RED NOSE creativity!

Start by doing what's necessary; then do what's possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible.
-St. Francis of Assisi

I find I am most creative out of necessity a lot of the time.

When I put a demand on my gifts and abilities the creative juices start flowing. I really believe it is the same for everyone.

You are creative. I know you may be saying that musicians, artists, and designers are the more creative types but I say nay nay. It may be your creativity shows up in building houses, repairing cars, or landscaping, or "fill in the blank" for whatever you do or you may find that your creativity will simply show up in a new revolutionary idea outside of your normal routine.

Since it is almost Christmas as an example of this I thought you might be interested in the story behind Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer. A story of not initial inspired artistry but something all to familiar these days, the necessity of a company to save money.

The Chicago-based Montgomery Ward company, department store operators, had been purchasing and distributing children's coloring books as Christmas gifts for their customers for several years. In 1939, Montgomery Ward tapped one of their own employees to create a book for them, to save money. 34-year old copywriter Robert L. May wrote the story of Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer in 1939, and 2.4 million copies were handed out that year. Despite the wartime paper shortage, over 6 million copies had been distributed by 1946.

May drew in part on the story "The Ugly Duckling" and in part from his own experiences as an often taunted, small, frail youth to create the story of the misfit reindeer. Though Rollo and Reginald were considered, May settled on Rudolph as his reindeer's name.

Writing in verse as a series of rhyming couplets, May tested the story as he went along on his 4-year old daughter Barbara, who loved the story. Sadly, Robert Mays wife died around the time he was creating Rudolph, leaving May deeply in debt due to medical bills. However, he was able to persuade Sewell Avery, Montgomery Ward's corporate president, to turn the copyright over to him in January 1947 which would give May financial security.

May's story "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" was printed commercially in 1947 and in 1948 a nine-minute cartoon of the story was shown in theaters. When May's brother-in-law, songwriter Johnny Marks, wrote the lyrics and melody for the song "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer", the Rudolph phenomenon was born. Turned down by many musical artists afraid to contend with the legend of Santa Claus, the song was recorded by Gene Autry in 1949 at the urging of Autry's wife. The song sold two million copies that year, going on to become one of the best-selling songs of all time, second only to Bing Crosby's "White Christmas". The 1964 television special about Rudolph, narrated by Burl Ives, remains a holiday favorite to this day and Rudolph himself has become a much-loved Christmas icon.

So, here is a question:

-What are the areas of your life pushing you to find creative solutions?

“Creativity involves breaking out of established patterns in order to look at things in a different way.” -Edward de Bono

The very thing that may be a problem or a challenge for you at the moment just might be your Red Nosed Reindeer!

The 100th monkey

I was reading an interesting account and study about a Japanese monkey, Macaca fuscata by Ken Keyes Jr. It has been observed in the wild for a period of over 40 years. In 1952, on the island of Koshima scientists were providing monkeys with sweet potatoes dropped in the sand. The monkeys liked the taste of the raw sweet potatoes, but they found the dirt unpleasant.

An 18-month-old female found she could solve the problem in a nearby stream. She taught this trick to her mother. Her playmates also learned this new way and they taught their mothers, too. This cultural innovation was gradually picked up by various monkeys.

Between 1952 and 1958, all the young monkeys learned to wash the sandy sweet potatoes to make them more palatable. Only the adults who imitated their children learned this social improvement. Other adults kept eating the dirty sweet potatoes.

Then something startling took place.

In the autumn of 1958, a certain number of Koshima monkeys were washing sweet potatoes. When the sun rose one morning there were 99 monkeys on Koshima Island who had learned to wash their sweet potatoes. Later that morning, the 100th monkey learned to wash potatoes.

THEN IT HAPPENED!

By that evening almost everyone in the tribe of monkeys were washing sweet potatoes before eating them. The added energy of this hundredth monkey somehow created an ideological breakthrough!

But notice. A most surprising thing observed by these scientists was that the habit of washing sweet potatoes then jumped over the sea …Colonies of monkeys on other islands and the mainland troop of monkeys at Takasakiyama began washing their sweet potatoes!

