Mindset Matters

I just wanted to clarify something from yesterday. I am not against celebrating victories. In fact, as emotional beings, we generally accomplish more when we break a large goal down into smaller pieces and celebrate the small wins along the way. But that celebration should be an event – a moment in time – and not a new pace of life. Think of it like Christmas. The spirit of the holiday – the gratitude and appreciation for the gifts and blessings in your life – should remain with you throughout the year, just as the recognition of your goal’s achievement should trigger an attitude of thankfulness and joy. But the celebration is just a season, it’s not a way of life. You can only wear so many obnoxious sweaters while drinking eggnog and experiencing awkward conversation with your Crazy Aunt Ethel during the Christmas Dinner. Yes, it’s fun and festive (but sometimes a little uncomfortable while Ethel talks about her cats and asks you why you aren’t wearing the sweater she knit y...

I recently heard an interview given by an ex-NFL player discussing his time in the League. A very talented athlete and a highly touted player coming out of college, he never really found his groove in the NFL. He recounted the struggle he faced to find motivation and meaning in the pros and remembered the difficulty in maintaining the intensity and drive necessary to play football at that level. The problem: his whole life was focused on getting to the NFL, but there was nothing drawing him beyond that dream. Being drafted was the finish line to him and he lacked aspirations beyond that milestone. In his mind, he had arrived. Soon, he found himself mired in complacency and mediocrity, triggering a tailspin that included addictions, broken relationships and eventually, led to his exit from the NFL. This unfortunate story is not unique to this individual – certainly not inside the NFL and professional sports, nor inside everyday life. We are all susceptible to creating “finish ...

A couple days ago I was talking with a man who was telling me about some of the financial struggles his mother-in-law is facing. He has witnessed a pattern of bad financial decisions and irresponsible management that has plagued her for years. Wanting to help her reverse this downward spiral, he offered to help her with a budget and come up with a game plan for the future. Appreciative, she thanked him for his willingness to help, but suggested that maybe he could take a look at her finances once she got everything in order and got her money problems cleaned up. Does that make any sense? Why would she even need his help at that point? It’s like saying that you will wait to go to the doctor until you are healthy again! “Yeah, I know I have an oozing abscess in my throat, but I think I’ll wait to for that to heal up and then go see a doctor …” Crazy, right? But is it any different than someone wanting to get in better shape before joining a gym? Or losing weight before hiring ...

I think it’s called something like a “White Elephant Gift Exchange.” It usually happens during an office Christmas party or some kind of pre-Christmas social gathering. Just like Monopoly, the rules vary with the house, but the gist is everyone shows up with a gift and then gets the opportunity to exchange it for another gift when it’s their “turn.” However, even after you’ve chosen a new gift, someone going after you can then exchange their gift for yours, and then you have another opportunity to trade away that gift for a new one. This process continues until everyone has taken their “turn,” all the cookies have been eaten, and all the guests are disappointed because inevitably, no one ends up with an ideal gift and will likely just store it until next Christmas when they can try to pawn it off at the following year’s White Elephant Gift Exchange. Because you don’t really know what gift you’ll end up with until the end, the tendency is to be always on the lookout for the “...

Earlier this morning, I passed by a young man, probably about 15 years old, crippled and using a walker to move along a hallway. His femurs, rather than coming straight down out of his hips, appeared to be oriented at a 30-45 degree angle so his legs and feet weren’t directly under him, making it impossible for him to walk without assistance.  After this encounter, I could probably mention something about being thankful for the simple things in life – like being able to walk – or I could write something about how others have it harder than you do, or simply encourage you to not take your blessings for granted. But I would like to take this in another direction because of where I saw this young man: at the gym!  Just to begin his workout required significant exertion. He literally had to crawl up onto the treadmill on all fours and then used the safety bars alongside the machine to pull himself up. Getting on the treadmill was a full body exercise for him. He then ...

This past weekend my family started decorating the house for Christmas. The kids brought all the boxes and totes out of storage and my wife started planning out how to set up the room. As the work continued, I realized I was becoming uncomfortable with all the limitless possibilities in the decorating process. The placement of the tree, the locations for garland and lights, even where the ornaments would be placed on tree; there is no definitive “right” answer for any of those decisions. Feeling somewhat aimless, I opted to finish the dishes and do the laundry, tasks that were more defined with specific, measurable progress and end points. I later realized I was fleeing ambiguity. Isn’t this the fear from which so many run? It’s not really the fear of failure or even uncertainty – although I’m certain these sources of fear are all connected – rather, it is the fear of ambiguity. It’s not that we are afraid of the path ahead or unsure of where the path might lead, the fear com...

