Grateful Beyond Words

Though I don't keep up with this thing as often as I should, I will stumble onto the site from time to time and see the header...Can I Have It All? At some level, that is an absurd question. Quite simply, I can't imagine having more!!!!! A wife that loves and supports me unconditionally, kids that look up to me with no sense for my endless capacity for sin, a wonderful job that allows me to pursue things that I'm passionate about, a church home that ministers to the spiritual needs of my family, a perfect little home with great neighbors...the list goes on. Here's an Easter photo of my family...my greatest treasure...

Eventually, I will get back to exploring the thought of what it means to "have it all." For now, I feel I am the richest man alive and could ask for nothing more.

Thank you, Heavenly Father, for pouring out Your love and grace on this broken man. You have given me such indescribable gifts and my heart overflows with gratitude.

Can't Believe I'm 30!!!

The Happiest Birthday - Augusta, GA

Happy Birthday to me!!!! For those that don't know, my wife won the award for all-time best wife in the history of the entire world and found us a pair of tickets for Thursday's and Friday's rounds at Augusta National Golf Club. We paid face-value and had free lodging for what will undoubtedly be my most memorable birthday. I mean, we are talking about two magical days at this storied venue and we returned home with a new appreciation for lawncare, the game of golf and the men & women who earn their living playing.

I'll write more later, but mainly wanted to get the photo uploaded for your viewing pleasure.

What Makes Us Different...

It occurs to me that embedded in the concept of having it all is a very personal, unique sense of priorities, dreams and interests. My all will inevitably look very different than your all. At the end of the day, the very things that make us different are the things that bring color to life. A world without variety would be a world void of excitement, newness and intrigue. I don't know about you, but when I think of the mosaic our loving God has assembled around us, I feel more engaged in the mystery of this life than ever. We usually think of this variety in the context of creation...either the canvas of our physical world or the intricate make-up of each life...so unique, so special. I might contend that we haven't spent enough time applying this same sense of awe and wonder to our work. After all, it's just that...work.

Back to the question...Can I have it all? The easy, most obvious answer is, "No...you can't have it all." The very thought that any one person could accomplish such an overreaching, limitless objective is absurd. And to the one that sets out on this journey, most of us would say, "good luck...hope you're not easily disappointed." Generally speaking, I would certainly echo those sentiments. Might I suggest, however, that there may be a way...a rather simple approach, in fact...to achieve this ambitious aim?

Ronald Blue is a wonderful, godly man for whom I worked years ago. He is one of the pioneers of what is referred to as Biblical financial planning. He worked to develop an approach to managing money using God's Word as his guide...and he has changed countless lives. Ron laid the groundwork for men like Dave Ramsey with a simple philosophy that started with a simple question..."How much is enough." He offered other weighty insights, such as, "spend less than you make for a long time" and "avoid the use of debt." The principles seem simple, but are remarkably profound. Take, for example, the answer given by business guru, Warren Buffett, when asked the "how much..." question. His answer was simple, also, and quite telling..."Just a little more." Shooting at a moving target is hard enough...flying blind is straight-up dangerous. And trying to satisfy an unquenchable thirst...such as Mr. Buffett's apparent financial aspirations...may well lead to a life full, yet unfulfilled...occasional victories, but overall defeat. It seems so simple, but if we take Mr. Blue's advice, do we not dramatically increase our chances of achieving our goal?

If you agree that this obvious truth applies to an area of life as sensitive as finances, could it not also be applied as one seeks to have impact and influence in and through their career? Have you taken the time to pray through what God is calling you to in your work? Have you considered the place your career will play in your priorities and dreams? If not, do you not stand to wonder aimlessly through your week battling distractions, fumbling priorities and missing the mark?

May I, then, encourage you to think seriously about your work, like I hope you do about your finances? It might help you know, for example, when to say no to a promotion or yes to a cross-country move with a start-up. While God calls all of us to be "salt in light," He calls us to a wide variety of roles by which to accomplish this eternal objective. These different roles...born of our personalities, gifts, skill sets, vocational calling...are one more example of the mysteriously artistic nature of our Heavenly Father. So, how much is enough? If you know what your all is...bathed in prayer and humility before Christ...He may just allow you to have it!

Why Not Now?

I've been meaning to start this sort of thing for a long time, why not now? I am a simple man that has been extraordinarily blessed. As I made my way through my undergraduate and graduate studies in business, while working in the financial services industry, I was exposed to so many incredible leaders, authors and professors...so many great-thinkers. One question I've not yet been able to answer...and perhaps never will...is whether or not someone like myself can have real impact and influence in business and still maintain focus on the important priorities of life...family, community and faith. When I say "impact and influence" I'm talking about going all the way! Not just for the sake of being the big man on campus, but for the purpose of touching people's lives through the business context...employees, customers, colleagues and stakeholders.

I've read many stories about men and women that "made it" only to regret all they had missed. Little League games, anniversaries, birthdays, Bible studies. They reached the later stages of life and realized that, despite material success and business achievement, they had missed the things that should have had their time and attention. They missed these things not because they wanted to, but because they became distracted, overwhelmed or tempted by temporal things. So my question remains: Can I have it all? Can I achieve significance in the "secular" realm without compromising the "spiritual" aspects of life that call me to be a loving husband, a steadfast father and the hands and feet of Jesus? I would like to begin a journey with you...a journey undoubtedly peppered with victories and failures. I would like to begin a conversation about the difficult choices, the relentless pressures and the triumphs of life. I would like to see if we can have it all...if we can change this world from the inside out without leaving behind those that matter most.