Thus, when a certain critical number achieves an awareness, this new awareness is communicated broadly. Although the exact number may vary, the 100th Monkey Phenomenon means that when only a limited number of people know of a new way, it may remain the consciousness property of those people. But there is a point at which if only one more person tunes-in to something new, a field is strengthened so that this "something new" is picked up by almost everyone!

I know God has made us smarter than monkeys (some of you want to debate this I know) :-) Let me be clear I am not an evolutionist I believe God created us and the monkeys!! But there is something for us to learn from the 100th Monkey story.

My conclusion: I have said this before and I think it goes perfectly with this, I believe that every person is created with a divine destiny, born to live a great adventure, designed for a unique purpose, and absolutely called to fulfill a great mission!

I Corinthians 2:6 in The Message says this:

That's why we have this Scripture text: No one's ever seen or heard anything like this, Never so much as imagined anything quite like it— What God has arranged for those who love him. But you've seen and heard it because God by his Spirit has brought it all out into the open before you.

So be who God created you to be today and fulfill your great mission......You may change the world by understanding the "100th Monkey" principle!!!

my instantaneous LIFE

text messaging

twitter

instant downloads

facebook

cell phones

email

paying at the pump

skipping the commercials with my TIVO

overnight delivery (from across the world)

skype

I notice that my life on most fronts these days is instantaneous.....no waiting.

Waiting on most fronts = no fun!

So where does that leave me when I see something clearly (as far as I can see) and feel it should happen right away?.....impatient.

Patience eludes me at this point on certain levels in my process and yet when things are outside my control I have no option but to be.....patient.

I was having a conversation with a friend about this when he delivered the bad news about MY timeline......God is beyond space and time. A day is like a thousand years and a thousand years like a day for God (2 Peter 3:8) and God isn’t bound by my time frames or demands.

OUCH! That is not what my, no waiting in line, broadband downloading, on the special guest list, reserved seating, personality wants to hear!!

Great.....why can't God figure out the FASTPASS line.....Disney did it....take a ticket now come back a little later and go to the front of the line....instant fun!












Why?...ok I know the answer....there is something in the process of waiting that I probably....strike that "probably"....something I KNOW I need to learn!

Paul in Romans 5:3 (The Message) says this:

we know how troubles can develop passionate patience in us, and how that patience in turn forges the tempered steel of virtue, keeping us alert for whatever God will do next.

I do want to to be alert for whatever God will do next...so it would seem I need to work on life without a FASTPASS option.

Our friend Max Lucado says this:

Patience is more than a virtue for long lines and slow waiters. Patience is the red carpet upon which God’s grace approaches us.

So here I am....diligently working on patience so that I can be alert to the next big God thing on His timeline!

86,400 seconds

God gave you a gift of 86,400 seconds today.

What you’re on this Earth to do today is important.

Today is guaranteed, tomorrow isn’t.

If you think your purpose it to share your art with the world, then start today! If you feel you’re supposed to be a social entrepreneur, then get going now! If you want to write a book, today is the day to write the first page. If you want to get in shape (talking to myself here) go to the gym or walk around the block....stop eating those potato chips.....do something....NOW!

I could write a million of these but you get the idea....we should take a step...even if it is just a small step toward our goal....today!

We wait for the perfect moment, but it doesn’t exist. Concentrate on your purpose for today, tomorrow, next month, and for the next few years at the most.

Life is now, not tomorrow.

With your eyes on the horizon of the approaching new year don't let another year pass without taking a step toward what is uniquely yours to do.

I believe everyone is created with a divine destiny, born to live a great adventure, designed for a unique purpose and absolutely called to fulfill a great mission.

Don't know what yours is yet? ask someone you trust.....Proverbs 20:18 says this:

Form your purpose by asking for counsel, then carry it out using all the help you can get.

Today is the day....now is your moment.....the next step even if you feel it is small can have profound impact for your future!

Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending. - Maria Robinson

86,399......86,398.....86,397.......

A Christmas THANK YOU! (yes it is for you)

I wanted to take a moment and thank you! Everyone who follows the blog, reads, comments, and tells others about it! It is has been a great year and I hope you were encouraged! You have encouraged me greatly!

To show my gratitude I have talked our team at the office (mainly Amy) into giving an early gift to you!

So here you go, it is;

The Indelible Moment Blog
50% Spectacular Christmas Experience Sale!!!
(kind of a long name)

Ok, yes you are right it is a kind of long name but hey you get the idea......a great deal, easy Christmas shopping for your family and friends and maybe something for you :-)

This is exclusively for my blog, facebook, and Twitter friends!

So I hope you enjoy!

Here is what you do;

Go To: www.indelibleonlinestore.com

Throw all the things you want in the shopping cart.

when you check out put in this code: 12IND2009

and voila......the price is slashed in half!

I hope you have a blessed Christmas season!

Celebrating God's Holy intervention in our lives!

Chris

Living on the LOOKOUT

I ran across this in Mark 15:43 (The Message) today....it describes a man named Joseph of Arimathea:

He was one who lived expectantly, on the lookout....

I find this very compelling....someone who lived with anticipation of what is next!

One of the most important characteristics I have observed of people who achieve the extraordinary is that they live a life of expectation.

They live expectantly....on the lookout!

It is easy to lose or not get to that expectant moment....circumstances change, things don't turn out as we planned, or life just happens slower than we thought. Some days it is just hard to believe that our lives can change because of circumstances or how we feel.

Here is something C.S. Lewis said:

“Faith is the art of holding on to things your reason has once accepted in spite of your changing moods”

This is what I am learning; a life of expectation is the result of living in the dynamic tension that exists between faith and hope. It isn’t so much about having a big idea or how much belief you can muster. It’s the conviction about things unseen.

A life of faith is a life of expectation.

“Faith is like electricity. You can't see it, but you can see the light.” -unknown

I launch into today with great expectation of what is about to happen!

INSPIRED to focus

This past week my family and I spent a lot of time with other people. We spent the week in New York City for Thanksgiving.

I have spent a lot of time in this city over the years and love being there. There are always a lot of people but this week was exceptional because of the holidays it was packed!

We enjoyed the Macy's parade (people), went to the museums (people), we walked to Rockefeller center and Radio City (people), we went to a Broadway show (people), we shopped on Canal Street (oh my gosh THE PEOPLE!), and of course Grand Central Station.....was like Grand Central Station!!! People were everywhere!

Here is my observation....people are great when you get to know them:-)

We met some of the kindest and most considerate people. Tommy was one of them. Tommy drove us to the airport yesterday.

Here is Tommy's story in a nutshell; he moved from Vietnam to the United States 25 years ago. He could not speak English at the time. Tommy got a job, got married, worked as a machinist on Long Island for 15 years, bought a house, and now owns 5 rental property houses, he now runs a car service, he and his wife raised two daughters, one of the daughters just graduated from college and works in advertising in Boston, and the second daughter is going to Stanford next fall, his wife went to school and now is an accountant....when they retire they are going to move somewhere in the midwest. This is what he said in his Vietnamese broken English, "America is great! If you get an education and work hard you can be successful!"

I forget....how fortunate I am.

Here is the key; just like Tommy, your focus determines your reality. It's true. If you focus on things that are right and pure and good and just, you move towards righteousness, purity, goodness, and justice. It's as simple as that. And it probably goes without saying but if you focus on the negative things you tend to gravitate there.

I think this is a balancing act for all of us on most days....we are emotional, we have outside circumstances in our life we can't control, and of course all of the other people in the world but you and I, like our new friend Tommy, have a choice.

We can focus on the positive and in turn help others also.

SO, here I launch into my week, inspired to focus on the things that are right, pure, and just.

I encourage you to do the same :-)

Summing it all up, friends, I'd say you'll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. Philippians 4:8 (The Message)