Don’t be a dud

I spent several hours the other day with a very interesting man. He was president of his class at Notre Dame where he graduated, and then he went on to Harvard where he earned an MBA. He amassed a fortune from various business interests and owns a huge plantation near mine. He travels back and forth via his mammoth private helicopter.

He spends his time managing his numerous business interests, philanthropic pursuits, and myriad of hobbies, one of which included recently being dropped off by helicopter on the top of a mountain in British Columbia so he could ski down the steep slopes in virgin snow. Interestingly he’s 72 years young. It was fun talking with him and discussing life and hearing a sampling of his recent exploits.

He had a keen interest in everything that we are doing on our place and as much as I wanted to talk to him about what “he” is doing, somehow he kept managing to turn it back around to me and what we are doing and asking a million and one questions.

By contrast I recently met someone who is nearly half this man’s age. He seemed worn out and devoid of energy. He acted like he was 150 years old and complained that he has accomplished very little in his life so far, and honestly did not seem very interested in doing much of anything aside from merely existing for the rest of his time down here. His conversation was dominated by expressing how badly he wanted to retire.

He seemed to marvel at my energy, particularly at how I get up early and work exceedingly hard on the hundreds of projects and interests that I have. It was kind of depressing talking to him, because he sounded defeated.

It seems to me that we have a choice in this world. We can go after our dreams with gusto and enthusiasm, or we can sit on the sidelines and watch. I cannot relate to sitting on the sidelines, because I want to be in the arena.

Not everyone can be a class president or excel in business, but everyone can identify and go after their dreams. Life is no dress rehearsal. I don’t know about you but before my “vapor vanishes”; I have a few things I still want to accomplish. I enumerate them in writing and go after my goals with passion. I hope the Lord allows me to accomplish even half of them

I pray that you can find something to be passionate about and will go after your dreams with reckless abandon. I believe it will make all of our lives far more interesting to do so. I do not believe God saved us to sit on the sidelines and watch others passionately pursue the wonderful things He makes available to us in this life. I believe He wants us to get in the arena and do something and best of all He wants to help.

God created each of us to serve His purpose. He assures us that if we will pray to Him, He will answer our prayer. Don’t be a dud. Call on the Lord TODAY! List at least three things of import that you want to accomplish before you go “toe up” and then go for it.

Time’s a’wasting


Psalms 92:16
He shall call on Me,
And I will answer him.
I will be with him in trouble;
I will deliver him and honor him.
With long life I will satisfy him,
And show him my salvation.