Nearly 400 years ago, the Pilgrims landed in what would become Massachusetts after 66 days of perilous sailing across the Atlantic. Arriving 500 miles off course and later in the year than expected because of severe storms, they found themselves already deep into the winter of 1620, making planting any crops impossible and foraging for food only slightly more feasible. Their already meager supplies dwindled quickly and, at one point, daily rations were cut down to just five kernels of corn per person. Nearly half of the 102 Pilgrims who landed at Plymouth Rock perished during that first winter, most due to starvation or complications resulting from malnutrition. Yet, because of the grace of God and benevolent natives who were willing to share with the settlers and teach them how to farm in the New World, those who survived would later enjoy a bountiful harvest, leading to what we have come to know as the first Thanksgiving. While you probably have never experienced the de...

While there are certainly nations like Saudi Arabia and UAE that have considerable wealth stemming from oil, there are also nations that seem to be quite impoverished despite significant natural resources. In South America, several countries have huge reservoirs of oil, but many of their people remain destitute. Several African nations like Sierra Leone, Liberia and Angola have large deposits of diamonds, yet remain poor. Other impoverished African nations such as Mali and Zimbabwe have some of the “richest” gold mines. Some of the countries that were formerly part of the USSR have significant natural gas reserves but have yet to escape poverty. While there are many economic variables at play, a couple reasons for this apparent dichotomy is the lack of technology and logistical capabilities to harvest those resources along with relative isolation and shortcomings in connectivity with other economies with which to trade those resources. In short, these countries lack the abi...

One of my sisters is a piano teacher and hosted a recital for her students this past weekend. She invited my seven-year-old daughter, Brooklynn, to observe the performances in hopes Brook would start up lessons again. Although Brooklynn very much enjoyed the recital, she still has reservations about performing in one herself. The idea of getting up in front of a crowd of strangers to play is quite frightening to her. For a young child, even performing in front of a small crowd must feel like playing for the whole world. The “whole world” would be listening and watching, observing every mistake and missed note. She would be completely exposed. Who wouldn’t be terrified of that?!? As adults, we rarely put ourselves in a position where our mistakes and failures are in full view of the world around us. We make our kids do recitals, spelling bees and plays – where they must practice and perform a new skill or face an unknown challenge with the world watching – yet rarely are we ...

It’s a weird mix of emotions I am feeling this morning. For whatever reason, the pain of lost friends and loved ones seems especially intense today. The distance in other relationships is also troubling, especially with my dad. I really miss how things used to be, the closeness in our friendship we used to have. I am hurting for close friends going through various trials. But I am also feeling tremendous appreciation for the countless wonderful things in my life. There is so much good to be thankful for! But there’s also some trepidation for unknowns in the future, like “What in the world are we going to do with six kids?!? Are we going to become van people?” And lastly, I am also feeling a deep sense of responsibility and purpose. With one week to go before the final Thanksgiving of the decade, I think the dominant emotion I am experiencing is gratitude. My heart is overwhelmed with appreciation for my wonderful wife and mother of my five and a half kids (Number 6 is due i...

I know Christmas must be right around the corner, because we are starting to see the UPS guys a lot, delivering packages containing gifts for friends and family. As we sort through the boxes and try to remember who we had in mind when we purchased each gift, I noticed the packaging enclosing each item. Right there on each box is a picture of what it is supposed to contain along with a brief description of the product, including its features and benefits. But the packaging may also describe what it can’t do or how it should not be used. There’s lots of helpful information we can find on the box like “Do not use curling iron in bathtub” or “Do not light firecrackers in mouth” and “Enclosed Superman underwear does provide wearer with superpowers. Please don’t attempt to outrun a speeding bullet.” But seriously, the packaging usually gives us a good idea of the finite utility of the product as well as its limitations. Many of us arrived in this world in much the same way: deliv...

