Eclipse: The Day After…

Hello leaders, clients, donors, and friends,

I’m writing to you about “The Day After.”

Again!

Last week, it was the day after Easter, and I offered a little challenge to keep the faith and hope and victory of Easter alive in our homes, relationships, and even workplaces. As leaders, we know that it all starts with ourselves. All leadership starts with self-leadership.

Today is another “Day After:” it’s the Day After the Eclipse. Did you see it? Did you love it?

For me, the most powerful part about it was the deep, visceral sense of smallness I had as the size and speed of really big heavenly things – in this case, the Sun and the Moon – are visible. Seeing the moon roll across – not the shadow, but the moon itself – and then seeing the powerful corona of the Sun…wow, just mind-stretching to me. (I also have felt this sensation during California earthquakes, but that’s for another day.)

So whether you’re reading this at home, work, travel, or wherever, here are a few words that were penned about 3,000 years ago, originally in Hebrew:

The heavens keep telling
the wonders of God,
and the skies declare
what he has done.
Each day informs
the following day;
each night announces
to the next.
They don’t speak a word,
and there is never the sound of a voice.
Yet their message reaches
all the earth, and it travels around the world.

The Sun rises like a bridegroom
and gets ready like a hero eager to run a race.
It travels all the way across the sky.
Nothing hides from its heat.

The Law of the Lord is perfect;
it gives us new life.
His teachings last forever,
and they give wisdom to ordinary people.

The Lord’s instruction is right;
it makes our hearts glad.
His commands shine brightly,
and they give us light.

If you’d like to read the rest, it is found in Psalm 19, the longer version in Psalm 119. The Psalmist’s conclusion is that the Wisdom of the Father is as powerful as His creation. Essentially, “You’re the creator of life and everything in it, so I’ll listen to what you say and apply it.” That, at the time, was considered leadership, and it still is today. His conclusion was a Bee-Yooo-Tiful prayer:

“Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
Be acceptable in Your sight,
O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer.”

On this day after the eclipse, that’s my prayer today, that the wisdom of the Creator, whose power made an extra-special impression on me yesterday, would have an increasing role in my life as a leader. And, oh yes, that I’d remember that He’s not only wise, but He loves me as I am, not how I should be. And He sees possibilities for me, those I lead and those I love, based on what we could be, not just who we are.

Best of blessings to you in this day after, this week after, this month and year after. Here’s to another week of seeking to become better versions of ourselves;

…In the meantime, 1) Thank You for those who support our work with those who need it, 2) We still have a few spots left on each Montana fly-fishing and Boundary Waters trips this summer, and 3) Make it a great week! -Doug