Good morning, Team! It’s Friday!

Jack Nicholson’s character in the movie “As good as it gets” trips over his tongue a lot during the movie but finally spits out to Helen Hunt’s character- “You make me want to be a better man.” Forecast, meant-to-be and received as a compliment, he succeeds in getting her to not walk out of the room, at least not at that moment. The magic of that line is a very proud man who is fighting his demons as best as he can, finds inspiration from a beautiful woman. Inspiration to dig a little deeper to take a chance on something he hates doing, taking pills, for the slightly better than 50% chance that it might improve his condition (obsessive compulsive disorder). Thus making him more presentable and perhaps increasing his chance of building a relationship with this quick-witted, jaded waitress just trying to provide for her special needs son.

The movie is superbly done but it points out the length a stubborn, broken, set-in-their-ways person will go for the right reasons.

So, in perhaps a less dramatic way we all struggle with the armor we strap on that may keep us from being better. It becomes the excuse we use to stop learning. It’s hard to make ourselves vulnerable. We tell ourselves things like:
•I’m all grown up now.
•I should know that by now so if I don’t, I just won’t open up my mouth and people will assume I do know that.
•I don’t have the energy to keep growing.
•or a thousand other things we tell ourselves to remain complacent and slowly deteriorate. Use it or lose it-brain, heart, muscles…you name it.

So what makes you want to GET better?

-Is it for a loved one?
-Is it to accomplish a task, milestone or career advancement?
-Are you still trying to win the favor of a parent, sibling or high school rival?

Do you recognize that God made you with a specific purpose and you may be fulfilling that right now in your current condition…or are you coming to that realization and you need to get better to fulfill your purpose?

We all have an idea of what better means to us. Whether it might be to; read more, consume less alcohol, eat fewer snacks and less red meat, lose 20 pounds, exercise more, volunteer more, mentor more, pay it forward, learn a new language, go on a mission trip, criticize less, share your heart more, give more hugs…those are a few on my list. I’ve been told that sharing your list increases the likelihood that they will happen because you make yourself vulnerable and welcome accountability.

I’d like to challenge each of you reading this blog to identify one thing you have been putting off that would make you act, feel and be…better. Maybe it’s a phone call, maybe it’s a doctor visit, maybe it’s cleaning out the garage and donating things to charity. Maybe it’s inviting someone to lunch, maybe it’s donating your time at an assisted living facility down the street. Maybe it’s {you fill in the blank}.

Have a blessed weekend.