I was at the gym on Saturday morning, and there was a guy working in the squat rack next to me with a shirt that said something about sacrifice and success. There may have been something about sweat in there too, I don’t remember. But I do remember thinking about the fact that I know moms who are literally half this guy’s size who squat more than he was, so I wasn’t too enamored with the “tough guy” motivational quote on his shirt. But as I continued through my workout, I was distracted by the stench of cigarettes emanating off the same guy. I thought back to the “sacrifice” message on his shirt and wondered, what exactly is it he thinks he’s sacrificing? His lungs? His health? His future? The irony of it all got me thinking, what am I sacrificing? You see, everything is a sacrifice. If I eat an entire cheesecake, I am making a sacrifice. I am sacrificing my poor pancreas, GI comfort and possibly the respect of the of the other guests at the dinner party (unless, of course, I...

This past weekend I spent some time reviewing some very interesting research in the field of behavioral economics (I’m sorry, does that sound nerdy to you? I can feel your judgment, but I don’t care. Some people have friends, I have books.) These various studies all explored the tendency humans have to indulge in unethical behavior or compromise once a certain threshold of “giving in” had been reached. For example, participants in one study were far more likely to make a large diet blunder – like eating a piece of cake or an entire donut – if they had already splurged on a small piece of candy. Similarly, researchers found people were more likely to falsify their level of completion of a new task if they had already embellished their resume or previous achievements in some way. In another study, participants were more likely to cheat on an exam if they had already made a relatively small “adjustment of the truth” prior to beginning the exam. Furthermore, the researchers noticed th...

We are coming up on the last part of the year and I am starting to hear talk of New Year’s resolutions. Unfortunately, I’ve also heard phrases like “I’ll at least try it for a few weeks” attached to their pledges. To me, that sounds more like an experiment than a commitment, and it’s setting them up for failure. With idealistic tendencies, we often set out to make major adjustments in hopes of making an immediate impact in our lives, only to end up faltering and giving up. Maybe the commitment was too much or our resolve too little, but in either case, the change didn’t last and the New You starts acting like the Old You very quickly. Even if the resolutions seem small, focus on making sustainable, enduring changes. In time, even seemingly insignificant alterations in course and trajectory will make a huge difference in where you end up.   Time and distance are the major variables, more than the degree of change. A small improvement compounded over a long time will ma...

Piggy backing on my thoughts from yesterday , I wanted to share a quote from General William Tecumseh Sherman: “Every attempt to make war easy and safe will result in humiliation and disaster.” There are things that are by their very nature risky, and seeking to make them safe is a recipe for a catastrophe. While General Sherman was referring to war and the greatest of human conflicts, the wisdom goes far beyond such extreme examples. It could be conflict between you and another person, maybe a spouse or a loved one or even a colleague. Maybe a clash between right and wrong, good and evil. Perhaps even a battle within your own soul. These skirmishes are never going to be easy and safe, but they are often necessary. We must learn to be okay with the fact that easy and safe may be more destructive than hardship and danger. Seeking to eliminate risk where it is fundamentally inherent to the task at hand is a dangerous mission indeed.

Several times over the past week or so people have told me, “Have a safe day!” Not a nice day, not a great day, not even a good day. I was told to have a “safe” day. Now, living in AK, it’s one thing if it’s particularly icy outside and someone says, “Be safe out there!” I get it. But, “Have a safe day”? When did that become an acceptable salutation? I realize these people were just trying to be friendly, but I think it may be indicative of a larger issue: the exaggerated importance we place on safety. Back when I was a kid (yes, I’m old enough to say that now), I used to play with knives and matches, and I am pretty sure the sole reason my parents had so many offspring is they figured not all of us would make it. Our childhood was basically a process for weeding out the weak and unfit. Now kids wear helmets at playgrounds and eat blended food because oatmeal is too much of a choking hazard. Just to be clear, I am not advocating recklessness at all. And while I agree safet...

Listening to an interview with Tom Bilyeu, founder of Quest Nutrition, I heard him say, “Too many people set out to find fulfillment only to settle on success.” That quote stopped me cold. Fulfillment is what is personally meaningful, that which makes your heart come alive. Some may call it a passion. Others look at it as a calling. It is what God uniquely designed you to do in this world. It may be large and grandiose or subtle and quiet, but in either case it’s a path deeply meaningful to the one traveling it. But too often there’s a substitution that takes place somewhere along the way. We choose the path laid out by external influence rather than internal inspiration. In doing so, we may find ourselves settling for success (as the world defines in), rather than pursuing fulfillment. Many around us will end up trading what is tremendously important to them personally for what is popular within the world around them. We must each be diligent to discern the differenc...

