Batch Batchelder

To Keep a True Lent Is this a fast, to keep The larder lean? And clean From fat of veals, and sheep? Is it to quit the dish Of flesh, yet still To fill The platter high with fish? Is it to fast an hour, Or ragged go, Or show A downcast look, and sour? No: ’tis a fast, to dole Thy sheaf of wheat, And meat, Unto the hungry soul. It is to fast from... See more

Proverbs 1:11–19

11 If they say, “Come with us, let us lie in wait for blood;

let us ambush the innocent without reason;

12 like Sheol let us swallow them alive,

and whole, like those who go down to the pit;

13 we shall find all precious goods,

we shall fill our houses with plunder;

14 throw in your lot among us;

we will all have one purse”—

15 my son, do... See more

All the energy we spend trying to fix what's broken comes at the expense of making what already works unstoppable.

This day I pray for my enemies.

I pray for them by name, lifting them to your throne.

I pray for them because you ask me to pray for them.

I pray for them because I am your child,

and in order to live in keeping with your ways,

I must pray for my enemies.

I bless my enemies by name.

I ask that you bless them today with your presence.

I ask that you draw... See more

We too often think that deep conversations have to be painful or vulnerable conversations. I try to compensate for that by asking questions about the positive sides of life: “Tell me about a time you adapted to change.” “What’s working really well in your life?” “What are you most self-confident about?” “Which of your five senses is strongest?”

... See more

Deadlines, loud requests and last-minute interventions are crude forcing functions. They’re inefficient and common.

It’s far more effective to organize for important instead.

We thrive when we do things when we have the most leverage, not when everyone else does. Waiting for trouble means that you’re going to spend your days dealing with trouble.

This Larry Winget quote reminds me of something I say often, “don't tell me your priorities, show me your calendar.”

“It’s not that we don’t have time. It’s that we don’t have time for the things that are really important. There’s always enough time to do what’s really important, but we get caught up doing things that aren’t important.”

In every workplace drama where someone is scapegoated, isolated, or quietly erased, there are others playing a part, some by choice, most by habit.

PRAYER

CONFESSION: Lord,

help me to face the truth about myself.

Help me to hear my words as others hear them,

to see my face as others see me;

let me be honest enough to recognize

my impatience and conceit;

let me recognize my anger and selfishness;

give me sufficient humility to accept

my own weaknesses for what they are.

Give me the grace to say, “I was... See more