Stories from Hearst Tower

Let me first say that I am incredibly lucky. I have a job that gives me a wide range of experience and allows me to develop specific skills relative to my career in public relations. It also gives me the opportunity to meet some of the most unique people in some extraordinary circumstances. For example, let's flash back to a week ago last Monday.

We have been planning our May 11 Board meeting and dinner for a few months. The two weeks leading to the event were especially hectic, arranging materials, planning Web sites, doing seating arrangements, and figuring out how-in-the-heck we were going to do a live auction. I walked into the Hearst Tower and was automatically blown away. How many people can say that in their first year at a job, they helped plan a cultivation event in the Hearst Tower in NY?

The Future of the News panel was amazing and the experts were incredibly insightful. I felt as if I was in the room of greatness. However, two people stood out in my mind, and they didn't even attend the dinner.

I was responsible for greeting guests at the main entrance and giving them directions to their table. The hustle and bustle of the day made me crave a chance to sit down and be still, and I welcomed the opportunity to be silent and wait for guests to arrive. This was not exactly how the hour went down.

My table was situated next to the front security guard who allowed guests to enter as they checked in. I heard stories from these two men, we'll call them W and E, and their words captivated me. We talked about Judy Garland (my all time favorite ruby red slipper wearer) to Barbara Streisand, to the other famous faces that walked into the Tower.

Conversation flowed to their ambitions as one moved to NY to be a musician and the other's dream was to create amazing movie trivia games. Both had a great place in life. Both were overjoyed at their station. Both knew that they were ultimately happy and believed in the absolute best for themselves, the employees they interacted with each day, and the company they worked for.

Their passion renewed my passion. What struck me is that one said "Amy, you're such an amazing young woman. You'll do anything you want in life. Party planner? Sure. President of the United States? I see it in your future. I believe in you."

Sometimes you just need someone to tell you that at a moment when the soundtrack of your life is playing the most uplifting song that it's sung in a while. I love those moments and the stories of the amazing people who walked past those two men each day.

Twitter theology

A few nights ago, I was reading my Twitter feed (of all things... shocker), and came across Mark Batterson's tweet. He's the pastor of NCC here in DC and I find his thoughts really intriguing. His tweet:

"not one detail has failed of all the good things God, your God, has promised you." Joshua 23:14

and then...

"Not one word failed from all the good words God spoke." Joshua 21:45

It brought me back to Joshua for the first time in a long time. I really needed a reminder of God's faithfulness this week. I mean, if you think about it, there are times where we all feel like the Israelites. We have blessing and provision, yet we don't see it as a burden at times. We have everything we need and, most times, more than we ever desired... and yet we're not satisfied. We keep striving for this ultimate "grass is greener" syndrome, and fall short by spinning our wheels...

"So the Lord gave Israel all the land he had sworn to give their forefathers, and they took posession over it and settled there. The Lord gave them rest on every side, just as he had sworn to their forefathers. Not one of their enemies withstood them, the Lord handed all their enemies over to them. Not one of all the Lord's good promises to the house of Israel failed;
every one was fulfilled."

Joshua 21:43-45

I like Joshua.. he reminds me of the attitude I want to have.