Month: May 2025

The Beauty of Singing Over Someone

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Rewatched Rain Man last night. Worth it. So many layers that each time I watch I have different reactions.

In the scene that takes the plot in a new direction, I had one of those reactions. Watch.

The 40-second clip of Ray and Charlie singing is what grabbed me. The beauty of their reconnection through music is unique and priceless.

Singing over someone is beautiful. It’s not the same as singing to someone, like Ray had to Charlie. It’s not the same as singing about or with someone. Singing over them stands alone in the connection created, thus the unique beauty of the moment.

The reason this stuck out to me was I had the opportunity to witness the beauty of someone singing over someone just the day before. I won’t go into the details. Technically, I wasn’t supposed to be there. I count it a joy to have witnessed.

When you sing over someone, no one cares about the elements and expectations of a grand performance like pitch or stage presence. In fact, it’s the opposite. The connection of hearts means the most in that moment. And that’s where the beauty lies.

As churchgoers attend church this weekend, I hope they’ll allow this connection to have room, whether they are being sung over or are doing the singing over.

As sabbath keepers embrace their time this weekend, I wish for them at least one moment of such beauty.

Unlimited (book review)

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Jason Dunn’s accomplishments are extraordinary. His drive definitely seems to put him in a small percentage of not just athletes but people of any discipline or profession.

His strategies to prepare and execute his goals are worth attempting. It may be tempting to think, “I can’t do anything close to what he’s done (100-mile races, Ironman World Championship).” But I believe he’d be the first to reply, “This is not about going after what others go after. It’s about overcoming the doubt and fear to pursue what feels impossible.”

These four quotes thread how Dunn went about setting goals, going after them, and accepting the ups and downs.

Finding inspiration is often easier than people realize; you just need to choose to see the good in the world around you.

If you think or say that something is hard, it will be hard.

Grateful people are not only beautiful, but they are often humble, too.

To be truly successful, you must first do what you don’t want to do when you don’t want to do it-until you do!

If you are on the fence about going after something that seems out of reach, give this book a read. May you find the inspiration to test your limits.

The New Home (Green Light) Odyssey: The Right Agent

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I closed on a new home April 28th and within 24 hours was completely moved in. That’s the short version. The long version includes many right decisions that I eventually started calling “going through the green lights” that I continued to experience.

The decision to move began in December simply by responding to a “for rent” sign. I wasn’t really sure about renting, but it was almost too good to be true. A .2 mile trip to work. After checking it out, the green light read “Move, but buy instead of rent.” The odyssey began.

I didn’t have a timeline other than sometime in 2025, ideally the first half. I now drove five days a week to Sarasota versus three, so the sooner the better, and before the summer heat.

I started a relationship with Zillow. I thought I knew where I’d be most comfortable in Sarasota, so I started following listings in that area. I found quickly that the possibilities widened to areas I had previously ruled out.

Zillow isn’t stupid. Floods of emails suck you in and can foster obsession. One trick that got me moving further on the journey was open house notifications. I finally broke down and went through the next green light: “It’s just an open house.  Go and see what that location and price point feels like.”

That decision to go to a March 2nd open house led to an unexpected green light: “Here’s the agent you are going to work with.”

Funny. I didn’t know I was looking for one. I wasn’t in a hurry. I thought I had plenty of time.

Don’t get me wrong. No one forced me through that green light. But it was a little too obvious. My coming to that open house and them being the agent at that showing was supposed to happen. I wasn’t forced; but when the light is green, I’ve learned to keep moving.

Fear or uncertainty can cause us to not proceed down a path that we weren’t expecting or may not think we are ready for. This part of the home buying journey reminded me of two main things about God and his children:

  • He’s always at work preparing us for what he has in store for us.
  • He knows the desires of our heart and excitedly wants to fulfill them.

If you are sitting at a green light, take heart. It’s safe to move forward.

Photo by Mark König on Unsplash