Knowing Lisa

Knowing Lisa is like knowing God. You see, Lisa is my coworker's daughter. I hear about her all the time at work. I even know Lisa as we happen to go to the same church. Lisa is a beautiful woman. We say hi to each other at church, and I know I could call her if I needed something or had a question. But Lisa and I aren't good friends. Even though I know a lot about her likes and dislikes, I know her friends and I know all her family members, it's not like we're close friends. We don't make time to intentionally hang out because we're really just acquaintances.

I think knowing Lisa is a lot like knowing God. Lots of people have heard about God. Friends of theirs or even family members talk about God. They've heard lots of people tell about what God likes, what makes God mad, what makes God happy. And yet, many of them don't really know God. They know about him. But they don't make intentionally time to hang out with God. They don't spend one-on-one time with him. They wouldn't call themselves close friends.

For me, I'm okay with only knowing Lisa from a distance. But I am really glad that I know God as a deeply close friend and Father.

en espana

I just found this great interactive mystery video series to learn Spanish. And it's free through the BBC. Watched the first episode (episodio uno) and took notes on the vocab and grammar. Good stuff.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/languages/spanish/mividaloca/

best practices vs. organizational ethnocentrism

It's easy to think people should do things they way we think. I both find myself doing this and watching other people fall to this trap. You've arrived at a new nonprofit. You've worked with another group before. And when similar situations come up in your new environment, you think the answer is obvious. And your sentences begin "At the foundation," "At the other center," "When we used to encounter this..." Not that I'm bashing the seeking and finding of best practices. Because that is all to be applauded. We must continually learn from other organizations what works best and how to be more effective and how to better steward our resources.

But are we (am I) often too quick to speak up with my own solution from another group? First I think it's so important to understand why the group you're with is doing something in a certain way. What's behind the way they react and respond? Perhaps you're not the only one who knows a thing or two.

I'm all for the sharing of ideas. I'm a huge advocate of learning from other organizations and nonprofits who've had great success. And for learning from the failures too.

But I know I am often too quick to speak or think I know the answer. That I know a better way. The best way. When really I could probably stand to learn a thing or two.

Fair Game

Just finished the movie. And I love how strong this woman is. My favorite part is when she goes back to her husband and declares, "I don't care what they say about us...If they take all this away, I don't care. They do not get to take my marriage." And after a long embrace, "Are you ready to fight?" Love that.