Linchpin: Are You Indispensable?

Seth Godin is one of those authors whose books are read and quoted by trendsetters everywhere. His newest book is Linchpin (Portfolio), in which he argues that today's world demands people who choose make an indispensable contribution to some field. He describes how you can develop "a powerful vision for our future and to actually make it happen."

Illustration: Lent

Lent originally was established for new Christians, those who experienced a call. They were to spend 40 days and 40 nights preparing for their baptism. If at the end they still wanted to follow Jesus, then on Easter Eve they would be baptized as the sun was rising in the east, signaling the new day, the new era, inaugurated because of the Resurrection.

Excuses, Excuses!

We beg to be a part of God's plan; we pledge our participation; we offer our assistance; but when God provides an opportunity we reply indignantly, "I tant do dat!"

Tragic Triumph

Confetti flutters in the background. Sweat-stained players embrace Gatorade-drenched coaches. The reporter shoves the microphone into the face of the exuberant athlete. "How will you celebrate this victory?" With a large smile, the player replies, "I'm going to Disneyland!" We've come to expect the victor to celebrate at the Happiest Place on Earth. Spiritual victories rarely land us on Main Street at Disney. Instead, spiritual victories often leave us emotionally spent and spiritually vulnerable. Elijah felt the sting of a tragic triumph.

The Uninvited Guest

Jesus once felt like an uninvited guest. Ironically, He was invited. A Pharisee, Simon, invited Jesus to his home. Simon was curious about Jesus but far from committed. Hence, he failed to extend basic hospitality to the Galilean Rabbi. He didn't wash His feet, extend a kiss of welcome or anoint Jesus' head with oil. One slight could be attributed to carelessness, but three slights made it clear Simon was not hospitable to Jesus

Nothing Ordinary About Ordinary Time

In speaking of Ordinary Time, one Web site says, "Rather than meaning common or mundane, this term comes from the word ordinal, which simply means counted time." Another says, "others suggest the etymology of Ordinary Time is related to our word ordinary, which itself has a connotation of time and order, derived from the Latin word ordo." In either case, counting time still sounds ordinary.

Anticipation

Since my son-in-law first ate there, I've been hearing about Fogo De Chao. Fogo is an all-you-can-eat Brazilian steak house. Patrons turn their coasters to the green side and waiters almost instantly surround the table with succulent cuts of sirloin, filet mignon, rib eye, chicken, pork loin and/or lamb chops. You can eat all you can endure. So, the anticipation nearly was unbearable; the expectations ran high; and we were not disappointed. In fact if anything, it was indescribably better than I ever could have imagined.