corker #4: Adam Martin! Adam and I met during our high school years at a leadership conference and then moved out to the west coast where we lived, studied, partied, and worked together at UBC and beyond. His love of chocolate milk, volleyball, and college football is only surpassed by his love for helping others. He is a brother to me and a spiritual rock in my life – never shying away from asking the big questions that make me sit back and think. He questions, listens, and challenges me in ways that very few people can. What a corker!
When I think about the world, its foundation, where we all came from, and what the point of us being here is, I always end up at a same place – none of this was an accident. When I think about environmental issues, the rising level of depression, the wars we have waged, and the other hardships that humanity faces, I’m left with a similar truth. This isn’t how it was supposed to be.
Me plea with the religious today is simple, and it is something that I try to live out every day. Focus our efforts on these things and I think that, together, regardless of what religion we believe in, we can all get closer to how life should be.
Catch People Doing Something Right
When I was young my dad made me read the book “The One Minute Manager” and the biggest message I took from it was the power of positive reinforcement. My hope is for us all to encourage everyone around us when they are doing good things. Whether it’s an act of charity, a hand written note, stepping out as a politician, giving out free hugs, or praying every day, let’s acknowledge and promote these activities when we see them. Now we might disagree on what the “right” things are, but rather than judging those who aren’t doing them, encourage those who are. By doing this we can foster people in this world that continue bringing us into a better world.
Live a Life That Makes People Wonder
This one may be a bit harder, but let’s try to live a life that makes people ask us what it is in us that makes us different. Rather than pushing a religion onto someone, let people come to you. The most persuasive people I have ever met are those that I admire, and want to be like. Their words sound truer, and the motivation I take from them seems more real. The old adage is that actions speak louder than words, and I don’t think that it could be any truer.
Many of the religious people in my life are the happiest people I know, so why is it that religion has such a bad rap today? I think it’s because too often we try to take something that has been wonderful for us and sell people on why it has to be right for them. Instead of selling, we can show the world what our religion has meant to us through our actions and encouragement, and help others to seek the same fullness we have found.
- Adam
More musing from the corker series:
corker #1: Steph Corker -The Remarkable Journey
corker #2: Mike Desjardins – Creating White Space
corker #3: Wesley George – Value and Motivation
Pick of the Post: Newsboys – More Than Enough
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