Sorry friends. Making the jump back to Wordpress for blogging. Just feels more like a blog. No worries, you’ll still find me here with plenty of photos, videos, links and the like… just a lot less of what I have to say.
For now, find me here: http://paigiamo.wordpress.com
I’m not an overly jealous person when it comes to “stuff”. While I do from time to time wish I had a better phone or a new pair of shoes (Chacos, if you wanna get specific, thank you…), I don’t spend a lot of mental energy bitterly wishing the Black Plague would come roaring out of the 14th Century to wreak havoc on anyone with an iPhone. In short, I’ve never been the type to blame God for any sense of material lack in my life.
Or so it would seem.
Lately I’ve been pretty disappointed with how little I approach everyday things with amazement. After a clip from Conan where comedian Lewis C.K. railed on our generation for being so unappreciative and demanding - and who can blame him? We’re jerks - I have decided to take time to give a nod to every day things that have changed lives. Lewis C.K.’s example? Flying. We complain all the time but yet - you’re sitting in a CHAIR in the SKY. Come ON people!
While I am amazed by the miracles of flight, web cams (hi, you’re a billion miles away and I can see your FACE. WOW), the Bullet Train and Post-Its (seriously, how many times have you NOT lost your mind thanks to these not-so-sticky squares? I bet you wrote the answer on a Post-It.), there is a miracle that far surpasses your wildest imagination. Rather than a thing that makes life easier or just plain cooler, this miracle comes in the form of a person. And her name is Lauren Krizay, and she is my Biggie Smalls.
Standing at an astounding 6 feet even, Lauren defies the laws of physics by… well, being normal. Basketball star? You betcha. But that comes as no surprise - duh, she’s tall. We were surprised, however, when our KriZAY traded her corn rows and basketball kicks for cleats, tie-dye, and a heart of darkness. Defying gravity on the Ultimate Frisbee field has become her main goal in life, and she hucks on the daily. In her spare time, she has earned a status as a world-class hurdler, and goes spelunking. This, of course, is no easy feat. A giant in a tiny cave? Anyone who has ever read a fairy tale knows this just shouldn’t work. But in true B.A. fashion, Krizay smacked the cave around and shows it who’s boss. Also, when Hank the Hematoma tried to have his moment, she went Kanye on it and throat chopped that a-hole into oblivion. (Note: Interpretation of that event has nothing to do with a Nalgene or a sideline.)
Her list of organizations and associations is beyond impressive. In addition to working as Jack Bauer’s apprentice for the summer of 2010 (no. I’m not kidding), she is a charter member of the Six Pack. Balancing her activities, helping farmers grow stuff, being a B.O.B, swimming across treacherous rivers and narrowly escaping death-by-shower drain, she had cemented herself a true legend in history.
Krizay/Krizing/Kri-well I’ll stop there. You spin my head right round, right round.
“Surely what a man does when he is taken off his guard is the best evidence for what sort of man he is.”
-C.S.Lewis
When have you been caught off guard? Did you like what you saw?
adorable!
{all eyes on you}
During college, I spent four years studying and “doing” leadership. I read enough theories to make my head spin and practiced strategies to the point that the words goal setting and effective meetings were enough to have me sprinting towards the KBC fountain. I’ve spent time surrounded by some of the brightest and most capable leaders I have ever met, attempting to answer the question, “what is Leadership?”
And yet, with all the thought, all the so-called practice, I’m still challenged by it. Challenged by what it looks like, how to do it well. And thank goodness for that. It concerns me when leaders reach total comfort with the status quo - if you’re not dedicated to continual growth and learning, how can you expect your your followers to be?
Whether you believe that leaders are made, born, or some combination of the two, there’s no denying that maintaining effective leadership doesn’t just happen. That collective vision you’re trying to empower your followers to reach? It’s bold. It’s out there. And someone just might tell you it can’t be done. You’re going to have to take risks and answer tough questions. You might find yourself so far outside of your comfort zone you don’t even know which way’s up and which way’s down.
You might have one follower, you might have 500 - either way, all eyes are on you. And now you’re a leader. So what do you do? You look to them. You do everything you can to empower them. Use your power and your influence not for yourself, but for the sake of others. You lead not only by being the “frontman” but by being a servant. Because at the end of the day, it’s never about you.
So how do you do this? How exactly do you serve as the voice for your followers? Andy Stanley said it way better than I ever could. Above is a video of him speaking at the 2007 Catalyst Conference, check it out.
Photo Credit: Cole Gorman
I think I just felt my heart crack. If you know me at all, you know that I have a serious soft spot for children, and this Friday morning, this photo and this story have done me in. I met Cole when we were both students at Elon last year, and have been so inspired by his genuine excitement for the Lord. He is currently living in Sudan with an organization called Water Harvest International, where he is getting to live out his dream by working as a photojournalist for this incredible organization. Make sure to check out his blog at http://cgormanphotoraphy.blogspot.com - in addition to his awesome photos, there are great stories, including some that will have you in tears from laughing so hard.
Cole, your passion and talent are undeniable. Thank you for your desire to make much of God and His glory by allowing Him to make much of you.
Patience. Currently, I have none. Today, I reached capacity.
I’ve hit that wall, and out of either stubbornness or sheer stupidity, I keep ramming into it head first. And of course it hurts, it’s a wall. But I’d rather knock it down and just deal with it.
Just deal with it? Hmm… The truth is, I’m not. I’ve expressed a great deal of frustration recently, but not much more than that. In many ways, my feelings have been far from articulated, and I think that is a dangerous thing. Sure, there have been some ups and downs that I can pinpoint, but when people ask how things are going, my responses are pretty synonymous with each other. “Oh, they’re fine. Just waiting.” “Yeah, it’s a little frustrating, trying to be patient.” “Yeah it’ll work out. Just gotta have faith.”
Vague. Lacking vulnerability. Dishonest. And allow me to be direct - that is not okay.
a good laugh to get you through Thursday.
