Week 125

Positive post Sunday, July 7, 2019- Week 125.  

Michele and I attended Sunday Mass in the chapel at St. Bernardine’s Hospital this past week.  It was a very intimate Mass with only about 15 fellow Christians attending, most worked at the hospital.  We were honored to share Mass with healthcare workers who have dedicated their lives to serving those in need.  My appreciation, respect and prayers go out to all those who work in the healthcare profession, from the surgeons who save lives (like Dr. Gibson who saved mine 13 years ago) to the custodial staff who keep our medical facilities clean and sterile and everyone in between.  A special shout out to my sister Karen Longpre, our family RN who is a role model of service to others.

Not only was this Mass a very unique and personal experience, it also included a homily, delivered by Fr. Tony, that was insightful and powerful and once again hit home for me.  The cliff notes version of his homily is, stop making excuses and be the man, women, spouse, parent, Christian and/or servant of the Lord you were raised to be.  This resonated with me both personally and professionally.  Personally, because I’m fortunate to have been raised by parents (Dana and Ken Rendler) who were, and still are, devoted spouses, parents, grandparents, great grandparents and most importantly, devout Catholics and servants of the Lord.  

Professionally (and I suppose also personally), those that know me well, know that I have little patience for excuses and prefer to focus on action and solutions.  One of my favorite sayings is, “Your actions speak so loud, I cannot hear a word you are saying”, Ralph Waldo Emerson.  I would suggest that most significant breakthroughs in our lives occur as a result of taking action and thoughtful risks, not by making excuses.  Making a positive change in one’s life, or the life of a loved one or colleague, often requires proactive, deliberate and sustainable action.  Driving change is not easy and can be painful and draining, but it can also be very exhilarating and rewarding when you see the fruits of your efforts.  As Margaret Thatcher notes, “you may have to fight a battle more than once to win it”.  With patience and perseverance and by staying focused on the desired outcome, any change is possible.

Where in your life, personal or professional, can you replace excuses with action?  Make the change, take the action.  As Byron Pulsifer notes, you may be surprised how often you accomplish what you thought was difficult.