Author: Rob Davidson

Before I go into the details of my service project (in a future blog), I thought it might be helpful to set the stage a bit by taking a moment to describe something with which I often struggle in the hopes that it might provide some perspective for any poor soul who finds my words to be of interest…

The truly creative mind in any field is no more than this: A human creature born abnormally, inhumanly sensitive. To him… a touch is a blow, a sound is a noise, a misfortune is a tragedy, a joy is an ecstasy, a friend is a lover, a lover is a god, and failure is death. Add to this cruelly delicate organism the overpowering necessity to create, create, create—so that without the creating of music or poetry or books or buildings or something of meaning, his very breath is cut off from him. He must create, must pour out creation. By some strange, unknown, inward urgency he is not really alive unless he is creating.

Pearl S. Buck, Pulitzer and Nobel Prize Winning Novelist

It’s been a few years since first hearing Andy Stanley’s Next Generation Leader on Audible (admittedly, at 3x speed), and though I will never claim to have a high retention rate on things like that, I will offer that I heard some things that have affected many decisions I’ve made since.

Two of these in particular, weighed on me quite heavily as I chose a service project for my Sabbatical…

The first is that ‘being busy is not the same as being productive’. We all know this to be true, but it is always a good thought to keep in the back pocket.

For me, choosing a service project was going to be tricky. I knew that there was a good chance that God might have me find humility in tasking me with something I might only view as minimally productive; sorting food or clothes, or painting/stacking/lifting/cleaning – whatever He saw fit.  And, however painfully mundane it might be, I am probably due for a reality check and due to be put in my place…

Or… He may want me to see relief from my daily routine, and instead of being creative, He may just want me to observe and offer assistance wherever my heart led…

Or.. maybe I could stop trying to ‘guess’ and try my best to make myself ‘available’ to do His will as I could… (rinse and repeat)

But, the second – more influential thing that stuck with me has to do with his (Andy’s) thoughts on only doing what only you can do. Which he covered in the book I mentioned above. He also has a podcast and several other works on this topic – and even though it probably wasn’t the big takeaway for most people, and it was offered in the context of a leadership capacity which didn’t directly apply to the task at hand, it still really resonated with me.

My entire life is about creative service – or making things. Anyone who knows me knows that a great deal of my personal life is spent playing music, doing projects, shows, films and videos, etc., with little or no compensation – in service to others. In fact, many times, these things actually are at some cost me even beyond doing the work… So, finding something to do was not going to be a challenge at all…

My creative skill set; the tasks for which I am uniquely suited make the things I can do of particular interest to non-profit organizations who want to stand out from other organizations as they are competing for resources in an increasingly challenging fund-raising environment. So, whether I am performing on stage, running sound or lights for an event, filming a PSA or fund-raising video, serving on a board of directors  or a committee, or writing a check, my unique familiarity with fund-raising in the local non-profit world presents with many rewards, and many challenges…

However, a very big challenge for me is that the things I do in service look just like the things I do for a living. And they both sometimes consume me…

And, I seem to thrive on this.

So, to move forward with some confidence, I needed to know if it was ‘okay’ to choose what I felt compelled to do. I wanted to help the organization with whom, in my current state in life, I can most directly identify with (Global Samaritan Resources). Further to that, could I help them in only the way only I could? I needed to know if giving so much, so deeply was indeed God’s will – and not my own…

Ultimately, I chose not to choose…

Call it cowardice or call it a leap of faith, but as the week I set aside for this portion of my Sabbatical approached, I discovered that my service project had already been laid out for me (and for Lisa as well) by a very dear friend of mine from within the organization whom I admire as a man and as a Christian, and trust to be of a true servant’s heart; never asking for more than he would give of himself. We were both about to meet some remarkable people who were doing important things both in this community – and internationally…

It was the very first day back from Christmas vacation, and Rylee came home and asked me if I could speak at her school. She said that there were multiple dates available and that many parents were coming in. I said “Sure” – but, with no time/date commitment, I kinda forgot.

She reminded me a few times – but was not pushy at all. It seems like there have been so many of these ‘hottest fires’; so many of what Covey would call “first quadrant” items both at work and at home which demanded immediate attention these past few months, that there hasn’t been much room for planning events and non-critical items….

It quickly became the last week of school… the last days of Middle School. After tonight, I will have a high school aged child… A child who texted me from school once again (this time with some urgency), “Dad, its the last week of school, can you please email my teacher about coming in to speak?”

I had forgotten!!

It’s week two of my Sabbatical, and being only mildly acclimated to having some time in my life that didn’t already have someone else’s name on it, I responded, “Absolutely, honey….. When?” “Tomorrow,” she replied with a smiley emoji.

Now, I have spoken publicly many many times with less prep time than this – but not to an audience of this significance; an audience that can have infinite influence over my home life for years to come…

That evening, she briefed me on what I was to discuss. “Tell them about all of the celebrities you’ve worked with! All of the foreign countries you’ve filmed in! All the stuff that’s been on TV! The helicopter crash! Oooh, and tell them about your band!!” So – I was charged with talking about my work/life – AND entertaining.

