Prepare with Purpose

Lately, my life has been full of preparation.
Starting a new job, planning for Kyle and Emily’s wedding, upcoming talks, lessons and workshops, some travel, visitors, many meetings and the Christmas Light the World Charity Machines initiative.
Every morning, I prepare myself spiritually through prayer, scripture study, and journaling to plan for and prepare for the day ahead.
For me, preparation is everywhere right now.
But more than schedules and events, I’ve been thinking about how we prepare our hearts, for the future, for the Lord Jesus Christ, His second coming, and for the things that truly matter.

It’s Time

James E. Faust once told the story of a restaurant clock that stopped a few minutes after noon. The owner left it there because people kept coming in, thinking they were hungry just by looking at it.
It’s a reminder that some people are guided by broken clocks, or false signals that distract from what’s real, responding to external cues rather than internal conviction.
Are you living with broken clocks in your life?
We live in a world full of distractions, and yet I know that preparation helps me stay grounded.
Ezra Taft Benson taught that the Book of Mormon has given us a pattern for preparing for the Saviour’s second coming.
A significant part of the book focuses on the years just before Christ appeared in the Americas.
In that record, we see both destruction and deliverance.
Some were ready.
Some were not.
And what made the difference?
It was simply preparation.
Not just physically, but importantly, spiritually.
This morning, I am reminded of a verse in Alma 34:32: “This life is the time for men to prepare to meet God.”
That’s a key focus of preparation and it should be our why.
So, whatever you’re preparing for, a new semester at university, a new role, a major life event, or the quiet work of daily discipleship, my invitation is to prepare with intention.
Prepare with faith.
And prepare with the Spirit.
What are you doing today to prepare for what matters most?

A spanner in the works

Early yesterday morning around this time (05.30am), I opened my inbox and found a surprise, a significant shift in a voluntary global programme I’m involved in.
No heads-up, no warning.
Just increased complexity.
I reached out for clarification and got on with my day.
Whilst out walking a couple of hours later, a colleague involved in the same project rang and said: “Well, that throws a spanner in the works!”
I hadn’t heard that phrase in years, but it was a great fit.
A perfectly timed, blunt idiom that summed up the situation: something had unexpectedly jammed the gears of our project!
Together we discussed the situation at hand.
It would’ve been easy to react on instinct and fire off another quick reply.
Through the day yesterday in preparing for another matter, I came across the perfect quote from Stephen Covey, which described what happened next, almost perfectly, he once said: “Between stimulus and response, there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response.”
Instead, we both paused and considered a careful response.
We thought about implications, options, and risks.
But before we could act, we received a second and then third message which clarified the new position and an opportunity to address the matter directly in a call later this week.
Here is what I learned yesterday….
• Spanners will always get thrown into the works.
• You can’t stop surprises, but you can control your response.
• Don’t underestimate the power of the pause.
• Reacting is easy, but responding with purpose is leadership.
But remember most of all – slow down!
How do you train yourself to pause when pressure builds?

Why I journal every day

Last week, I started a new chapter in my life with Aviva, joining the People Transformation and Talent team in Perth.
As a Leadership Facilitator, I’m part of a small team delivering an exciting new programme called “Lead the Way”, a people solution designed to shape and support leadership for the future.
In my first few days, as I’ve met with new colleagues, both individually and as a group, one theme keeps coming up: curiosity.
It’s something the CEO herself has mentioned constantly as I’ve listened to her messages.
It’s something we all seem to share.
One of the most frequent questions I’ve been asked is, “And what do you like to do?”
That’s led me to share something quite personal: my passion for journaling.
Since January 1st, 1978, I’ve kept a daily journal.
That’s over 17,000 + entries and it tends to surprise people, because it’s not exactly a common habit.
But for me, it’s a practice that has grown more valuable with time.
There’s something powerful about taking a moment each day to write down what matters.
It’s a place where I can treasure up the things that I’ve seen and heard.
The more I write, frequently, the more insights come.
Thoughts that might otherwise drift away take shape and stay with me.
And occasionally, it becomes even more useful than I expect.
That reminds me, last week, two friends asked me about a specific date in 1998. They needed a bit of detail from that day; I’d better check my journal for them!
Journaling helps me pay attention.
It’s where I record the things that mean the most in life.
It’s part reflection, part record-keeping and part therapy.
Many have written today about how journaling can benefit your mental health.
And it’s one of the most consistent sources of clarity I’ve known.
The best time to start journaling was yesterday, the next best time is today!
What’s one moment from this week you wouldn’t want to forget?

The Three Pillars of Life

As a child, I grew up attending The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Dunfermline. My faith has been with me all of my life.
The Gospel of Jesus Christ has made a huge difference, bringing me peace, purpose and direction in the good and especially the tough times.
With a lay clergy, I’ve been privileged to serve in many roles locally, nationally and in the interfaith community. In those years, I have noticed something quite interesting.
Many people who rarely step inside any church, of any denomination, still choose to come to the church for help when it really matters most, especially on the three sacred pillars of life: 𝐛𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐡, 𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐠𝐞, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐝𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐡.
A new baby is blessed, a couple is joined in marriage, a loved one is remembered and laid to rest.
These moments are special, tender, and deeply human.
It makes sense to me, that people turn to God at such times, because they break the bonds of our earthly thinking and touch eternity.
But here’s the thought that has stayed with me: if God is there for us at life’s bookends and milestones, how much more is He willing to be with us in the ordinary days in between?

The Life Lesson

That’s where my photo comes in…
A simple question: 𝑾𝒉𝒐 𝒅𝒐 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒍𝒐𝒐𝒌 𝒖𝒑 𝒕𝒐?
Most of life is lived in the day-to-day events… you know the type…the school runs, the work deadlines, the quiet evenings, and the unseen struggles we experience.
It’s in those moments, we need people we can look up to, but even more, we need Someone to look up to.
We read in the Psalms; “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters” (Psalm 23:1–2).
To me, that isn’t just for beginnings or endings… it is for every day.
So, while I love being present with others at births, marriages, and funerals, I believe the gospel is just as much about Tuesdays and Thursdays as it is about weddings and farewells.
Christ’s promise is to give us life “more abundantly” (John 10:10), not just occasionally, but constantly.
My invitation this Sunday is simple: don’t wait for the great events of life to seek God.
“It is neither too early nor too late to become a devout disciple of Jesus Christ” – Russell M. Nelson.
Let Him walk with you today and look up to Him in the small and simple things.
Come join with us in Dunfermline this morning. Perhaps today’s a good day to ask: who do you look up to?

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?