Sorry...

Why is saying "I'm sorry" so difficult?  Is it the double "r" that ties the tongue and causes it to go silent at this crucial time?  Usually when it is able to be said, it seems it is pronounced with a slight stutter, followed by a bowed head and the word "but" followed by "it wasn't my fault".  Take credit for your screw up, embrace it and go all out on a hardy "I am sorry, I was wrong.  Please forgive me".
Asking for forgiveness is almost as liberating as offering undeserved forgiveness to someone in dire need of grace.  If you can't remember the last time someone forgave you, try talking to God right now and asking Him to forgive you for doing something you know you shouldn't have done or said.  He is faithful and just to forgive us from ALL of our "screw ups".  Best of all, you don't have to stutter, hem and haw, beat around the bush, or deflect blame toward someone else.  Say it with me..."I am sorry, I was wrong, please forgive me".  Forgiven.

Who Knew? When you give something away, it isn't yours any longer.

Here are a few things I learned after my first full week of Giving It Away.  If you are on this journey with us, I hope you can avoid the mistakes I made.

Lesson 1 - When you give it away, it isn't yours any longer
Last Christmas I received a water bottle with built-in filter.  It was a great gift that I anticipated using often.  In reality, it was odd shaped and hard use.  I gave it to a co-worker thinking he would like it.  He later told me that he planned to use it for watering his plants.  My first thought was to take it back and give it to someone who would appreciate it.  Then I remembered that I had given it to him and therefore he can do whatever he wants with it.  It no longer belongs to me and I don't need to think about it anymore which is the reason I gave it away in the first place.

Lesson 2 - Think before you give
Last week I gave away my personal humidifier that was given to me as a Christmas gift in 2013.  After giving it away, it dawned on me that it was a gift from my wife.  I almost asked for it back and then realized that she wouldn't care.  I confirmed that assumption that night to my relief.

Lesson 3 - Not everyone will be excited about your gift
Who knew that a used water bottle(see lesson 1) is not a great Give It Away gift?  I for one.  When I told others that I was giving away my used water bottle, the most common response was yuke.

Lesson 4 - Cheating doesn't pay
Taking time each day to look through your stuff and find something to give away takes time and effort.  On Thursday, I had the great idea of finding several things and putting them aside for Friday and Saturday.  This worked great until I realized that doing this would keep me from creating the habit that I'm trying to form.  I've decided that it is better to miss a day of giving than to cheat by storing up stuff and giving myself a reason to not think about giving.

For those of you that either daily or frequently Give It Away, what lessons have you learned?

Mike's Give It Away Journal for the Week of 2.17.14

My plan is to give something away each day. Here is what I gave away the week of February 17th, 2014. I know that the week actually starts on Sunday but I like to track my weeks by the first working day.

Monday 2/17

A couple weeks ago, a co-worker made a comment about how cute my personal humidifier was so on Monday I decided to give it away. I have to admit that I liked it but didn't use it much because you have to pay attention to how much water is left. If you let it run dry, it may stop working.

Tuesday 2/18

I know that giving a used water bottle away seems odd but it is a great bottle if you want your water filtered. I gave it to another co-worker. If he ends up not wanting it, I'll donate it to the They Are One rummage sale.






Wednesday 2/19
These shirts were my Give It Away items for Wednesday. I donated them to the They Are One rummage sale. I'm accomplishing a couple of things with this move. Not only will they be sold for a lot of $$, more likely a buck, but my wife will be ecstatic to get them out of my closet. She hates this Hawaiian shirt. The proceeds from the rummage sale go to support the children ofCornerstone orphanage in Nimule, South Sudan.

Thursday 2/20

I gave away a 15" LCD HDTV Thursday. It's amazing how quickly technology become obsolete. This HD TV was made before HDMI was popular and therefore none of our devices can connect to it.




Friday 2/21
Have you every been in a office supply store and saw something that you thought you could really use? That is what happened to me with this Eldon Wire Mesh Mini Sorter. I just knew that it would be the thing that would finally make me organized. For some reason, it didn't work? So...here it is as my Give It Away item for Friday.

Saturday 2/22

A few years ago I noticed that I was having trouble reading up close. I went to an optometrist who assured me it was normal for someone my age. He said he could write me a prescription for reading glasses or I could just go get some at the drug store. I picked up these Magnivision folding reading glasses at CVS but only used them a couple times. They are cool because the fold up and include a small case. Unfortunately, my nose is sensitive to pressure and they hurt to wear. I ended up getting reading glasses from Costco that were cheap and light. Now my $29 reading glasses are being given away.

