Reflection: My Wife's Surfing Adventure

Last January, while we were in California for the Semper Fi Bowl and Nuru Summit, Jamie was able to really make the most of the time to plan, to relax, and to learn a new skill—surfing. I wasn't present for it so all I have are the photos and the memory of my wife looking super relaxed and chill after a full day of catching waves. 

But, before she went surfing, she did a six mile hike from our hotel to the ocean, and then rented a bicycle to go for a little 15 mile ride up and down the coast. In case you didn’t know it, my wife is amazing, and not just because she’s an incredibly fit athlete who inspires me daily to be a better husband and human being. She also has one of the most carefree and compassionate outlooks on life of anyone I know; I wake up daily with a sense of gratitude that she is in my life.

She lives life to the fullest every day, and it was no surprise to me that she took advantage of the opportunity to learn to surf while she was so near great waves. She had a couple of other friends join her for the surf lesson too--every adventure is more exciting with friends!

Many people have a hard time either with catching the wave, paddling into the wave, or with standing up, but not Jamie. She was a natural. And as a result, I anticipate some more surfing fun in our future. Special thanks to Ana Rahlves, Anne Emerson Leak, and Jesse Fleisher for the roles y'all played in this little adventure!

Reflection: 2015 Semper Fidelis All American Bowl

One year ago, on Sunday night January 4^th  2015, Jamie and I had the incredible privilege of being VIP guests and representatives of Nuru International at the Semper Fidelis All-American Bowl, hosted by the United States Marine Corps at the StubHub Arena in Carson, CA.

The Semper Fi Bowl is a unique bowl experience for these All-American athletes. Not only must they excel on the field, but also, they must exemplify courage, commitment, and service off the field. In fact, as part of bowl week, these high school students organized drills and games for kids in some of the primary and middle-schools around Carson to encourage young people to live lives of service and integrity.

It was a distinct honor to be guests of Lieutenant Colonel Raphael Hernandez of the United States Marine Corps Recruiting Command. In the past, he had shared with me how he had discovered Nuru and was really impressed by the great example my friend Jake had demonstrated by continuing a life committed to service after leaving the Marine Corps. Lt. Col. Hernandez has helped share Nuru’s story with millions of people via social media, and, while it was an honor to see top notch athletes on the grid-iron, the highest honor was finally meeting face-to-face a man who has become a good friend, fellow advocate, brother-in-arms, and fellow #warriorforgood.

Lt Col. Hernandez also introduced Jamie and myself to Ryan and Amanda Burke from Team Rubicon. If you don’t know about Team Rubicon, do yourself a favor and check these folks out. They are committed to taking the training that they and other veterans acquired and converting that into volunteer service and organization when disaster strikes. One of the greatest needs in the event of a disaster is leadership that can organize and deploy volunteers for the most impact. Check them out and join the team!

While attending the game, a gentleman that served with Jake and Alex Martin in Force Recon, Byron Owen, saw my Nuru shirt, and said, “Nuru is doing incredible stuff. While we miss Jake and Alex at Force Recon, we are incredibly proud of the work you guys are doing on the ground to make an impact and help make the world a little safer and more stable for everyone.” I always get stoked when I see people who are part of this movement that I have yet to meet. It inspires me and renews my own commitment to keep telling this story and invite people to join us in ending the greatest humanitarian crisis of our generation.

I also had the privilege of meeting and talking at length with Sergeant Major Irvin Howard among others. While I talked to quite a few Marines, Seargeant Major Howard stayed with us the entire evening and went out of his way to serve us and make us feel welcome. We had incredible conversation about family, about the Marine Corps, about society, about Nuru, and even about his future when he retires. We talked about the need for people to become more actively involved in good citizenship to mentor the youth, and to serve as role models as best as we can. I look forward to what is in store for him in the next chapter of his life!

Thank you Lt Col Hernandez, and thank you United States Marine Corps, for your commitment to service and for making us feel welcome at the Semper Fi Bowl.

Washing Dishes, Serving, and Christmas

My wife and her family are absolutely amazing. There are a number of reasons I could list for why I feel this way, but this little post will be centered on just one of them—doing dishes on Christmas.

For the last three years Jamie and her family have allowed me the privilege of joining them in this long time Reaser tradition. It started when Jamie was in middle school/junior high, and her parents were a little concerned that their daughter might somehow get distracted by all of the gift-giving around Christmas and think the day is really about her.

As a result, Jamie’s mom started looking for opportunities in which they could serve on Christmas day in the local community. In Clarksburg, a group had organized a Christmas dinner where they invited people to come for a meal in a local Methodist church (or have the meal delivered). Jamie and her parents signed themselves up to wash dishes and stay behind the scenes. (Ironically, the first time I went with them the local TV station interviewed Jamie about serving there.)

There is something healing that happens in our souls when we serve and look out for the interests of others instead of just ourselves. I believe that this gesture that flies in the face of what has become a ‘normal’ celebration of Christmas (lots of un-needed gifts, and a mid-afternoon visit to a movie theater). Now, don’t get me wrong, movies are great, and the thought behind most gifts is also wonderful, but they just don’t hold a candle to serving.

Jesus said that He “came not to be served but to serve others…”, and when we serve, we are actually following the example and teaching of Jesus. And what better day to serve than on the day the world celebrates His birth.

As 2013 gets started, I want to encourage you to look for opportunities to serve, and then serve. I believe that serving changes us in a good way. I believe that if we all took a little more time to serve others, our families would be healthier, our neighborhoods would be safer, and our world would be a little brighter. And service doesn’t have to be part of a big event. Often the best opportunities to serve show up in the mundane and the every day.

Here’s to making a fresh commitment to service in 2013!