Many of us start our day looking in the mirror. Your morning routine might begin with brushing your teeth, washing your face, shaving, or - like me - putting in your contacts so you can actually see what’s going on in that mirror. In any case, we start the day with a view of ourselves. There are many analogies and lessons one could draw from that statement, but I want to spend a little time on one that I struggle with. When looking in a mirror, I am focusing on me and I have less attention and concern for others. If I am “looking in the mirror” metaphorically, I am concentrating on my needs and how I can benefit rather than looking out a window seeking to serve others and meet the needs of those around me. I love this quote from C.S. Lewis on humility, “Humility isn’t thinking less of yourself; it is thinking of yourself less.” Lewis encourages us to have an others-centric view of the world to have the greatest impact. It doesn’t mean we ignore or downplay our own abilitie...

Today my family will celebrate the 6 th birthday of my son, Benaiah. Diagnosed with a terminal condition in utero, we were told he might not survive the pregnancy and would certainly not live to see his first birthday. Now a happy, healthy boy, my son has a remarkable story and days like today are a vivid reminder of God’s tremendous blessing in my life. These milestones trigger my mind to look back and dwell on those blessings. That being said, I can also get so caught up the stress and strain of the here-and-now that I forget about the miracles in my life. As a parent, I can allow myself to get frustrated with Ben and neglect to focus on the blessing he is to me and my family. I get distracted from how truly wonderful my life is because of passing trials or even mere inconveniences. This can happen with any major blessing in life. The job you once worked so hard to get is now taken for granted. The person who is the love of your life isn’t cherished the way he or she s...

We have been told “Knowledge is Power.” And while I believe knowledge is incredibly important, I would argue knowledge is potential, not power. Like a full tank of gas in a parked car, knowledge alone isn’t going to take you anywhere. In much the same way, a pile of firewood without a flame also offers you plenty of potential, but it won’t keep you warm and I would be very nervous to eat anything you’ve cooked over it. Potential is important and knowledge is vital, but just like the gas in the car or the bundle of firewood, they require a spark to ignite the possibilities. Only then can potential be transformed into energy and action. Only then does the knowledge actually take you somewhere or produce something of value. Seek knowledge. Store knowledge. But don’t stop there. Find the spark to ignite the potential. Only then will knowledge become power.

Years ago, I walked on to the University of Alaska Track and Field Team. I was athletic, but very raw and unpolished. While I very much enjoyed sprinting, my technique and form were lacking, and I had a lot of work ahead of me to get it up to par. Especially in the early practices, I remember coaches working with me to eliminate unnecessary movement as I ran, particularly during the acceleration phase out of the blocks. My head and neck would bounce around, my arms had too much lateral motion which caused my hips to swivel and my torso to twist. Basically, there was a lot of extra motion in my running form that gobbled up precious energy and effort. As I began to eliminate the unnecessary and detrimental actions, more force and momentum was harnessed towards propelling me down the track and my times improved. The same thing can happen as we travel down the path of life. We get hampered by busyness and aimless activity that saps our limited stores of energy and effort, slowi...

I’m not really sure what to write today and not feeling much “inspiration,” but I promised myself I would create something. And even though it may not be my best work, I don’t want to give in to the urge to skip out on my commitment. I may strike out, but I want to go down swinging! And maybe there’s something in that right there. Choosing to act regardless of outcomes. Even when it’s almost certain your efforts won’t be praised and rewarded, there’s something to say for sticking it out and acting anyway, because giving in is a destructive alternative. You may not break any records today, make the big sale, write your masterpiece, PR during the workout or change the world in a moment, but committing to the actions you placed before yourself – the activities that will further your cause and advance you towards your purpose – is a win in itself. Being able to “just do it” when there’s every reason not to – regardless of the outcome – is important. Both giving in and perse...

The human eyeball, although amazingly complex and effective, is not without its shortcomings. Because it lacks photoreceptor cells in certain areas of the eye, we are left with “blind spots” in our vision in which no visual data is picked up. The brain then receives a half-painted picture of reality and, not wanting to relay this unfinished scene to the visual center of the brain, essentially “colors in” the remaining details. This allows us to perceive a full, uninterrupted sight picture without noticing that a portion of what we view has been filled in, not by what we are actually seeing, but by what the brain perceives to be there. In fact, our vision outside of a fairly narrow cone of acuity; is not actually all that perceptive. Our brain focuses mostly on just the areas within our field of vision that are captured by the densest concentration of photoreceptors in the eye. Everything else is subject to the artistic license of our brain. So only what you focus on is seen ac...

