PREPARATION

This amazing push toward social networking via Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, LinkedIn, etc, reminds me of how connected we are to each other. Looking back on my life, it seems that it has taken a huge number of people, a small town, to shape me into the man I have become. Many of these shapers never knew the impact they have had on my life. Some wished they'd had more. A few I have told, face to face, how my life has been enriched and blessed and re-directed by their influence. Once in a while my mental wanderings remind me of significant shapers whom I have forgotten.

If, indeed, you could be a time-traveler and journey back to days of your past, you would rediscover, or perhaps discover for the first time, how who you are and what you are has been influenced by teaching, coaching, and  caring people, as well as the abusive, mean-spirited, angry ones.

We begin each day, shaped by past relationships, inspired by what might happen, and confronted head-on by a self-focused, independent spirit that says over and over, "I've got to do this myself. In the final analysis it's up to me. God's watching, but it's up to me."

I'm here to tell you, "that's a lie...a whopper, in fact." We don't do anything by ourselves. We have small neighborhoods helping us, shaping us, teaching us, and coaching us, along with relatives, friends, Twitter followers, Facebook friends, and a whole LinkedIn network.

Hidden in plain sight, in the middle of all these people, is the Spirit of God.  He surprises us, energizes us, reclaims us, lifts us, and inspires us. And, sometimes he calls us to step up and be who we were intended to be, even before we get the memo. Life comes at you fast.

Are you ready? You've got a neighborhood by your side, and a living God in your heart, so there's no excuse.

Emerging faith giants know they have been helped in the past and they are not without help today. They ask for help, for advice, for insight, for counsel. They are connected to massive sources of universal energy. It's a neighborhood faith event.

INSPIRATION

We do not stand alone, even when we feel abandoned and lost. We bring a neighborhood of people to each event and there is a new neighborhood just waiting for the call. So, never try anything alone, get help. This old story reminds us of the dangers of trying to work alone:

Dear Sirs,

I am writings in response to your request for additional information. In block number eight on the accident form I put "trying to do the job alone" as the major cause of my accident. You said in your letter that you needed more details in the report, and I trust the following will be sufficient.

I am an air-conditioning/heating serviceman by trade. On the date of the accident, I was working alone on a new, six-story building. When I completed my work, I found that I had about five hundred pounds of tools on the roof. Rather than carry those tools down six flights of stairs by hand,

I decided to lower them from the roof in a barrel by rope and pulleys. Securing the rope at the ground level, I then went up to the roof, swung the barrel out, and loaded the tools into the barrel.

Then I went back down to the ground and untied the rope, holding it tightly to ensure a slow descent of the five hundred pounds of tools. You will note in block eleven of the accident report that I weigh 135 pounds. You can imagine my surprise when I was suddenly jerked off the ground. I lost my presence of mind and forgot to let go of the rope. Needless to say, I proceeded at a rather alarming gate up the side of the building.

In the vicinity of the third floor, I met the barrel coming down the side of the building. This will explain the fractured skull and broken collar bone.

Slowed only slightly, I continued my rapid ascent, not stopping until the knuckles on my right hand were buried two inches deep in the pulley. Fortunately, at this time I regained my presence of mind and was able to hold on to the rope in spite of the pain.

At approximately the same time, the barrel hit the ground. The bottom fell out of the barrel, dumping the tools, leaving the pile on the ground. With the barrel now empty, and again I refer to block eleven which lists my weight, I began a rapid descent down the side of the building. Again in the vicinity of the third floor, I met what was left of the barrel coming up. This will explain the two fractured ankles and the lacerations on my legs.

When I hit the ground the barrel had slowed me enough that when I fell on the tools, I only sustained three broken vertebrae in my back.

Again I lost my presence of mind and let go of the rope. The barrel came down and broke my hip. I hope that this is sufficient information for the insurance company. Please send my settlement check to my home address.

MOTIVATION

It took me a while to learn this undeniable truth. We are not meant to take on anything alone. So, when you face a daunting task, take a moment to memo  the hoards of people who have helped you get to this moment. Identify friends and relatives, those who God has put in place just for times like these. Add to this list the internet friends who will be blessed and challenged by your call for help.

Now, it's time for the invitation, not to the party, but to the event, the daunting task, the looming problem.

Send the memo, ask for hep.

Or, you can always choose to face it alone, endure the pain, fill out the forms, and file the reports.