Billy Blurb

I went hiking with my daughter on trails in Big Sur, California, this past week. We hiked up to the top of a mountain, camped, and then played around in the creeks and enjoying the views, because we only had a 4-hour hike back down a different path, and we could be back for a late Thanksgiving meal with family.

Or so we thought.

It ended up being over a 9-hour hike instead, and our “afternoon hike” had us trudging well into the darkness on trails that had not been tended to for a long, long time. It was clear on the map. It was not clear in reality. We forced ourselves through overgrown brush, fallen down trees, the vines and thorns grabbing us, daring us to keep pressing on. But press on we did, and we finally made it back to where we were staying well after midnight. I ended up having a gas station burrito for dinner instead of a turkey feast.

If you know me, I’m always up for a challenge like that. But it wasn’t what we were expecting, simply because the trail had become overgrown, to the point I don’t even think the deer used it to get around through the forest. A long time ago, some people cut and marked a path through the woods so others could come along after them and enjoy the beauty without having to become Grizzly Adams. But someone forgot the basics of trail maintenance, clipping here, cutting there, and now it becomes a far cry from what those first visionaries had in mind.

It has me thinking about the path of our mission here at Tri County Air, and the values that give us clarity on that path. We’ve talked a lot about that in the past, but it is something that we need to continually keep in front of us, otherwise it gets overgrown with the everyday demands and responsibilities of our daily demands. So I wanted to remind us of our mission: “To comfort all in such a way that they are compelled to tell others about their experience, and it honors the Great Comforter, Jesus Christ.” That is the path we are on, and the way to keep that path clear and accessible is by living out our values: Caring, Honesty, Respect, Invest In The Eternal, Service Excellence, and Teamwork. We see how living these values brings clarity to our everyday responsibilities, and helps us fulfill our mission. You do this so well. I’m simply reminding us to keep clearing the path by continuing to live them out.

By the way, if you’ve ever noticed, the values spell out C.H.R.I.S.T., which is anchored in the One we honor in our mission. And it hit me that as we celebrate the birth of Jesus this Christmas, that it was He who cleared a path for us to Heaven, cutting down the consequences of our sin, shame, and fear. He saves us out of our darkness to bring us back home to God. I hope this Christmas brings greater clarity to you of the path you are on in life, and how Christ can make the journey infinitely better. Merry Christmas!

Invest In The Eternal

One of the many ministries we support through Tri County Air is a Care Point in Guatemala that helps with the educational, nutritional, relational, and spiritual development of kids that are vulnerable and at risk. We sponsor 40 kids, and have helped the Care Point with various capital campaigns. Click on this link or on the picture below to watch the latest report that was shared over Zoom. The other people in the video represent other organizations that support Puerta de Esperanza through Children’s Hope Chest.

Getting & Staying Well

As we continue through the holiday season and stress levels rise, how can we stay grounded and keep calm? Making small, intentional changes in our routines can help maintain or improve our physical and mental well-being. The following three tips from RightNow Media will help you manage stress, achieve balance, and stay energized in the final stretch of the year!   Take time for self-care. It’s easy to have so much on the to-do list that you forget about your own needs. Ask yourself, “When was the last time I took a break?” Remember, self-care comes in many forms. To stay energized, focus on healthy habits like eating well, getting quality sleep, and staying active.   Practice gratitude in the mundane. Gratitude not only supports your psychological or physical wellness, it improves every aspect in your life. If you are struggling through a difficult moment, remember that there is hope for the future. Start by finding three things throughout your day that you are grateful for and reflect on them. Focus your attention on what really matters. Studies show that even a brief distraction can cost you an average of twenty minutes, pulling valuable time and energy away from your main priorities. Giving your attention to what is most important in your life can help you limit distractions and focus on what matters most.

We get to celebrate some very special people through their birthday and work anniversaries. Give these people affirmation and encouragement as they mark these special milestones.

Pics From Around

From The (Crowded) Hart

One of the most well-known Christmas carols is Joy To The World. It’s got great words, and is an emphatic tune. But there is a particular reason it catches my attention, because one of the lines in it is “let every heart prepare Him room”. You see, I hear it as “let every Hart prepare Him room”. See what I did there? When I’m singing that at a Christmas Eve service this year at my mom’s church, I’ll be thinking of my “Harts”, Barbie, my kids, my mom, and extended family, and praying that we all will be making room in our hearts, in our lives, for the One we’re singing about in the song.

The problem? My heart is crowded with so many other things. Not necessarily bad things, mind you. After all, this isn’t a confessional booth. Just things in general: The latest breaking news. Dinners out. Work. Projects to do at home. Preparations for upcoming guests. Choosing what shows to stream (how can there be so many?) Figuring out how to stretch the dollar while staying within our means. The latest update on Facebook. Walking the dog. Meeting new neighbors. Paying the bills. Washing the car. Putting up decorations. Taking down decorations. Addressing health concerns. Checking to see if Bryson DeChambeau made a hole-in-one over his house yet (he finally did on Day 16). Rooting on the Bucs. Planning trips. Enjoying gatherings with friends. The list goes on. And on. And on.

I’ve got a crowded heart. And my guess is you might too. Which is why that one line catches me, and not just because it rhymes with my last name. It invites me to consider what is of first importance? What takes the primary place in my heart? And what does it take to make room for what should take first place, the One who created me, in Whose image I’m made? Christmas is a great time to take stock in what I value most, and to align myself with what truly matters most. It’s a time to rearrange and reorder, so that as I start a new year a week later, my heart is not so crowded that it doesn’t have room for the King of my heart, or at least for who I want to be King of my heart.

I want to share something with you that may help you during this Christmas season make room in your heart for what is of most importance. I shared a link in an email with everyone this week to a free ebook that helps reflect on Advent, that season leading up to Christmas when we celebrate the birth of Jesus. This resource is a devotional by Paul David Tripp called Everyday Gospel Christmas, and it helps us reflect on, and make room for, the One whom Christmas is all about. Click on this link to a free download of the book. It’s free right now, and is my gift to you as you make room inside of your heart, alongside of this Hart, for what is best for all our hearts.

Save The Dates

All-Company Christmas Party – Sunday, December 8, 3-7pm at the Swanson Home, 205 High Point Drive, Venice. If you haven’t let us know already, RSVP so we can plan for enough food. Bring your family or a “Plus One”. Bring a camping chair, and hopefully a dessert or Appetizer (let us know when you RSVP)

Office Christmas Lunch – Tuesday, December 17th, in the Training Room. Sign up to bring a side or dessert at the Brag Board in the Kitchen.

Field Christmas Breakfast – Wednesday, December 18th, 7:30am in the Training Room.

Ten-Til-Tuesdays – Every Tuesday for the rest of the year, at 6:50am & 8:20am, everyone is invited to join us in the Comfort Care office for a quick 10-minute devotional and prayer time before you get to work, or, get back to work.