Power Nap #16

Funny and thought-provoking media from Kate and her team for a quick, refreshing pick-me-up.

Jun 08, 2023

“All success is a lagging indicator.”

A really good newsletter from Six at Six. A lagging indicator is something that changes sometime after the economic, financial, or business variable with which it is correlated. In other words, they are effects not causes. You put in countless hours of blood, sweat, and toil now, and you reap the benefits in the future. "For example…Picasso was approached by a fan, who asked if he could sketch something for her. Picasso agreed, and in just a few seconds, he drew a simple sketch of a dove. The fan was thrilled and asked how much she owed Picasso for the sketch. Picasso replied, ‘1 million dollars.’ The fan was shocked and protested that the sketch had only taken a few seconds to draw. Picasso responded, ‘No, madam, the sketch took me a lifetime.’

The Kid's Zone is a special Summer installment for The Power Nap. We hope this helps parents survive the dog days of summer with a full house! These were all submitted to Kate on Instagram by her followers. If you have suggestions, email them to us.

The circle round podcast

This podcast is published by NPR, created and produced by parents of young children. A follower wrote in that she's been listening to it with her five and seven year old for a few years now. 10-20 minute long fables that teach about kindness, compassion, and honesty. No foul language and no potty humor. They usually introduce an instrument that’s played in the background. Designed specifically for kids ages 4 to 10.

Chess Challenge Winner!

A big thank you to the hundreds of you who submitted answers to last edition's chess challenge. If you were one of the many people who submitted a wrong answer, keep your head up. It was a toughie. I'd estimate less than 5% of submissions were correct. A big congratulations to Holly Fisher from Kansas City for the first correct response of Queen to B5! A lot of the other moves get you into checkmate, but you are moving into check. Also, bishop to G3 (a common response) is not mate in one because the black queen can block on D6.

Rest in Peace, Tim Keller

I realize not all of you are Christians, but on May 19 Tim Keller lost his battle with cancer. Kate and I were deeply influenced by Tim and his writing and preaching. We even attended his church when visiting NYC. But reading his obituaries this week, it was clear that while his intellect and speaking-ability were top-tier, it is always the eulogy virtues, not the resume virtues, that matter. This was excellent, by Tish Harrison Warren. In case it is paywalled, here was my favorite quote and what I will remember most about Tim:

“Tim seemed so secure in his relationship with God that he wasn’t threatened by anything — he was at ease with disagreement and difference, he did not fret over the future of the church, he did not even fear death. Some Christian critics say that the ‘Tim Keller model’ of engagement, his winsome, gentle approach to those with whom he disagreed, is outdated. They say that increased secularization and progressive hostility toward traditional Christianity requires the faithful to hit back, respond in kind, dominate or humiliate those who oppose us. But Tim wasn’t kind, gentle and loving to others as some sort of strategy to win the culture wars, grow his church or achieve a particular result. . . . [These attributes] are not a part of a brand. They are not a way to sell books, gain power, win culture wars or ‘take back America for Christ.’ Tim inhabited these ways of being, not as a means to any end, but as a response to his relationship with God and love for his neighbor."