Lighten the Load

Last Saturday, I climbed Arthur’s Seat in Edinburgh for the third time this year – this time, with my good friend Kai.
We’d originally planned to tackle Ben Nevis, but time and fitness made us rethink, so Arthur’s Seat it was.
We travelled over to Edinburgh on the bus, catching up on our latest news.
As we walked along Princes Street and down the Royal Mile, the summit in the distance felt manageable, familiar even.
Kai had brought a heavy bag with him, and I asked, half-joking, “Are you planning to carry that all the way to the top?”
He considered my question, then, sensibly agreed to stash it in the gorse for a couple of hours.
No point in hauling all the extra weight up a hill if you don’t need to.
That small moment stuck with me.

The Life Lesson

When you’re climbing, literally or metaphorically, what are you carrying that you don’t need to?
As leaders, coaches, or just people trying to move forward, we all take on things that slow us down.
Extra responsibilities, assumptions, doubts. Life has taught me that sometimes we need someone beside us to ask the obvious question: Do you really need to carry that right now?
Our route changed early on too.
Recent gorse fires had closed the path I’d taken on previously and rockfalls had made it unsafe.
In the moment, we adapted and took another way up.
It was unfamiliar, but just as scenic, pausing a couple of times when the incline got a bit steeper.
Reaching the top, it was packed with tourists soaking up another glorious blue-sky day!
Coming down was much easier. We picked up Kai’s bag and found a good spot for lunch.
We travelled home on separate buses as Kai had some things to do in Edinburgh, but I found out later, that like me, he’d fallen asleep on the bus within minutes – exhausted!
Sometimes the best coaching happens in walking shoes, halfway up a hill, with the sun on your back and a friend beside you.
The walk reminded me of a few leadership truths:
• Plans change, be ready to adapt and adopt an agile mindset.
• You don’t have to carry everything all the time.
• And sometimes, the best support you can offer is a quiet nudge that says, “You can let that go.”
What load are you carrying that’s no longer serving you?

A new chapter

I’m happy to share that I’m starting a new position as Leadership Development Facilitator at Aviva!
Day one (yesterday) was all about collecting my new IT kit, getting set up, and (most importantly!) receiving a very warm virtual welcome from my new colleagues.
I’m really looking forward to collaborating on impactful leadership development programmes over the coming months with them all in Perth.
And yes… the thoughtful wee welcome biscuit that arrived in the post was the perfect finishing touch! It was much appreciated and enjoyed! 🍪⭐
I’ll still be doing a little bit of coaching and leadership work through my own company, plus all the other voluntary work including the FORB Foundation.
Here’s to learning, growing and making a difference together.

One Stone at a Time

While we were up in the Sma Glen this week with Carter and Izaak, we got into a bit of rock balancing and stone skimming – it was great fun!
Thinking about it, there’s something about both of those activities that has stuck with me.
Balancing the rocks took me a wee bit of time, and I failed on several occasions.
To get it right, I had to slow down, feel the weight of each stone, and figure out how each one would fit together without forcing it into place.
Essentially, I had to be really still and feel my way, little by little to balance the rocks, one stone at a time. ⚖️
It reminded me how Jesus Christ works the same way with us, one by one.
It’s been my life experience that He rarely fixes things instantly.
Rather, with His help, we need to be patient, listen and take time to feel where things belong.
I know He helps us to find balance, even when things feel unstable.
That’s what Helaman 5:12 is about:
“…it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation…”
When Christ is our foundation and when we lean on Him, I know we can always find balance, especially when life feels unsteady.
With the stone skimming, each of us enjoyed searching for the perfect flat stones.
With the water being so low, there were literally hundreds of great stones to be found.
The tough part was trying to get a good series of skips across the water.
Both Carter and Izaak made some valiant attempts, my own were a little less impressive.
That made me think a little…🧐
Metaphorically speaking, sometimes we’re like those smooth stones.
It reminded me of how the Lord shapes us and sends us.
We might feel small or ordinary, but in His hands, we can move with purpose, accomplish amazing things and touch many lives.
Even when we hit the rough patches, He helps us stay in motion.
Some moments in life are about finding balance. Others are about being sent.
Either way, the Lord knows exactly what He’s doing with us.
So maybe the question for us to consider is this… Right now, is the Lord asking me to slow down and find balance, or to trust Him and move forward?

From Rolls to Rest

My wife and I enjoyed a mini tour and a wee wander through some of Scotland’s iconic spots yesterday with Carter Hunsaker and Izaak Bevell.

Driving on the left was tricky for our guests so I volunteered to take the stress away for them for the day and allowed them to relax in the back seats.