Sunday 2/23
A couple years ago I needed a new phone and was given an iPhone 4. I'm not a fan of Apple but couldn't pass up a free phone and I have to admit that I appreciate how most Apple products "just work" and are easy to use. Like with most new technology I get, I started researching cases and accessories. One of my pet peeves is using most phone auto holders. They don't "just work" very well. I finally came across RokForm and their iPhone 4/4s case that has a magnet kit. I also found a car holder by iMagnet. The combination worked great! All I had to do was get in my car and just put my phone up to the car holder and it would just stay there magically. Last year I decided to switch to another phone that had a larger screen because it became difficult to see my iPhone's screen (see my Give It Away item for Saturday). My son now uses my old iPhone and I'm giving the case that I don't need away. My friend Travis now has a used RokForm case to replace the one he lost at Disneyland.

Huge Inheritance Found...I'm RICH!

So Wednesday night I am sitting in church minding my own business when all of a sudden I get a call, out of the blue, unexpectedly, wham!  I have an inheritance locked away, imperishable, everlasting, priceless.  Wow!  How could this happen?  Why me?  Is it true?  I don't have to worry anymore, all my worries have faded.  What a feeling!  My hope and confidence in this inheritance is creating such a overwhelming joy that it is almost like there is a bright light emanating out of me...a light shining out into a hopeless world of people who have not received their inheritance.  No matter what happens to me at my job, at home, at play, good times, during the worst of times and the darkest days this hope, confidence and light will overcome all of that and still shine through.  It is locked away, you can't tax it, I have it, it is mine...period.
I am not only an Ayres, which is cool, but also an heir.  My inheritance is eternal but I am reaping the benefits of it here and now.  I have things like power, forgiveness, love, joy, peace, grace, guidance, security....the list goes on and on. I am blessed and I will allow those blessings to overflow and bless those around me.  And you know what?  I am giving it away!!  Anyone want it?

 

1st and 10. Mike is kicking off his "Give It Away" journey

Every once in a while, I hear someone talk about something that just makes sense to me.  A couple years ago a coworker mentioned that our body's pH levels are negatively impacted by our acidic diets.  I thought about it and decided to reduce my acid intake.  I stopped drinking soda and coffee.  I'm not sure about my pH level, but I did notice that my need for coffee stopped when I stopped drinking it.  I often drank coffee to get going once I arrived at work and again in the early afternoon.  When I stopped drinking it, I found that I didn't need it to get going and stopped feeling tired in the afternoon.  Amazing!

Not long after that, my wife told me about a guy who had spent years researching how the body works in relation to weight gain and loss.  I read his book and it made a lot of sense. He explained how our bodies regulate the amount of fat they store with hormones.  This helped me understand why some people can eat whatever they want and not gain weight while I have to pay attention to what I eat.  I used the principles of his research to lose 50lbs.  If interested, you can read more at thesmarterscienceofslim.com.

Just a couple weeks ago, a couple friends, Shane & Doug, started talking about minimalism.  My wife is on the board of a non-profit called They Are One that supports an orphanage in South Sudan.  One of the main fundraisers is a huge rummage sale that many in the community donate to.  Last spring and again this spring we have been going through our house asking ourselves what we can donate. Giving stuff away is not new to us, although one of the ideas of minimalism was.  Shane and Doug pointed out that one way to get started down the road of having less "stuff" was to give something away every day.  That way, you create a habit of giving and at the same time, you end up with less "stuff" to take care of and manage.  I started last week and have done pretty well.  I've missed a couple days because I was out of town on a camping trip, etc.  The picture above shows what I've given away so far.  I don't anticipate it will be hard to find things to give away for a while.  I have a lot of "stuff" I don't use.

I could give away everything at one time, like a Hail Mary pass but I think the better game plan for me is to run the ball each time for 3 yards.  You never know, someday God may ask me to go for a long pass but until then, I'll eat up yardage one thing at a time.

If you are wondering why I'm using football language, see this post by my friend Doug.

Join me in this journey of growing, giving and going.

Growing Like a Weed

I am sure you have heard of parents referring to their kids when they say "they are growing like a weed" but how about people referring to the parent?  Most of the time you would instantly think of a growing waistline in an adult but not this time...I am talking about growing spiritually.  Over the last year men have been gathering and growing like weeds through honest conversations, reading books and studying the Word of God.  Sometimes the growth pains were difficult...bordering on unbearable but the pain was worth it.  Like seeing a young kid take his first steps or realizing that your daughter is taller than you, growth is exciting, natural and inspiring.  Stretch yourself, learn, GROW!!

Super Bowl of "Give It Away"

With the Super Bowl still available in my short term memory, the words of the Red Hot Chili Peppers are still thumping in my head.  Those words have taken on a new meaning for a few "young" dads wanting to change their lives, their families lives and the world around them for the better.
The idea of "give it away now" is not new but opposite of the current popular American and world view.  Do you really need 14 sweatshirts?  Is it possible to use all 6 computers you have in your house?  Are you holding on to something because in your mind it is worth more to you than what you might get if you try to sell it on Craigslist or in a garage sale?  "Give it away, give it away, give it away now"
Try to give one thing away each day.  See if it changes your outlook on material things, your perspective on what is important, your heart for the better, and grows your love for those in need.