. He continues doing his best, studying the Bible, pursuing visions, dreams and goals while adhering to his dad’s last advice of always trusting God.

Happy Father’s Day Dad! You  directed me to, and encouraged my trust in, the Heavenly Father.

See Christ, Believe Christ, Achieve with Christ!

Rick E. Meyer

See, Believe, Achieve Inc.
www.rickemeyer.com

Running on Faith

Running on Faith: Timeless Principles for Winning Life's Marathon

by Rick E. Meyer

Introduction

 My legs burn with fatigue! The Kearney Good Samaritan Hospital 5K starts in a matter of moments, and others question my sanity again! I quip to Erich and Tom, “This will be a good mental toughness workout.”

Perhaps the 5:30 a.m. 6-mile run and the 120 weekly miles of training contribute to the intense fatigue. As the gun fires at 8:06, Kearney High runners shoot out quickly.
Former UNK (University of Nebraska-Kearney) cross-country runners Tom Magnuson--a three-time All-American--and Erich Whitemore join me as our bodies transform potential energy to kinetic.

Tom’s experience and strength delay his assumption of the lead until near the quarter-mile mark. Erich and I move into the second and third positions after the first half-mile.
We pass the mile in 4:45. “I can hang out at this pace,” I reflect while viewing the split. Erich has other ideas; he quickens the pace. At the halfway mark, my legs begin to wobble and buckle. I struggle to remain standing, while Tom holds a commanding lead.

My mind, exhausted from the focus and concentration necessary for the demanding mileage and workouts, seeks relief and begs my body to stop. Erich looks back at me, and I call out, “Go ahead.”

 Erich yells back, “Come on!”

 Once again I plead, “Go ahead.” This mental toughness workout exceeds my expectations and desire. My legs wobble like a wheel falling off a wagon.

Erich bellows a second time, “Come on!”

I state consciously but not verbally, Lord, I need you! I cannot! Christ can! We are. It is not me, rather Christ who is in me. I repeat this as if playing on a continuous loop. Suddenly, my body fills with the strength necessary to continue this hasty cadence.

The perpetually intensifying pain resembles lightning bolts piercing my body’s every nerve. Our second mile split is 4:37; four minutes and thirty-three seconds (4:33) excruciatingly pass into history before reaching the three-mile mark.
Running on faith, I sprint the final 176 yards and pass Erich to win second place in 14:32.

In the hospital parking lot following the awards ceremony, a Kearney physician approaches me. “Congratulations, Rick. I could never run like you do. I hurt when I run.”

 His words leave me speechless! Little do I realize, 10½ years later, I will stand in this same parking lot, speechless, with excruciating pain zapping my body and mind: ‘Running on Faith.’

*****

Running on Faith Ministry Inc.
www.rickemeyer.com

Choose Greatness

Running on Faith: Everyone of my meaningful races (foot or life) includes a point where the mind, relying on faith, chooses to ignore the body's plea to collapse--to give-up, choosing instead to increase my pace, my effort, my prayers.

"Don't be afraid to be great, as it all comes down to whom wants it the most." Bill "Congo" Congleton

Does your vision inspire greatness?

See Christ, Believe Christ, Achieve with Christ!

Rick E. Meyer

See, Believe, Achieve Inc.
www.rickemeyer.com

Carrying the Bible

The most effective place to carry the Bible is in your heart and mind. When carried here, your soul and resulting life are transformed.

Goals, Mentors, Healing

Imagination: Effects

Vision - Six-Inches to Greatness

If Winning Were Easy, Everybody Would Do It