Our journey passed by Knockhill and onwards through Glendevon, arriving at the world-famous Gleneagles Hotel and Golf Resort.

I thought it would be nice to show them some of the rolling fairways, the luscious greens and the grand hotel.

But for these two dear American friends from our Belgium and Netherlands days, it was all about the wheels and the choppers!

From a gleaming 1960’s Rolls Royce parked proudly out front on the double yellow lines, to rows of shiny sports cars that looked like they’d just rolled off a movie set, and a helicopter preparing for an afternoon flight, they were in their element.

And when they weren’t admiring the motors, they were soaking up the view from the deckchairs like Lords of the Manor!

Somehow – I was able to squeeze in for a photo too!

Their grins were as wide as the 18th fairway!

Onward Travel

On to Crieff, the Sma Glen, the Falls of Braan, the Hermitage and a wee shopping spree in Pitlochry all followed on, to make for a fun day out.

Heading home, these two young, vibrant, and energetic lads – simply couldn’t stand the pace.

After all the excitement of the day, no sooner had we left the car park in Pitlochry, that both of them were fast asleep in the back seat of the car!

After 7 European countries in only a few weeks, the two of them were out cold.

And you know what? I was glad to see it.

Because they had soaked up everything: the landscapes, the luxury cars, the helicopters, the history, and the fresh Scottish air.

They gave the day their all. And their batteries had officially hit zero.

Leadership Lesson

It reminded me of something I often overlook in leadership and coaching: we can’t expect sustained excellence without building in space to recharge.

Too often, we glorify pushing through.

But smart leadership recognises that our energy levels are finite.

Taking time to simple recover isn’t weakness… it’s wisdom.

So next time your team’s running on empty, or even just quieting down after a big win, don’t fill the silence.

Let them rest.

Let taking a pause do its work.

Because that’s where the reflection happens.

And that’s where growth sticks.

Even a Rolls Royce needs downtime between drives.

Full Hearts

We’ve had the sweetest few days with some of our returned missionaries visiting us here in Scotland.
A surprise visit at church on Sunday from Pedro Jalo and his family was a real joy!
There’s just something special about picking up right where you left off, swapping stories, laughing over old memories, and making new ones.
Monday was busy with a trip to the Wallace Monument, followed by a picnic in Dollar, and then a walk up to Castle Campbell through the Glen.
Afterwards we topped it off with a short visit to Culross and dinner at the Red Lion.
Our hearts are full.
There’s just nothing quite like time shared with dear ones who are, in every way that matters, our family.

The Cost of Forgetting

After picking up Emerson Randle and her mum Lindsey, from Edinburgh Airport, we took the tram into town, heading for Princes Street and onto the Military Tattoo.
Most of the way we were deep in conversation, so much so that when we got to our stop, I stepped off without a second thought and the tram pulled away.
That’s when I realised: my backpack was still on board!
Suddenly, I realised that it had everything in it…
Car keys. House keys. Wallet. Passport. The works.
I didn’t even think. I just ran.
I took off along Princes Street like I hadn’t in years, dodging pedestrians and trying to keep the tram in sight.
Luckily, the tram hit two red lights, which was just enough time for me to catch up and frantically try to get the driver’s attention through the glass.
I must have looked a wee bit ridiculous as I mimed through the glass, but thankfully she seemed to understand.
She held the tram at St. Andrew Square long enough for me to jump back on and grab my bag.
Back on the platform, I sat down, completely exhausted, my legs like jelly, but so relieved.
Reflecting this morning, that moment has stayed with me.
Not just because of the panic or the running, but because of how quickly I dropped everything to chase after what I’d lost.
That backpack wouldn’t have meant much to anyone else, but to me, every one of the items inside really mattered and I had to retrieve it there and then.

The Lesson

It made me think of the parables in Luke 15, the lost sheep, the lost coin, the lost son.
In every story, something of great worth was missing.
And in every story, someone goes looking.
They search.
They don’t give up.
There is even some running.
And when it’s found, there’s relief, joy and even celebration – I certainly experienced all three!
It’s a reminder that what’s lost still matters deeply, because it’s not just something, it’s someone’s. It belongs.
How quickly do you act when something of real value slips away?

