Tag Archive for: community

The Real Way

For months now, sixteen of us have been preparing for our great West Highland Way adventure beginning this week.
Among our most enthusiastic walkers?
Always full of energy, laughter never far behind, and the kind of person who makes even rainy training hikes feel like a party.
But last weekend, a message from Emily landed like a thud.
She’d been out hiking, went over on her ankle, and managed to break her little toe.
That tiny bone had big consequences.
No walking the West Highland Way.
Not even a few stages.
Her dream of trekking through the Highlands, gone in one misstep.
So then came the question: should she even come?
Now, if you know Emily, you’ll guess her answer wasn’t made lightly.
It came after prayer, reflection, and a few conversations with family and friends.
And in true Emily fashion, she showed up.
Not with boots, but with crutches and a wheelchair rented after landing in London.
That kind of determination is something that typifies Emily!
Yesterday, we wandered (and wheeled) through Edinburgh, up and down the Royal Mile.

Together

Friends took turns pushing, guiding, and laughing along the way.
No complaints.
Just togetherness.
And it hit me; this is what walking the Way really looks like.
“For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow; but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up.” – Ecclesiastes 4:10
Emily won’t be hiking the trail, instead she’ll be in the support van, encouraging us all on, and reminding us that the journey isn’t just about who finishes the miles on foot, but about how we can carry one another through it.
Because that’s the real Way, isn’t it?
Supporting one another even when the road ahead looks different than you hoped.
Who may need a lift from you this week, a push up the hill or a word of encouragement?
Happy Sunday from Scotland ❤️

Fellowships

Throughout my life I have enjoyed a whole range of different fellowships.
I simply love the word.
It is associated with so many other “F” words.
The foundational meaning of the word is friendship.
In many ways our family is the first fellowship, where we experience life, a sense of belonging, where we learn to serve, lift, help and strengthen one another.
A family of fellowship provides the foundation for relationships built on love, trust, mutual understanding and respect.
It has been my experience that when families prioritise faith, forgiveness, and fortitude, they create strong fellowships within their homes.
Faith can also unite people in a spiritual or religious community.
For instance, after our church meetings on Sunday, our congregation enjoyed a warm fellowship at a munch and mingle together.

Fraternity

Fellowship also suggests a fraternity, where a deep bond of brotherhood or sisterhood can emerge.
Recently I became a Fellow of the Association for Coaching.
It is made up of a group of followers who share a common path.
I’ve discovered, that at the very core of the association, there is a fraternity of a close-knit group of individuals who support, challenge, and uplift one another – its great!
Fellowship and fraternity go hand in hand.
Last week I was in a deep conversation with another fellow of the association discussing how to build lasting connections and shape the lives of the rising generation of new coaches.
In a strong fellowship, where we have a focus on something, everyone has a role to play, whether in service, leadership, teaching, or simply offering encouragement.
And when that fellowship is strong, it builds a sense of community and people begin to flourish.
Flourishing is more than just a state of well-being, it’s about thriving, growing, firing up our faith, and reaching our full potential.
As each member flourishes the entire fellowship benefits.
My experience of fellowships is that they are also places that provide freedom to grow.
They are the foundation of friendships, families, and faith communities, that lift, strengthen, and inspire us to become our best selves.
What fellowships are shaping your life today?

Bee-Inspired

Last night, I had the chance to meet up with some dear friends and fellow coaches, Philip Atkinson and Dave Kesby.
I joined with many other guests for the launch of Philip’s leadership book “Bee Wise” at the Royal Over-Seas League in London.
Philip is not only a remarkable Organisational Coach, but he is also a beekeeper and an accomplished one at that.
In his book he “lifts the lid on what happens inside a hard-working hive and uses this as a refreshing metaphor to examine working life.”
In essence, “the beehive is the ultimate business case of complex organisations and working life today.”
Philip gifted me a limited-edition hard copy of his book around Christmas time, and I’ve loved perusing it ever since.
The book considers twelve key topics relevant for leadership in organisations today, including change, communication, continuous learning, decision making, diversity, purpose, productivity, teamwork and many more, all through the fascinating metaphor of an industrious beehive.
I’ve discovered a few favourite chapters and understand a little more about the life of bees, and the lessons they can teach us.
Dave was one of 12 guest writers who Philip partnered with to share additional or alternative views, helping to create a community of shared thinking or in other words some hive-logic!
Last night was not just about celebrating the launch of a book; it was about celebrating friendship, shared learning, and the power of collaboration.
Spending time with Philip, Dave, and so many like-minded professionals reminded me of the importance of community and the strength we find in exchanging ideas.
Philip’s ability to weave wisdom and leadership lessons from the natural world into our working lives is truly inspiring.
I wish you every success Philip with “Bee Wise” – may it continue to spark meaningful conversations and insightful reflections in organisations far and wide!
And to all those who have yet to pick up a copy, I wholeheartedly encourage you to dive in and discover the buzz for yourselves! 🐝
Bees thrive on teamwork; just as great leaders foster collaboration – I have a free limited edition signed hard copy to give away!
Tag a colleague, mentor, or friend who embodies the spirit of teamwork and share why they inspire you below.
I’ll pick a winner and send the signed copy to one lucky participant!

Gathering

These are days never to be forgotten.
On Monday, approximately 60 missionaries gathered in Spijkenisse.
It was a day of community outreach to find and teach many new people about the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Local Missionaries, Miles Cummard, Turner Edelman and M Nathaniel de Jong, along with other local members in the area, had already done a lot of planning and preparation for everyone’s arrival.
After gathering for instruction, a few one-on-one interviews, a lovely lunch together, and after a prayer, filled with faith, they headed off to work.
It was most certainly a blitz – “a sudden concerted effort to deal with something”.
Over the course of the next few hours, the missionaries literally spoke with everyone they met.
Missionaries love to share thoughts and ideas with others, especially about the gospel of Jesus Christ.
They invite people to:
Come and See – the blessings that people can receive through Jesus Christ and His Gospel.
Come and Serve – others in need.
Come and Belong – as members of the restored Church of Jesus Christ.
Missionary work is finding people, teaching them, and helping them prepare for baptism.
On Monday, they extended 100’s of invitations to many people.
And the result?
The local missionaries are now exceptionally busy, visiting with lots of new friends.
If you’d like to know more about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, then simply stop and speak with one of our missionaries today.