Just taking it all in
April 6, 2023
By Jeff Becraft
On Tuesday night, I was at a Board meeting for Our Place of Hope. It was in a new spot for us… in the facility of a great CPA firm in a really nice meeting room.
The CPA who was hosting the meeting, and who went out of his way so that it would be a great evening for everyone, had brought in dinner from Grecian Gardens… pizza, salad, feta cheese, Greek olives… is anybody pickin’ up what I’m throwin’ down out there?
One of the Board members named Kimberly was sitting there. Someone asked her, “Kimberly, aren’t you going to get something to eat?”
In a sincere, genuine, and restful voice, she responded, “I’m just taking it all in.”
What a great philosophy to live by.
Here we were, out with a great group of people, working on a worthy mission, in a beautiful setting, with a fantastic dinner… it was something to enjoy and take in.
How often do we simply take things for granted: “I have to go to this meeting.” “What time is it?” “We have to get through this agenda…” “I have to get this checked off my list.” “Let me wolf this down so I can get on to the next thing.”
But to take the time to take it all in… to actually enjoy what is going on. To enjoy those who are around us, to enjoy the atmosphere we are in, to enjoy the meal. I learned from one of the team how to shake the feta cheese… so that most of it comes pouring out of the container onto your salad… “Oh well, I can’t put it back in the container now… I guess I’ll just have to eat it (and enjoy it).” And all with a Diet Coke?! (Now, I know that diet soda is bad for you, and I don’t drink it that often but I mean, we are talking pizza and salad with feta cheese…)
It was something to take in.
Jeff Becraft is the Interim Director of Our Place of Hope and the Director Emeritus for Youth Corps and has dedicated much of his life to helping shift the vision of people’s lives. Youth Corps is a life-changing leadership development experience that inspires high school students to be leaders in the Midlands and beyond. You can connect with Jeff at [email protected].
