Halftime!

When you get to halftime of a big game, what are you thinking? Are you optimistic or pessimistic? Are you excited? Are you prepared for the second half? Are you willing to pivot if need be? Do you see yourself winning the game? Do you have the right game plan to win the game?

Why are we discussing the “Halftime”?  I am at the halfway point of the clinical trial I am on for kidney cancer and I AM making great strides! 365 days in with another 365 to go!  What took place in the first half?  We have seen remarkable results and have learned so much in the first year.  We have learned how truly powerful the mind is and the importance of accomplishing long term results.  I often ask myself “what can I do in the second half to put my mind in a better position in the second half?” My mind has not been in a bad spot, but mentally I could do better.  My morning ritual of reading “Jesus Calling” is a critical component in the way I begin each day.  I am extremely grateful I was introduced to this devotion book in the first half of my treatment.  However, I have been looking for other ways to strengthen this area and I received something I refer to as a “God wink”.  In turn, several high school friends reached out to me asking if I would join a daily Bible study group via text messaging. This has been a huge enhancement to what goes into my mind each day and a second half adjustment I plan to continue. 

Beyond cancer treatment, I could take this “Halftime” as an opportunity to look at my first 50 years of life.  Halftimes are designed to learn from what took place earlier and make the proper adjustments to thrive moving forward.  We need to be candid at halftime in order to really grow and learn from our mistakes and successes.  I know my diet could improve.  While it is better than it was 365 days ago, it is not where it should be in the back half.  Now I ask the question, “what can I do to improve?”. The first step in the process is recognizing that change needs to happen and then I must be willing to adjust my behavior and habits.

I was recently reminded of a song I loved when growing up; Kenny Roger’s “The Gambler.”   “You have to know when to hold em and know when to fold em.”  At this halftime, I know it is not time to “fold em”.  It is time to buckle in and fight fearlessly.  My grandmother used to say, “nothing in life worth having comes easy because, if it did, everyone would have it.”  The difficult part of this fight is the length of it.  This is kind of like the midway point of an ultra-marathon. 

While the race is long, we must live in today.  What can we do today?  Tomorrow is not guaranteed and so it makes absolutely no sense to sweat over it.  I am so reminded of this as I reflect on the passing of Kobe Bryant.  Please keep in mind how fragile life is and what a blessing it is you have today.  

As you consider your halftime plan, may you have the courage to be honest about your performance in the first half.  May you have the strength to implement the changes necessary to perform in the second half and may you not lose sight of the big picture goal; which is living out God’s will for your life.

Keep working at what I try to do every day:

1. Find something you are Grateful for
2. Be truly Present for those you are with 
3. Ask yourself what you are feeding your mind, body and spirit?

Live inspired at God speed!  SFT!