2 Opportunities: Mentoring and a "Lean In" Discussion Group

I wanted to share two opportunities with you:

- 4Word Women is doing a Summer Mentoring Program! And they have had way more young women sign up looking for a mentor than they had anticipated! If you are even just a few steps into your career - think about signing up as a mentor! They are asking for a 6 hour commitment over the course of the summer - your mentee will reach out to you to schedule calls or videoconferences, and she'll be ready to learn. Think about making an investment like this over the summer!

- Lean In Discussion Group: Carolyn Custis James is leading an online book group of Sheryl Sandberg's much-talked about book, Lean In, on her website: Whitby Forum. The first post of the series introduces why this is important to Carolyn; this week we're talking about Chapter 6, Seek and Speak Your Truth. Don't worry if you're jumping in a few chapters after the conversation has started (I only jumped in last week!) or even if you don't have the book - Carolyn writes a good overview of each chapter and it's enough to get your thoughts going.

Hope to see you in one of these two places!

Cut the Fat

Today is Ash Wednesday - the first day of Lent in the Christian Calendar. Many will undertake the spiritual practice of giving something up for the next 40 days. Yesterday was Fat Tuesday – which is the not-so-spiritual practice of going on a bit of a binge before you give stuff up for Lent.

Fasting from something for 40 days reminds us of Christ's sacrifice for us. We forgo something we like or enjoy to create more margin, and we use that margin to reflect upon God's generosity towards us in His Son. Many people “add” something along with their sacrifice: they give up TV and instead write a letter a day to someone who has made an impact in their life. They give up meals and give the money they would have spent on food to a food pantry.

The Lenten Season snuck up on me this year and I’m not prepared – I don’t know what I’m going to give up just yet. As I was pondering it today, I started wondering what “fat” I have at work that I could cut? Things that aren’t necessarily bad on their own, but if I gave them up I could be more attentive at work, more generous towards my colleagues and more “present” with my tasks.

Social media comes to mind. When I have a few minutes between meetings and I don’t have enough time to get into actual work I mindlessly check Facebook or Twitter. Could I use that time more wisely? What could I do with those in-between minutes?

Or podcasts – I plug my ears and I think I’m getting some “professional development” by listening to an educational podcast. But am I communicating to my officemates that I’m unavailable? And would my work improve if I were more focused on it rather than splitting my attention?

I could cut the literal fat – no trips to the vending machine for 40 days. I could replace it with a lap around the building to provide fresh air and re-focus on the tasks at hand.

There’s nothing wrong with social media, podcasts or the vending machine (all in moderation, of course). And these “sacrifices” seem meaningless in the face of Christ, I know. But I wonder if cutting even those small little bits of fat can make a difference in reminding me of the One I work for.

Remember that thou art dust, and to dust thou shalt return. – Genesis 3:19