I spoke at 9am – and then again at 1:30pm to loads of kids. I created a dynamic presentation in Keynote (its’ like PowerPoint) with videos, and PPP’s, and Ben Duffy’s… We all laughed, we shared, I asked questions, they asked some silly questions, I described the series of events that contributed to my career and where I am today…

And when I got to the part that changed everything in my life, I cried. In front of a bunch of 8th graders, I was doing my best to control emotions that I didn’t see coming. I did not openly weep (until later in the parking lot). But, as I described the first day of having started a new business as ALSO being September 11, of 2001, I could barely keep it together. The fabric of our world changed on the very day I was to make a profound change in the direction of my life – and in the lives of my soon to be family. I talked about the fact that I had just been laid off from my third ‘dream job’ and I unwittingly had planned this new beginning on a day when so so much for so so many…. had ended. I talked about the fact that soon after, we found out that Rylee was on her way and we bought our first home.

And then I (finally) discussed my career – the one thing I was actually asked to do.

The thought I hope I left with them is the same one I hope to leave with whomever reads this blog… As my child and her friends are moving into high school, they are already beginning to shape their futures. They are making choices that will ultimately affect their adult lives. With love, encouragement and lots of prayer, this generation of youngsters can realize fulfilling lives and careers that can (and I believe) should be the cumulative sum of as many of their life experiences as their little hearts desire. I wished for them – at very least, the degree of success that I enjoy today… and so! much! more!! And you may ask how success might be defined…

My answer… “When your 14 year old daughter is proud of you and says that you impressed her and all of her friends on career day!!!”

Most of this first week has been spent doing some of the things I put off until I had my Sabbatical… Although, I am beginning to think I was optimistic about how long a month really is.

I had to get car/motorcycle/trailers inspected and registered on Wednesday and Thursday. I live in Tuscola. This took most of those two days. (I think I may have a ‘municipal gridlock’ theme going here)

Additionally, end of year school stuff and Rylee’s theater and dance rehearsals has us running all over town constantly. Add clearing out the garage, cutting the grass, getting groceries…  Sometimes I think I could make a full time job out of just the stuff I do in addition to work.

Lisa and I were both starting to become scared and frustrated as we watched this first week vanish instantly before our very eyes.

But then I realized something… Things were a little different. I had slept. I don’t usually do much of that, but I was at least getting some rest. And sure, I was crazy-busy running all of these errands and shuttling our daughter all over creation, but at least I could. I actually had the time. Just like participating in jury duty, I had the time to do the things I needed to do – without taking away from something else.

I believe that much of the stress that we feel is exponentially compounded by how it affects our other stressors. For example, going to get my teeth cleaned at the dentist causes me some degree of stress. Having to do it during business hours (because that’s when the dentist’s office is open) tends to compound that stress – exponentially. Having an unexpected volleyball game, and a client with an issue that needs my attention – even further compounded…. You get the idea.

All of that to say that I am finding peace in having the ability to be intentional and to be present while performing the tasks at hand. I am trying to avoid my natural behavior of trying to be more than one place at a time… trying.

I am hopeful that this will of use to me as I prepare for a very long week of work for my service project.

I’ve received numerous jury summons over the years – but for one reason or another, I have never actually gone. Not because I’ve shirked my civic responsibility, but it just never worked out… until day one of my Sabbatical.

I jokingly remarked on the timing; thinking, “That figures!” But, after giving it some thought, and remembering to allow myself to be where God and chance put me as a part of this Sabbatical process, I decided to embrace it.

I will spare you the details as I think that the only thing more boring than having endured this would be for you – as a reader of this blog, to hear me talk about it.

But, here are the highlights:

I ultimately was not selected – although that decision was not made until 2:30 that day with no lunch break…

The entire case was roughly/hypothetically laid before us in very general expression during the selection phase. If selected, we were to be sworn to abandon all logic and reason and render a decision based only on what was to be presented thereafter.

This was a murder case… My analytical side ablaze…

Now, those of you who know me know that I absolutely cannot sit still – ever. I guess I was sending body language to this effect and caught the prosecutor’s attention. He specifically and directly asked me (and I cannot recall the exact language he used) if I could, without reservation, render a decision given only the facts I was about to be presented. Upon thinking about it only briefly due to his somewhat rude prompting, I had to answer, “no”. Seven or eight other potential jurors had answered “yes”prior to me. I was the first “no”.

A hush fell over the courtroom (I always wanted to say that and have it mean something)…

I was not prepared to enter into what quickly should have become a brief debate with a professional litigator, so as not to be too disruptive to this process, I responded by simply saying, “You asked me a question. I gave you my answer.” He prodded further by grilling me in front of this group, “You mean to tell me…………” I don’t remember the rest. My angry ears don’t always hear so well – and I did not engage.

After that, several of the next few potential jurors were asked the very same question. There were now several “no’s”, and even more ranting from the state prosecutor until he shortly thereafter gave up this particular line of questions and moved on.

As I said, I was not selected. Part of me was a little bit angry for having this experience ruined by this guy. But, the larger part of me was just frustrated with my own inability to deal with the fact that so much of we do as participants in society – in being human, continues to be reduced to such a low common denominator by those in authority – only so that it can presumably be practiced and understood by one and all. I know it’s the greatest system in the world, but I left the experience… underwhelmed.

Underwhelmed… and thankful.