EDITORIAL - Bring Back the Sabbath?

IN A WORLD THAT IS ALWAYS ON, SHOULD WE, MUST WE, DEMAND REST

Recently I came across an article in the New York Times By JUDITH SHULEVITZ. 

She writes in an earlier time (MARCH, 2003) but the story spoke to me today. It shares her journey, her wrestle with her own need for Sabbath and it challenges us to become more mindful of our need for rest. I am a person often driven by a need to create, a person that technology once enslaved and a person who often experienced endless cycles without rest.

In the Genesis story of creation, we observe a first Sabbath, God taking time to rest and consider what He had created. In an earlier time of my life, resting on Sunday was enforced by Christian parents. As an adult the Baptist lifestyle often seemed a little ritualistic and later in life I just slipped away from the disciplines of earlier life. 

However, in recent years, I have returned to Sabbath as the practice of a weekly rest and as a time when my phone, the TV, the radio, the internet and other distractions are avoided. In addition, worship of the Creator has also returned to my life and a ministry of encouragement has flourished in my relationships. There have been several impacts. I see things around me I used to miss. I suspect my wife and family see a different, more attentive person (at least one day a week). But most of all, I find myself more thankful, more accepting and more appreciative than anxious and frustrated. 

Do I still shop on Sunday? Occasionally. 
Do I still work on Sunday? Very seldom. 
Do I enjoy a Sabbath meal and fellowship with friends? More than ever. 
Do I fail to receive important phone calls, texts and emails? Yup, until Monday.
Do I regret turning things off for one day? Never.
Do I now expect a Sabbath? Always.

The past four years has brought us three grand babies. Watching them rest with such innocence and peace reassures me that Sabbath is right and rest is one of the best, most necessary practices for life. 

I can't speak for what you should do. But I will encourage you to make room for Sabbath. And I hope this rest awakens your faith in God. 

I have come to believe life is never really enjoyed without practising Sabbath. However, you are unlikely to hear this from the cacophony of voices that overwhelm us today. 

I am also convinced you will have more joy and peace in your life if you become more mindful of your need for Sabbath.

God bless!

About Executive Producer, Larry R. Evans:
Larry Evans is an experienced innovator and strategist. He is Principal of The Paradigm Corporation, which is headquartered at Thunder Ridge just outside Crossfield, Alberta, Canada. He is known for bringing a unique and predictive lens to paradigm shifts during a career that spans 45 years. Now often from his wheel chair, he brings a grounded, tenacious view of brand, ecosystems and trusted relationships for the digital age. His perspective and values influence his life, business and ministry.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/larryrevans

EDITORIAL - How to Succeed as Urban Animal Embraces Action

Around us every day there are those who succeed and those who don't. The Urban Animal program features industry leaders collaborating to recast dilemma's into opportunities. Some falter while others get traction and move forward.

Each year at the Summit for Urban Animal Strategies, leaders are re-motivated, relationships are expanded and passion is recharged. But the grind of everyday activities threatens to supplant the best intentions of leaders between Urban Animal events.

So the question arises: In a volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous (VUCA) world how can Urban Animal assist leaders to develop the 'grit' they need to succeed. 

The Urban Animal mission 'to enrich the lives of people and pets' is worthwhile but only if it succeeds.

The theme of Summit 2015 is DARE TO DISAGREE. As delegates explore opportunities that can succeed, perhaps understanding failure in a new way and fostering the development of 'GRIT' should be foremost in their minds. 

A TED Talk by psychologist, Angela Lee Duckworth provides the evidence she discovered in her research of those who succeed and those who don't.

Watch All about GRIT

Author Larry R. Evans, is executive producer of the Summit for Urban Animal Strategies and founder of the Urban Animal program. Evans has spent the past decade working to create a more favorable environment for people and animals in urban municipalities. His vision to invoke a collaborative conversation among thought leaders that could invent the future of the Urban Animal industry was realized in 2006 with the first annual International Summit for Urban Animal Strategies. Today, Evans directs attention to uncovering dilemmas that prevent positive experiences for people and animals. Evans observes and writes from his farm near Crossfield, Alberta.

PetLynx Update

08 January 2010

PetLynx Corporation is pleased to announce an agreement with Apex Publishing Limited, the publisher of “Dogs in Canada” Canada’s premier provider of content for dog owners and breeders.

Under the terms of this agreement PetLynx Corporation and Apex Publishing will collaborate to expand the circulation of this magazine to all dog owners in Canada through the PetLynx Subscriptions & Registry Services unit.

Pet families who register their dogs in the PetLynx system for recovery services, microchips, tattoos, licenses or other HomeSafe™ Canada initiatives will have the opportunity to subscribe to four special issues targeted toward this Responsible Dog Owners Group [RDOG] at a special discount that is related to their level of compliance.

In addition, the two parties will collaborate to provide responsible dog owner content through Apex's micro site and the PetLynx pet family portals. Pet families who normally manage their animal records using PetLynx portals will be able to manage their subscriptions in the same area.

“Adding the Dogs in Canada content and micro sites to the HomeSafe™ Canada initiative will not only increase the number of responsible dog owners across Canada, but provide valuable resources across the entire value chain that supports these pet families” said Larry R. Evans, President and CEO of PetLynx Corporation. “I am confident that we will eventually reach every dog owner who is interested in having ready access to Canada’s number one source of information about dogs.”

“We are very excited about the opportunity of using the PetLynx relationship with dog owners across Canada to expand our circulation base and improve the services we provide to dog owners through our micro site program,” said Ann McDonagh, Group Publisher, Apex Publishing Limited. “Apex Publishing Limited is a subsidiary of the Canadian Kennel Club, an organization that has serviced the needs of dog owners in Canada for more than 120 years.”

For more information please contact:

Ann McDonagh, Apex Publishing Limited http://www.dogsincanada.com/ann-mcdonagh
(416) 798-9778 ext 3410

Larry Evans, PetLynx Corporation http://www.petlynx.com/contact/index.php
(403) 921-5900

2010 - Entering the next Decade

Earlier this morning we received a note from one of our colleagues Tom Trifaux, who is the Director - Canada West, of the Canadian Management Centre. In conveying best wishes for 2010 he published this guiding thought:

Doing the right thing isn’t always easy...

But it is always right!

We wanted to share this with you because we think it is instructive and encouraging for each of us as we look to move PetLynx forward along the path into this next decade. Our business plan for 2010 expresses some of the new strategies we will bring into being for PetLynx during this new decade:

• It hasn't been easy to stay one degree removed from the 'pet family' in favour of working with those who already own this relationship, but it has been right.


• It hasn't been easy to identify the value chain of the companion animal industry nor to rally the industry around the PetLynx vision of a more collaborative approach to deliver a compliant pet family, but it has been the right investment.


• It hasn't been easy to bear the investment of 'thought leadership', or Urban Animal Surveys or the Summits for Urban Animal Strategies, but it has been the right thing to do.


• Finally, it hasn't been easy to ask our shareholders to be patient as these things came together to deliver the market for our automation and services, but it was the right thing in the right time.

Our clients are working with us in more collaborative ways than ever to accelerate our business and deliver a win for the industry and for each of them as well as PetLynx. Today as we contemplate the coming year, we are confident, even though the past hasn't been easy, the future will be right!


We invite you to join with us on this journey.


Onward and upward!