Red One

Our family, much like yours, probably spent one weekend in the last few weeks watching the latest Christmas Classic, Red One. Our family laughed, watched in awe and had a sense of wonder while watching it. I love the idea of Santa Clause. I personally did not stop believing til I was about 11 years old, I knew but I chose to believe otherwise. I love the magic of Christmas. I love the Coca Cola Polar Bears. I love the smells, the music, the food, the colors and more importantly the reason for the season. This particular time of year gives me great anticipation for the days ahead but there have been many tears at this time of year too. I have spent many Christmas seasons searching for the warm glow that once held my heart only to be replaced by fear, anxiety, hopelessness, loss, frustration or disappointment. I gave hope away so willingly in these seasons and traded it out for worry. Have you experienced this? Have you experienced a sense of loss or misdirection in seasons of life that are suppose to be full of meaning? Have you misplaced purpose for duty and been left feeling empty? Have you held tight to what you have and lost everything you cared about because of the tight grip? Have you made choices without actually making choices but made the choice, because you wouldn’t choose? As I watched Red One, there is a moment that Cal, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnsons character, is speaking with Nick; you know St. Nick aka Santa Clause. Nick looks at Cal, he sees that he has lost his hope, his vision, his purpose and replaced it with questions and duty. He then says this. Cal,“Everyday, Every decision, is an opportunity to be, nice to, to be good.” - Nick Read that again. What a powerful word that is.

What a powerful reminder of the position we are all in. No matter our station, our color, our creed, our background, our religion, our financial position, our health status or social status. No matter what, we have a choice. Every single day, we have a choice. To show up. To not only be a part of our story but to write it. So often times we let other peoples thoughts, opinions, viewpoints and assumed judgements rule our lives. We give them power over how we show up. “They did this”, “They did that”, “She made me feel this”, “He made me do that”. I like to call these the “Well If’s” Well….if this wouldn’t have happened, I wouldn’t have done this. well….If so and so would’ve said this, I would have done that. Well IF’s steal our lives. We bankrupt our ability to really live out our purpose in the world when these statements fall out of our mouths. There is no, “well if”, that is good enough to replace an “I choose”. I choose to love, to act, to respond, to show up, to be consistent….in spite of any well….IF

There are no perfect conditions. There are no perfect scenarios. There is always hard. There is always harder. There is always a reason to doubt. Yet there is always a reason to hope. There is always a reason to be kind. There is always reason to be strong. There is always a reason to do the hard thing. There is always a reason to take the path less traveled. Why? Because you get to find out who you could become, meet that person in the mirror and live a full life where, everyday you show up; everyday you make decisions to be the type of person you can be proud. I believe that, the hope of the world came in the form of a Savior in a manger. That colors my view. But I also believe, that no matter where you place your hope, you can always bet on becoming the best version that you have to offer. Because most of us, have zero clue what that is, we just “well if” it away. I hope today, that... Everyday, Every Decision gives you a filter to find out who that human you wish weren’t could become. You Are LOVED. You Are VALUABLE. YOU ARE CARED FOR. Merry Christmas Ya’ll Zack Schuyler

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