Giving Back, Paying Forward

Susan Boyle - the Scottish singer who broke into the music industry a year ago with her astonishing performance on Britain's Got Talent - is now helping other normal folk to start musical careers. With the Susan's Search contest, ordinary people can audition for a chance to record a duet with Susan for her next album, to be released this November.

Susan explains it this way:

"When I did Britain's Got Talent, I was given a chance by Simon Cowell to show what I could do. This got me thinking about people who maybe missed that opportunity. Susan's Search is about giving other people an opportunity; it's about letting them live the dream that they have always wanted to do."

Because someone gave Susan the chance to show that her singing talent meant more than her outward appearance, her response is to create similar opportunities for other singers who may be "diamonds in the rough."

To give back, or "pay it forward," (as depicted in the movie of the same name) is the natural response of a thankful and humble attitude. When we take into account the number of opportunities we've been given (opportunities that were not created by us, only used by us), and the number of people who have helped us in our journey (people who didn't owe us any help), we should want to create opportunities and offer help to others.

Organizations, like individuals, can find ways to give back. Like Susan Boyle, they can offer a chance to talented people whom the world has ignored. Like TOMS Shoes, they can provide shoes, or clothing, or shelter, or food, or education, to children across the world who wouldn't otherwise have those necessities. They can give unexpected gifts or discounts or freebies to customers and non-customers, in gratitude for the patronage of their loyal shoppers. They can take time to serve the communities in which they operate - communities which provide resources and support for the business.

How is your organization "paying forward" the opportunities that it has been given?

Happy Independence Day

In honor of the birth of my country, of the freedoms which our founding fathers proscribed for us, and of the men and women throughout history who have died to preserve those freedoms, I would like to share this, my favorite Super Bowl commercial of all time. (My gratitude to Anheuser-Busch and to the person who posted this video on YouTube.)



This commercial aired during Super Bowl XXXIX in 2005. Only recently did I have the honor of participating in a similar welcoming home of American troops as they disembarked in the DFW airport. It thrilled my heart to see the number of people who stood and applauded - regardless of personal views on Operation Iraqi Freedom and the present and former presidential administrations - as these servicemen and women walked by.

It is always an honorable thing to give thanks where thanks is due.

I thank God for orchestrating events so that there was brought forth upon this continent a nation conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal. I thank God for showing mercy to our nation, even when we have trampled on the avowedly inalienable rights of some - the American Indians, the enslaved, the unborn.... I thank God for the men and women who have, for their allotted time, stepped into terribly difficult positions of leadership in our government. I thank God for the men and women who have risen in the midst of fierce opposition to declare to our country what is right and true. I thank God for the men and women who fight every day - with arms, with words, with actions - to protect the liberty of American citizens and of people around the world. I thank God for men and women who love my country enough to want to make it better.

"Greater love has no man than this, that he would lay down his life for his friends."

May God continue to bless America. And may America bless God.

Happy Fourth of July.

A Thank-You to Fathers

In remembrance of Fathers' Day yesterday, I spent some time thinking about how important fathers are and how much they mean to us. Obviously, without fathers, none of us would be here. But really and truly, fathers contribute so much to who we are and who we become.

I was blessed to have grown up with a great dad who loved my siblings and me, who loved my mom, who was invested in our lives, who spoke encouragement into our lives, who disciplined us, and who cultivated the best in us. I couldn't be with my dad yesterday, since we live 1,500 miles apart (although I did get to spend time with some other "dads" in my life). But in honor of my dad, in honor of the other men who have been "fathers" to me, and in honor of all of the fathers around the world, I would like to say this:

Thank you for loving your kids.
Thank you for loving their moms, even when things are tough.
Thank you for showing your kids that "family" means that you are committed, that you stick it through, that you work things out.
Thank you for envisioning the best for your kids, and expecting the best of your kids, and empowering them to achieve their best.
Thank you for modeling honesty, and integrity, and hard work, and commitment.
Thank you for showing your kids that family matters more than a job does.
Thank you for showing your kids what it means to do hard things.
Thank you for saying "no" sometimes.
Thank you for talking with your kids, and for explaining why you say "no".
Thank you for being patient and long-suffering and always loving, even when your kids don't seem to like you or care about you or think anything of you.
Thank you for forgiving your kids, and for showing them grace when they come back around.
Thank you for teaching your kids how to be self-disciplined.
Thank you for teaching your kids the consequences of disobedience, and sin, and poor choices.
Thank you for teaching your kids to respect God, and country, and authority.
Thank you for teaching your kids the dignity of human life.
Thank you for showing your kids how to be giving and generous to all.
Thank you for giving your kids the freedom to fail, and to come to you for encouragement, and to pick themselves up, and to try again.
Thank you for showing your kids that your love for them is not contingent on what they do, or how well they perform, or whether they are successful at everything, or whether they always make good choices, but that you love them just because, forever.
Thank you for teaching your kids to be good stewards of the resources they have been given.
Thank you for teaching your kids to enjoy the simple things in life.
Thank you for teaching your kids to give thanks in all things, and to appreciate people.
Thank you for empowering your kids to soar.

Thank you for being a dad.