“How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.” ~Anne Frank
A Sunday morning ritual I have had for years involves going on a long run in order to clear my mind and prepare for the week ahead.  Last Sunday was no exception. The weather was perfect and my body had fully recovered (if there is such a thing for a 53 year old man) from my 1/2 Ironman three weeks previous.
Part of my long run involves stopping every 2 miles and doing 50 push-ups. I had just finished mile 4 and I knew a great place for my push-ups awaited me just a tenth of a mile away. As I entered this break-off from the running path I noticed a gentleman riding a bike toward the same area. As he approaches me and observes me doing my push-ups he starts to cheer me on…a bit strange yes, but I needed all the encouragement I could get.
After finishing the push-ups the man told me this particular break-off from the path was the “best place to find empty cans, because it leads to a fishing hole along the Great Miami River, and wherever there are fishermen there are empty cans.”
He then informed me he was collecting cans in order to help his niece raise money for a Washington D.C. trip and he also donated the pop tops of the cans to the Ronald McDonald House as part of a fundraiser. He shared with me his family had to stay at the Ronald McDonald House after the premature birth of their first child. I applauded him for supporting such a worthy “cause” as we too were the grateful recipients of the gift of the Ronald McDonald House during the first two months of Jordan’s life.
So what’s my point?
In order to live life fully we all need a “cause.”  Being involved in a “cause” is a great mechanism to draw closer to the love, joy and peace of God; in essence we become His hands and feet. Writing a check to a cause is not the same as being involved with a cause. God wants more than our money. He also seeks our time and talents to help him cure the world of all the “crap.”
I’ve had some people ask me why I’m doing this 3rd Thursday “thing” at my barn. Believe it or not, it is my newest “cause.” I believe our world is lacking in leadership these days and the first step in becoming a better leader is first learning how to lead yourself.
I learned many years ago you cannot keep what you have unless you give it away…sort of like a cause and effect phenomena.
What is your cause these days? What are you doing that is helping others with no strings attached?
Living life to its absolute fullest will never happen unless you get out of yourself and into a cause…I write from experience.
P.E.A.C.E.
Philippians 2:4, “Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.”
1 John 3:17, “But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him?”
