“Awakening the Leviathan”

“You are living in the wonderful time of awakening; this is the time when more people will come into conscious realization of their own value” - My Awesome Voicemail

Joan called, excited about something she’d read, because I was the fortunate person to first cross her mind. I couldn’t help but think about how many folks are living disengaged, drowsy life, and, for some, they are sleep walking. This disengaged and drowsy lifestyle has made them numb; numb to all that is great and valuable, not only in themselves, but also in life and others.

How can one justify such an existence? Ever wonder what story they tell themselves each day? How they put stylus to scroll and document their life – with a straight face? What kind of blatant disregard for self would such an act take? When they look at themselves in the mirror, do they know who that stranger is? Or have they become so accustomed to seeing someone else in the mirror and being alright with it?

Want to know who “they” are?
They are…you…me. Every single time we devalue ourselves with toxic relationships, dysfunctional behavior, or our moral campus fails to point True North. With each of these relationships and behaviors, we are signing a lullaby to the Leviathan within. That Giant inside each of us that stands with a shield of courage and a sword of action; defending who we really are to the death, if need be.

So, how are YOU justifying such a life? What story are YOU telling yourself? Are you putting stylus to scroll with a straight face? Have you such a blatant disregard for yourself? So much that you know you see someone else in the mirror but claim her to be you?

(c) 2009, Dr. Kozhi Sidney Makai. No part of this blog post may be reproduced or stored in a retrieval system without the written consent of the copyright holder.

Discernment and Recognition

Anyone can tell what time it is

It takes more to tell what season it is

- Frankie Mazzapica

As we continue to wade in the waters of the financial hurricane of 2008, it's quite easy for us to feel (perhaps rightly so) that the waters won't subside. It's easy for us to feel that we've lost everything - including all hope. We're concerned about how we'll provide for our posterity and wonder if there's any end in sight.

Though the three decades of my life may not be much, I have found that little, if anything, is random. I have found that there is purpose in everything; even, and especially, when we cannot see it. The Significant Life® begins with the recognition that, without purpose, life becomes meaningless; it becomes a mass of random occurrences that are unrelated and, therefore, have no value. Such a world, I cannot believe in...

Wise King Solomon noted that to every thing there is a season; the challenge for you and I lies in being able to recognize which season it is. For instance, it would be foolish to venture outside dressed in shorts and a t-shirt at the height of a mid-western winter or dressed in long Johns and heavy coats in August in Texas. All metaphors aside, without this discernment, we lose out on opportunities. A good friend of mine always says that "the opportunity of a lifetime is only available for the lifetime of the opportunity;" that means that if we do not grab a hold of it, the opportunity passes. How can we grab a hold of the opportunity if we do not understand the urgency that comes with certain seasons?

I do not know what season of life you are in; sowing...reaping...nurturing...studying...maturing...I don't know. The consequences of my lack of knowledge pales in comparison to your lack of knowledge about the season you are in. "What you don't know won't hurt you" it's been said. I say: What you don't know can kill you!

It's time to take ownership of your growth and development. Growth and development that requires not only the knowledge but an understanding of the season you're in. During a famine is the wrong time to enjoy excess; the season isn't right. Yet, like ants, the summer is the best time to store up for the winter. Without this discernment and wisdom, our efforts are useless as they contain no purpose and direction - we become wasteful of not only our goods, but also, and sadly, our potential...

Do you know what season it is?

(c) 2009, Dr. Kozhi Sidney Makai. No part of this blog post may be reproduced or stored in a retrieval system without the written consent of the copyright holder.