Making Meaning Means Meaning-Making

Making meaning is different than having value.

I'm convinced at what the ancient Scriptures teach about our inherent value in creation. That we're made in the image of Creator God. We, men and women, are thus inherently infused with divine value.

Dig into the ancient text and you'll no doubt find meaning or purpose. To know and be known by God. To love God and love others.

But that isn't what most people mean when asking for meaning or purpose. We should. And we do, of course. We want to know the high level purpose that gives us existential meaning. And we need it. It's foundational to building a healthy and holistic philosophy of life (something very dearly missing in education today).

But in the daily dirt of it all, meaning must become that tangible action we take each and every day to experience our value and live out that greater meaning.

In other words, we have to make meaning. We do this when we set healthy, captivating, meaning-filled goals.

It's one thing to want know we're valued and created with purpose. It's another thing to get really specific about which goals and how and when and with whom and towards what end we're going to move towards fulfilling them.

So, what meaning are you making in your value-packed, meaning-filled existence?

Land-Boarding & the Not-So-Mystery of Motivation

My oldest daughter recently decided it was time to get her sea legs on the long-board. No. Not a long surfboard but a 42" long land-board. A big old skateboard.

I had tried in the past to catch her interest in boarding. Didn't take. In fact, over time my son even lost interest. But the other day she grabbed what we call the Magic Carpet Ride (check it out here), slapped on her helmet, then went for it. My son jumped in on the action. My five-year-old even joined in with our only skateboard. Of course I had to get in on it too.

It was awesome.

It was motivation.

Motivation is often seen as a creative phantom. A ghost-like mist that floats around waiting for you catch it, be inspired, and get to work. But it doesn't have to be so mysterious.

Motive. What's your motive? It's a simple question, really. Why do you want to do that? What's your end goal? What is it that's compelling you to act?

My daughter's motive was simple. She wanted to be able to say that she could ride a long board. Maybe not the loftiest of goals, but a tangible one. And the only way for her to fulfill that goal was to get on the board.

Regardless of what motivated her, she did it. Even more, her action spurred us all on.

Q. What mysterious motivation are you waiting for? Why not shoot for the practical?

Break the end of the project down to its most basic elements and outcomes and then go for it.

Biting Dogs & Creating

A dog bit my friend. He needed stitches.

When I was a kid my neighbor asked me to feed their two dogs while they left town for several days. I agreed. Half-way through the week a friend was over and when it came time to feed the dogs he decided to join in. He was a dog guy.

One was a Saint-Bernard. The other a sixty pound mutt.

While I was feeding George, the Saint-Bernard, my friend was attacked by the other dog - bitten on the arm in several places in the blink of an eye. Rascal was protecting his food bowl thinking my friend was there to steal it, when in fact he was simply trying to fill it.

In your creative pursuits, your journey toward your goals and your vision...do you know when it's appropriate to protect and defend?

Do you know when it's time to sit back and be thankful?

Can you tell when someone is helping or hurting?

Are you able to do both at the same time?