There seems to be a constant buzz in diet and nutrition circles as health-conscious individuals are always seeking ways to add some superfood into their diets. Kale, flax seeds, chia seeds, coconut oil, omega 3 fatty acids, and many others would all be on that list of having their heyday at some point. In addition to actual foods, many people are looking for the “magic pill” to add to their toolbox; something that will make exercising easier and speed up weight loss or advance them towards some other health goal. While many are looking for that “next thing” to add, sometimes the biggest step someone can take is cutting out a harmful item rather than adding a healthy one. The human body has amazing systems in place to repair, recover and revitalize, but we often thwart those natural process by ingesting foods or engaging in otherwise unhealthy behaviors that create a great deal more work for our body and reduce the impact of those inherent processes. For example, poor diets ...

It’s very easy to get caught up in engaging in tasks or ventures that offer “any value.” Meaning, we chose an activity or a commitment because we can identify some benefit, however trivial, and therefore assume it’s a positive choice. The danger in this is twofold. First, there is always an opportunity cost in the time and effort required for the action. Second, there are often unintended or undesirable “collateral consequences” that come along for the ride. For example, you begin the day by turning on the news because there is a particular bill in the house you are following or maybe you are hoping to find out why you heard so many sirens going by your house in the wee hours of the morning. In the process of watching the news you may or may not get the information you were seeking, but you also were likely exposed to plenty of trivial and sensationalized “news” that will do you no good. In fact, it may even do you harm because of the pessimistic nature of reporting and its...

Both gratitude and appreciation have been shown to be phenomenal treatments to ward off negativity and even depression. By deliberately contemplating the people, circumstances and even material things in your life for which you are thankful, you can effectively better your mood and probably enhance your outlook on the entire day. Do this often enough and it may shift how you perceive life in general. Want to go a step further? Reach out and express gratitude to those people responsible for the events and circumstances in your life for which you are so appreciative. Your perspective will likely begin shifting to a more positive and optimistic outlook, even in the face of challenges. While it is easy to wake up and pick someone to which you will send a note of gratitude – maybe this is a postcard or, if you were born after 1955, probably a text – it is just as easy not to. And in order for this to work, I believe it has to become a habit. Why? Because there is no cure for pessimi...

I recently heard someone trying to motivate and encourage others by discounting fear. He said things like “fear isn’t real,” “fear is a lie” and “fear is nothing.” You may have heard similar descriptions such as “fear is just False Evidence Appearing Real.” I realize people who talk like this are just trying to help, but we do a disservice to others by pretending fear isn’t real or by suggesting fear shouldn’t be experienced if one is courageous. I’ve addressed this before but wanted to revisit it again. Fear is a very necessary and important emotion. It’s part of what makes us human. If we pretend like fear isn’t there it can destroy us. If we assume only cowards feel fear, we will never be brave. Overcoming fear is not to be numb to its effects. Rather, it is to not be overcome by it and act appropriately despite what we feel. It is to see fear not as an adversary standing in front of us, blocking our path, but to view fear as a companion that travels beside us. Our c...

Rarely does a stream or river ever flow in a straight line for very long. Rivers often have a serpentine, meandering course as they seek the path of least resistance. Water will always travel downhill when given the choice. It circumvents obstacles and works around barriers, always desiring an easier direction in which to move. Then, once it has found that path of least resistance, a river will solidify that course as it carves a rut through the earth. This works for a while until an obstacle blocks its path – maybe a large boulder or a fallen tree – and it then adjusts its course to avoid that obstruction. Is it is the nature of traveling the path of least resistance that gives a stream its crooked shape. There is no intentionality or purpose in how water flows. It simply seeks out the easiest direction forward. In much the same way, humans become crooked while following the path of least resistance. While it may be unfair to use the definition of crooked meaning evil and corr...

