Fruitful Life

Fruitful Work

Welcome to the Blaising View blog, where I share treasures I find to enrich your life now.

Before the Fire Comes: How to Prepare for Life’s Greatest Losses

Raging European wildfires remind us to prepare for life’s greatest losses before they arrive.

Wildfires are consuming parts of Spain and France at a staggering pace. Hundreds of thousands have evacuated, many leaving with only what they could carry.

Whether our greatest loss comes through fire, disease, betrayal, or tragedy, the time to prepare for life’s greatest losses is before the smoke appears.

Prepare Before Disaster
A resident walks through the devastation caused by wildfires in Spain. AP Photo/Manu Fernández
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Before the Fire Comes: How to Prepare for Life’s Greatest Losses

3 Inspiring Leadership Lessons From Young George Washington

I recently watched the movie, Young George Washington, and one scene completely changed how I think about leadership.

Imagine, for a moment, you’re with him on his first high-risk mission to confront a large French army occupying the Ohio Valley.

It’s October 31, 1753.

He’s only 21 years old.

Snow crunches beneath your boots as George Washington leaves Williamsburg.

Thirty-five days later, he arrives and finds French soldiers en masse occupying and building forts.

The risks were extraordinary.

  • Only a handful of companions.
  • Deep in French-controlled territory.
  • Make an ultimatum with no armed support.
  • No guarantee of diplomatic immunity.
  • Winter wilderness with frozen rivers.
  • Depend on Native allies with shaky loyalties.
  • No room for the smallest error

It was a mission requiring remarkable courage, composure, and judgment.

What happens next reveals some of the greatest leadership lessons of George Washington’s life.

Young George Washington surveying
Young George Washington surveys Virginia’s western frontier. Courtesy Everett Collection.
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3 Inspiring Leadership Lessons From Young George Washington

The Psalm That Inspired Nick Vujicic, Bono, and Millions Worldwide

Nick Vujicic was born with no arms and no legs.

Today, he fills stadiums, arenas, and convention centers around the world.

Nick Vujicic fills stadiums

And he does it with a simple message.

God has a purpose for every life, even one born without arms and legs.

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The Psalm That Inspired Nick Vujicic, Bono, and Millions Worldwide

What America’s 250th Anniversary Can Teach Us About Happiness

As America prepares to celebrate its 250th anniversary, imagine being free from the hate, cynicism, and anger choking our nation.

Are you open-minded to a fresh revelation from the Declaration of Independence?

Millions of people are reflecting on what has made this nation unique. Political opinions differ. Cultural views differ. Yet one phrase from the Declaration of Independence continues to unite Americans across generations: the pursuit of happiness.

America's 250th anniversary Declaration
America’s 250th anniversary and the Declaration of Independence. Andrea Izzotti/Getty Images
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What America’s 250th Anniversary Can Teach Us About Happiness

Step-by-Step: How Tom Monaghan Went from Orphanage to Pizza Billionaire

At six years old, Tom Monaghan watched his mother walk away, leaving him and his brother at a Catholic orphanage in Michigan.

She wasn’t abandoning them. She was trying to survive after their father died. But Tom didn’t know that.

Tom Monaghan childhood dreams
Photo by Alexandr Vasilyev / Adobe Stock
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Step-by-Step: How Tom Monaghan Went from Orphanage to Pizza Billionaire