Somewhere along the way, many of us stopped exploring.

Yet some people still find a way to run in the fields.

When we were young, life felt like an open field. We could run in any direction — from gopher mounds to streams, trees and grassy hills. We would travel by ourselves, in groups, on bikes, scooters, motorcycles or on foot. Everything was new. Everything was worth trying. Exploration wasn't a hobby; it was our job.

As we grew older, we transitioned from open fields to one highway. Forward only. Fewer turns (with the exceptional hill, valley or hair-pin curve). More expectations. More stress. More responsibility.

We still see the fields on both sides of us, but now they sit behind ditches filled with duties, stress, and other people watching our route with kids, jobs, bills, bosses, budgets, and in general, “being an adult.”

The message feels clear:  Stay between the white lines and keep moving forward.

Somewhere along the way, many of us stopped exploring.

Yet some people still find a way to run in the fields.

The technology director at my kids’ school, a good friend of mine, has taught me something valuable through his example. His responsibilities are across the board: confirming the internet is flowing, security systems are monitored, phone systems connected, and laptops running. He is also our lead photographer for nearly every school event...a hobby he enjoys. 

He’s intelligent, experienced, able-bodied, social, confident, secure and presents a plethora of skills and abilities. He’s capable of doing about anything.

But something about how he operates strikes me as unique..

I see him traveling down the “adult highway” WHILE he spends good time running through open fields.

He walks briskly from project to project. He waves and smiles at people, consistently, when he’s working and walking and doing. He’s the guy that holds the door open for every student AND every adult when they arrive and leave activities. He doesn’t appear to be worrying himself with questions like…

“Am I in the right place?”

“Should I be making more money somewhere else?”

“I’m too important/busy to be doing…(fill in the blank).”

But WHY?

Humility.
Security.
Desire.
...and it’s rare.

He takes action regarding the opportunities to create real value in the moment. He’s not torn over whether or not he’s in education, marketing, corporate IT, sales, or customer service. He sees an opportunity to help, and he takes it. Then on to the next one. It seems he approaches every job, task and relationship to serve in any capacity. Yes, to "accomplish," but more so, to do what he can to help.

He plays out a quote from Henry Thurman as well as anyone I know, “Don’t ask what the world needs of you. Ask what makes you come alive and go do it. Because what the world needs is more people who have come alive.”

He sees opportunities to help and steps toward them. No fear of being viewed as "above or below" any job, and unconcerned about levels of reimbursement or notoriety.

Many of us spend so much time worrying about being on the “right” path that we never step sideways…or even look up.  We fear appearing inexperienced, losing progress, doing something beneath us, climbing some "ladder," or not being compensated the way we “should.” Because of that fear, the people around us miss out on the impact we could be making in them.

My “thing” is encouragement — growing people, clarifying gifts, helping others discover, and rediscover, their strength and courage. When I step into that, it feels like I’m back in the open field again. It’s invigorating. It’s freeing. It feels exactly like what I was created to do.

I want that for everyone.

Trying something new doesn’t always require risk. It doesn’t mean abandoning responsibility. It simply means noticing the field beside you and taking one step toward it.

A small step.
A curious step.
A brave step.

It can look something like:

• opening the door for every student, young and old, after a pep rally
• sitting next to someone you don’t know
• writing the first two pages of your book
• spending $250 to build your first website
• asking your parents the question you’ve never asked
• planning the hunting trip with your 2 youngest boys and following through
• taking a walk outside even when it’s 40 degrees

Any movement counts. Forward, sideways, backward — it will wake up the part of you that remembers the open field.

You’re exactly where you’re supposed to be.

Remain Encouraged 
Brian