Matthew 6: Look at the birds of the air

Plenty's happening that makes me worry.

Our adoption process and desire to adopt an orphan from El Salvador has fallen to tiny bits. My wife and I find ourselves seeking God's wisdom, and of course peace. Not to mention patience. Something I've had four decades of trouble with. Information about our adoption agency has surfaced which makes me angry. Also sad. For the agency. For us. But mostly for orphans who are stuck somewhere in the process. Orphans I don't know, but that God does. Aside from the agency troubles which are too difficult to explain in a blog post, we also find ourselves out the time and much of the costs we have incurred to date. We've been on a long road towards being a family, and it's been wiped clean like a home torn apart in a violent tornado. So anger is not a desired emotion right now, as I continue to grow closer in my relationship with God, but is one I am fighting. And though it shouldn't surprise me, I continue to see God's hand in the details. Details are where I find Him. Every time. In people that God continually puts in my life. Encouragers. People with experience. And people who really trust God. Some familiar faces. Others complete strangers. Like Anna who spoke to my company Thursday. Amazing faith. Tangible work that God is doing in and through a single young person. So I am reminded to trust. And grow. And seek joy.

Two weeks ago yesterday, my friend and mentor Joel challenged me. He showed me God asking..."Do you trust Me yet?" And I see God's work in my friends. And he asks..."Do you trust Me yet?" And I hear Anna's story of faith firsthand (Click on her new video). And he asks..."Do you trust Me yet?" And I sit across the table last night across from my beautiful wife who loves me beyond reason. And he asks..."Do you trust Me yet?" And I see my sister's faith in Christ growing and blossoming. And he asks..."Do you trust Me yet?" And I see my brother John looking to God from a new perspective in wonder and amazement. And he asks..."Do you trust Me yet?" And He moved my wife and I to Wheaton Illinois to do His work. And he asks..."Do you trust Me yet?"

So I want to punch myself in the head, and say YES. Yes God, I do. It seems so obvious when I take time to think about all He has done for my wife and I.

But then someone neglects to use their turn signal. Or Sears rips me off somehow (again). Or it costs me 80 bucks to fill up my car. Or my pipes start to crumble and roof starts to leak.

But when I really think about it, or am reminded by the Holy Spirit, I run to Him. Even when I think I'm okay. I go. More today than yesterday. And that's no doubt a blessing.

We live in bizarre times. A lot is changing. But we are asked to not worry. I see the birds, and am reminded of their dependence on God. He asks us to do the same. I try every day to remember this, but forget a lot. Remind me if you see me sometime. I will try to do the same in return.

Happy 4th.

Neocon, Alvin Lustig, and a Design Realization

Neocon is just another furniture show to many. But to me, it's the Superbowl of design. Something I look forward to for months ahead of time. It's an experience that for me is way more valuable than any other design show in terms of charging my creative batteries. And for those who know me, being creative is not generally one of my deficit areas. But something's different about Neocon.

It inspires in a totally unique way. I see colors. Shapes. Materials. Applications. Human enthusiasm and possibility. Execution and good old fashion trade sales. Real ideas being pitched and sold for real money. Not just great ideas, but great ideas with legs. Ideas that are going places. Ideas with schedules and agendas. You get the idea. Rubber meets the road, if you will.

Anyway, in my weekly design group meeting today I spoke to the team about my enthusiasm and perspective regarding the show. I recently received approval from my supervisor to take the whole commercial design team to Neocon so they too can experience this magnificent event. Shortly after discussing this but in the same meeting designer Alvin Lustig came up, as I referenced having posted about him in an article in BarryBlog just the day before. Out of both discussions came a vivid realization regarding the value of design.

As I thought of going to Neocon, I pictured myself back in time and walking the show with Alvin. As we walked together, his presence was felt everywhere. Why? Well, Alvin designed the timeless furniture in the Knoll booth– a tradeshow booth he himself also designed. Continuing further through the Merchandise Mart we notice the catalogs, advertising and collateral pieces being handed out at the show, that as it turns out, he too conceptualized, designed and produced. As mid day approaches and we begin to consider lunch, we're guided to the food court area by Lustig's comprehensive signage system. Pretty much anywhere you look, you see his design influence. One person with such an over arching perspective and skillset, in addition to the ability to think big.

One other important factor in Lustig's sucess was the fact that he was often hired by clients who trusted him, and by trust I mean the fairly rare kind of trust where the client has the confidence to step back, and to step away from preconception. A client who has a vision for something bigger than themselves. A vision so big not any designer could accomplish it. This is part of why he was so successful, aside for a tremendous intellect, drive and talent. If clients really want their result to have, well, results, they will get out of the way of strategic thinkers and innovators and let them do what they are gifted to do. Any designer can conduct themselves in a karaoke type of service to the end product, but only when a client trusts a designer can true innovation and break through work actually take shape with true voice.

I literally had a dream about Neocon the other night. This from a person who barely ever dreams. But it's people like Alvin Lustig who lead the way with projects that not only get results, but inspire. To dream. To build. To take the bar a notch higher. And who in the end serve the entire process best through genuine creativity, guts, big picture thinking and ultimately value to a companies' bottom line.

See ya' at Neocon. June 12. I can't wait.