The Power of Being Heard

Recently, while running a virtual learning session for an organisation, a particularly thorny issue surfaced.
Several participants raised it at once.
Supportive comments began to fill the chat and thumbs-up emojis followed.
It clearly struck a chord with everyone.
I slowed down and paused.
My first instinct was, how can I help fix this?
But in that pause, something clicked for me.
I looked at what was happening, not just the words being used, but the energy in the room (even a virtual one).
I realised we’d created something important: a psychologically safe space.
And in that space, those participants weren’t actually asking for solutions, nor were they looking for me to jump in and fix anything.
They simply wanted to be heard.
And I mean 𝒕𝒓𝒖𝒍𝒚 heard.
That moment reminded me of what I’ve learned again and again in coaching: people don’t always need answers.
They often don’t need you to solve their problems, how could you really anyway?
What they need is to feel understood.
To know that someone is genuinely listening, without judgement or a checklist of fixes at hand.
This is empathy in action.
Not the soft, fluffy kind that gets tossed around far too easily, but the grounded, humankind.
In that space we stop trying to solve everything and instead sit with people in their reality.
We listen not to reply, but to understand.
Sometimes the most powerful thing we can offer isn’t a solution.
It’s simply our presence.
What gets in the way of your ability to just listen?

Defining Experiences

Over the weekend, we spent time with a dear friend, Phenix Kline, and her husband, Sam, who we met for the first time.
They were visiting from California.
It has been 11 years since we first met Phenix, when she was a full-time missionary in Dunfermline.
She visited our home regularly back then, always with warmth and a quiet strength.
As we talked and reminisced, Phenix began sharing stories from those visits – small, seemingly ordinary moments to us.
But to her, they weren’t ordinary at all.
They were defining.
She remembered the feelings, the kindness and the impact, those moments had upon her.
The was one story in particular she shared about a pivotal leadership session I had facilitated for her and a number of her colleagues at the time.
I’d walked into the room with a whole bunch of leadership and personal development books and talked about each of them 1 by 1.
That moment, along with a few others had shaped her life in ways we never knew at the time.
It reminded me of something important: We often have no idea which parts of our lives will leave a mark on others.
And that is particularly the case, not only in the facilitation of a leadership or coaching session, but also in our day-to-day friendships and conversations.
We often learn so much in our quiet, everyday interactions.
And yet, they can echo for years.
What small moment have you been part of lately that might matter more than you think?

Lessons from our Plum Tree

Six years ago, we planted a plum tree in the corner of our garden.
Monic was keen to give it a go with a couple of apple trees too.
It felt like a bit of an experiment.
Yesterday, as I stood before the plum tree’s heavy branches, the plums were full, blushing with colour, and I think this year will be our best harvest yet.
For me, it’s simply impossible not to see the spiritual reflection in the tree.
The scriptures are rich with imagery drawn from the land, such as vineyards, fig trees, wheat fields, branches, and fruit, Jesus Himself using these metaphors over and over again.
They speak of work and growth, of patience, of what it means to truly abide.
In John 15, Christ declares, “I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.”
He goes on to say that we are the branches, and that no branch bears fruit unless it abides in the vine.
To me, that’s such a clear and powerful message.

We need each other…

The branch can’t produce anything on its own.
Cut off, it dries up, withers and dies.
But even the vine, strong and rooted though it is, does not yield fruit without the branch.
Working together, in harmony, one gives life, the other bears fruit.
At least, that’s what I see in our tree.
The rootstock is strong, having endured storms, warm summers, and cold winters.
The branches didn’t bear fruit right away.
Like us, they had to mature through careful pruning and care.
Monic, too, had to learn when to water, when to cut, and when to wait.
Now the branches are heavy with lovely fruit.
And it is so with our walk-through life with Jesus Christ.
Being rooted in Him isn’t a one-time decision, it’s a constant daily connection.
Growth comes in time to carry the fruit, enduring different seasons life brings, responding to pruning, and holding fast to the vine.
In time, and with the Lord’s tending, the fruit comes.
As we pick the plums, we’ll be mindful of the years it took, the patience required, and the grace that made them grow.
What kind of fruit is your life producing, and what are you rooted in?

A Perfect Placement

A few months ago, I found myself in Melrose for the first time – a beautiful little town in the Scottish Borders.
Monic and I took a lovely drive down.
And what a delightful place it is!
I was there on a mission: to find an internship placement for Aubrie, a Brigham Young University (BYU) student I’d met in Provo, Utah back in December 2024.
Her request was a tall one – somewhere with strong Roman historical links.
After some digging around the whole of Scotland, I struck gold: the Trimontium Museum right in the heart of Melrose.
Rome in Melrose! 😍
One of the great joys of my work is finding and organising placements for outstanding BYU students.
They bring energy, curiosity, and a real passion for learning wherever they go – and it’s a privilege to support them.
I’m always on the lookout for more student placement opportunities across Scotland and Ireland.
If you know an organisation (small or large) that could welcome a bright, motivated intern, I’d love to hear from you.