What's your boat?

In John Ortberg’s book, “If You Want to Walk on Water, You’ve Got to Get Out of the Boat,” he talks about being safe and playing it safe. Your boat is whatever it is that represents safety and security. Your boat is whatever you put your trust in, especially when life gets a little stormy. Your boat is whatever keeps you so comfortable that you don’t want to give it up, even if it keeps you away from having a better life. How does all this equate to the Okoboji Community Schools?

I feel that part of my job as superintendent is to constantly challenge the status quo of this district and to get the staff to stretch and take a few risks – to get out of their boat, so to speak. Fortunately or unfortunately, depending on your point of view, this upsets some people. It’s upsetting because they are comfortable, they feel safe and secure. Many people will tell you that they are not a risk taker when in fact; they are willing to try new and different things.

I have been blessed in my life to come across people who have really made a difference in my life. One such person is my friend Scott. Scott is a mental health counselor by trade, and a very close friend. I have really only know Scott for a period of about ten years, but he has a profound impact on me daily. I have a picture of Scott and me taken on vacation a few years back horsing around on a golf cart. I sit in the cart and Scott sits in his wheelchair. You see, Scott is a paraplegic, unable to use his legs, yet he is one of the most gifted musicians I know. His hobby is gardening and landscaping. He helped to build his own house and it’s beautiful. He is married to a wonderful woman and has two very energetic children. He is also very active in his church. Even when he’s in pain, he never complains, always is quick to smile and has the best attitude I’ve ever seen in a person.

One of the reasons I like hanging out with Scott is because he challenges me and my way of thinking, just as I hope I challenge him. He’s never really been athletic, even before the accident that took the use of his legs in his mid 20’s, just as I’ve never really been musical, yet we have become the best of friends. He makes me think differently, more globally, seeing the big picture and he constantly reminds me that if I want to make an impact in someone’s life, I have to get out of my boat. Scott has had a tremendous impact on my life, both professionally and probably more important, personally.

I want our teachers and staff to have that same type of attitude, one of getting out of their boats, taking on some new challenges, thinking differently about the way we do things around here. We all could use a dose of thinking differently, including myself, as I sometime fall back into the safety of my own boat, doing the same things that I have done over and over again. If we are truly going to impact the lives of our students, we cannot stay in the safety of our own boats, whatever they may be. We have to have a little faith and venture out on the water.ohn Ortberg’s book, “If You Want to Walk on Water, You’ve Got to Get Out of the Boat,” he talks about being safe and playing it safe. Your boat is whatever it is that represents safety and security. Your boat is whatever you put your trust in, especially when life gets a little stormy. Your boat is whatever keeps you so comfortable that you don’t want to give it up, even if it keeps you away from having a better life. How does all this equate to the Okoboji Community Schools?
I feel that part of my job as superintendent is to constantly challenge the status quo of this district and to get the staff to stretch and take a few risks – to get out of their boat, so to speak. Fortunately or unfortunately, depending on your point of view, this upsets some people. It’s upsetting because they are comfortable, they feel safe and secure. Many people will tell you that they are not a risk taker when in fact; they are willing to try new and different things.
I have been blessed in my life to come across people who have really made a difference in my life. One such person is my friend Scott. Scott is a mental health counselor by trade, and a very close friend. I have really only know Scott for a period of about ten years, but he has a profound impact on me daily. I have a picture of Scott and me taken on vacation a few years back horsing around on a golf cart. I sit in the cart and Scott sits in his wheelchair. You see, Scott is a paraplegic, unable to use his legs, yet he is one of the most gifted musicians I know. His hobby is gardening and landscaping. He helped to build his own house and it’s beautiful. He is married to a wonderful woman and has two very energetic children. He is also very active in his church. Even when he’s in pain, he never complains, always is quick to smile and has the best attitude I’ve ever seen in a person.
One of the reasons I like hanging out with Scott is because he challenges me and my way of thinking, just as I hope I challenge him. He’s never really been athletic, even before the accident that took the use of his legs in his mid 20’s, just as I’ve never really been musical, yet we have become the best of friends. He makes me think differently, more globally, seeing the big picture and he constantly reminds me that if I want to make an impact in someone’s life, I have to get out of my boat. Scott has had a tremendous impact on my life, both professionally and probably more important, personally.
I want our teachers and staff to have that same type of attitude, one of getting out of their boats, taking on some new challenges, thinking differently about the way we do things around here. We all could use a dose of thinking differently, including myself, as I sometime fall back into the safety of my own boat, doing the same things that I have done over and over again. If we are truly going to impact the lives of our students, we cannot stay in the safety of our own boats, whatever they may be. We have to have a little faith and venture out on the water.