Love's The Only House: Toastmasters / Law of Gravity

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Love's The Only House

The purpose of my web log is to be a connection to my children, extended family and friends. However, all are welcome! Verse of the year: Philippians 4:12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.

Monday, October 09, 2006

Toastmasters / Law of Gravity

Toastmasters is a club that meets for the purpose of providing a mutually supportive and positive learning environment in which every member has the opportunity to develop communication and leadership skills, which in turn foster self-confidence and personal growth.

In Toastmasters we get a book that provides us with a curriculum to follow. Our first book has 10 speech assignments. They challenge us to practice different skills such as voice inflection, use of props, gestures, etc. The topic of the speech is up to the individual. For example, if I was working on the assignment of using props, I can talk about going to a petting zoo or how to make dinner rolls. It doesn't matter what I talk about, I'm just required to practice the skill outlined in the book.

During a meeting we have positions to fill. We all take turns at the different responsibilities.

Toastmaster - moderates the meeting
Wordmaster - brings a word, definition and sentence with the word used in it to challenge us to use that word in our speaking that day
Jokemaster - brings a joke to tell to challenge us to be able to bring a group into laughter (sometimes very difficult and VERY intimidating!)
Grammerian - catches us saying umm, ah, uh, and, ya' know ... and pronunciation or grammatical errors so that we don't get out there in the real world and have these things become a barrier to our effective communication
Topicsmaster - Brings topics to the meeting to challenge members to speak on their feet on this impromptu subject for 1 1/2 to 2 min.
Evaluator - There are several. Each speaker has an evaluator evaluate their speech and one evaluator evaluates moderates the second half of the meeting and evaluates the meeting in general.

When I go to a meeting, I can expect to be challenged by the tasks I volunteer for or am assigned to do. I can expect to be required to evaluate my peers with the proper amount of praise and critique so that they can improve. I can also expect to be amazed at the growth of individuals that I have seen go from scared-to-death to being skillful speakers within just a few short months. But sometimes I get the unexpected.

Almost a year ago our then president, John Earl, gave a speech. His speech so impacted me that I'm still inspired by it today. I don't know how many people I have mentioned it to; several. I rarely go a week without thinking back on it and renewing the challenge that it set forth. It was entitled "The Law of Gravity". I will put it into my own words in order to give you an idea of the content.

A synopsis of his speech is this: The law of gravity is something we understand. We don't argue it, we don't question it. It's a law. If we have ever tried to defy it, it has either taught us gently or harshly that it is true and constant. When we were young we may not have understood it, but at some point we decided that we believe in the law of gravity. What if we treated all of our dearly held beliefs like we treat our belief in gravity?

How I apply this to me: Do I believe in God? Do I believe he is always good and always wants the very best for me? Then why do I defy him? Do I believe that there is an enemy of my soul? Then why do I play in his back yard sometimes? Do I believe that hurting people hurt people? Then why do I talk poorly of someone rather than empathize and pray for them? Do I believe prayer works? Then why do I get scared or complain instead of pray?

When I get up in the morning... I throw off my covers and they land at the foot of my bed, not on the ceiling. I force my tired body to the side of the bed and gravity takes my feet to the floor. I know it, I count on it... trusting it has become second nature.What if I acted that way with my other beliefs?

I believe in God, that he's always good and always wants the best for me.. so I don't even look twice at the tempatation. I just don't believe in it, that's all. Temptation to envy, cheat, hold grudges, gossip.

I believe there is an enemy of my soul. I don't jump into that warm, comforting, delicious pile of poison that is offered me. I don't because I don't believe in it, that's all.

I believe that prople hurt people only out of their own hurt. So I swallow my pride when I am offended and look deeper into their heart. I offer my friendship and my confidentiality till they grow

to trust me and find that I care for them. If they don't, then they don't. Does their response change my belief? No. Grvity is still gravity. If someone keeps bouncing up and down to prove to me there is no gravity... I just don't belive it... sorry. I'm sold out. I believe in gravity.

I believe prayer works. When life scares me to death with money issues, health issues, heart issues... I pray. I just believe in it. That's all. The issue comes my way and, like my tired body pulling itself out of bed counting on my feet hitting the floor, I just pray and trust God to bring wisdom for the proper direction with my money, to lead me to the right doctor or the right answer or a miraculous healing of my body and I trust him in prayer to do as he said he would do ... that he would be close to the brokenhearted and save those who are crushed in spirit.

Oh, if I could believe in God, his love for me and his desire to bless me with the same certainty that I believe in gravity.

Labels: Kim

posted by Kim Coreson @ 7:12 PM

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