In addition to the plastic bottle conspiracy , there’s another product designed for feeding children I simply don’t understand: the plastic knife. First of all, what need does your fourteen-month-old have of a knife? They can barely find their face when trying to eat, do they really have the motor skills to use any utensil, much less two as we expect them to hold their food down with their fork and slice it with their knife? Also, what are they needing to cut up anyway? “Here’s your lunch junior, now make sure you cut up your oatmeal and mashed avocado into small bites!” There’s really no reason for any little kid to have a knife, unless of course you are trying to encourage mutiny. And if you have ever met a two-year-old you know that the last thing a toddler needs is any encouragement to be mutinous. That comes quite naturally to those little terrorists. (Maybe it’s because we feed them stuff like oatmeal mixed with avocado …) But here’s my biggest issue with the plastic kn...

My morning started with my toddler waking up crying long before it was time for him to be up for the day. It isn’t so much that he isn’t ready to face the world early in morning, it’s more that at 6am, the world isn’t ready to face Brecken. My wife started to get up to get him a bottle, but being the loving, sensitive husband and father I am, I told her I would do it so she could go back to sleep. My alarm had gone off just seconds earlier so I didn’t have my contacts in yet and I began to fumble around for my glasses when my wife says in more-than-a-little-threatening tone, “you’d better hurry before he wakes up the whole house.” Desperate to avoid the ire of my pregnant bride, I hurried downstairs to fetch a bottle for the young prince. I manage to navigate through the kitchen, half-blind and in the dark, and made my way to the drawer containing the bottles. It would be too easy if we had just one brand and size of bottle, so we have at least three or four different styles ...

A while back, I wrote about each day being a blank canvas . A new start and the opportunity for a fresh beginning. Although I do believe this is true, I also know that we have a tendency to begin painting that new canvas with old brushes, contaminating a potentially fresh start with the residue and grime of the past. Although the day begins anew, we drag dirt from the past into the present and stain the future. It’s not enough to see each day as a fresh start if I, as the brush, am still polluted by the past. Just as a mix of different colors on a brush creates a dark smear, obscuring the pure white of the canvas, the tarnish of the past can blind me, preventing me from seeing what could be because I am held back by what has been. Just as putting new wine in old wineskins is a recipe for disaster (Matthew 9:17), painting on a pure surface with a contaminated brush presents its own pathway to discouragement and frustration. God provides us with the chance for a fresh sta...

My daughters recently began taking horse riding lessons. I don’t quite understand the draw of riding a large, stinky animal around in circles – especially now that they have invented the car – but my girls love it, so I’ve tried to be supportive. Anyway, my little seven-year-old, Brooklynn, is only about two months into lessons and is just starting to build her confidence in controlling such a massive animal. Brook is maybe 50lbs when soaking wet and wearing a Flavor Flav style gold chain, so this horse is quite literally 20 times her size if not more. Yesterday she was learning how to modulate the horse’s gait from standing, to walking, to a trot (which is kind of like a horse jog, I think) then back down to a walk and to standing again. Sometimes this horse required a bit more motivation to move than my tiny and (sometimes) soft-spoken daughter would provide, so the instructor was trying to get Brook to assert herself a little more as she rode. Something clicked inside my da...

One of my concerns with the world we live in is kids are growing up being trained as test takers and not thinkers. They are being groomed to come up with the right answers, but don’t learn to answer – or even ask – the right questions. What happens to kids when they graduate college and find out the most important questions in life don’t have a “right” answer. How will they deal with failure when the are faced with only “bad” choices and try to come up with a solution when all the paths ahead seem to be “wrong”? What’s the right answer when they are laden with student loans and faced with taking a job that will pay the bills or one that fits their passion and desired direction in life? There are no “right answers” when life hits you hard and you lose a spouse, lose a child, go through a major health crisis or even lose a job. Life isn’t a multiple-choice test in which the answer justifies the means. Sometimes how you address a problem is more important than the answer you c...

In Luke 5, we read a story that begins with two empty boats. Then we find Peter on the shore washing and repairing his nets. Jesus first commands Peter to get into the boat with Him. Peter obliges, and they push off into the water. Then, in verse 4, Jesus instructs Peter, “Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” It is at this point in the narrative that we find out why the boats were empty and why Peter was sitting on the shore repairing his nets instead of standing in the boat casting them. Peter initially resists Jesus’ directive and says, “Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing.” Peter wasn’t mending his nets because they were in disrepair – after all, they hadn’t held any fish all night – he was mending his nets because he was worn down by failure, and it was easier to avoid the risk of further defeat with the semblance of preparation. By engaging in an activity that appeared to be productive, he was able to justify his neglect of the action...