March 9, 2021 – Click here to listen
I read a quote by Beatles legend John Lennon that rings ever so true, “Life is what happens when you’re busy making other plans.” I was having a conversation with a buddy not long ago and during the conversation I invited him to come down and go fishing when it reaches its peak in a couple of months.
He immediately launched into an entire laundry list of things he had going on in his life, and how busy he was at work, and all of the boards he served on, not to mention ministry projects he was involved in, and he acted as though I had slapped him in the face by merely asking him to take a few days off and go fishing.
Geez . . . I won’t make that mistake again.
Confucius said, “Life is really simple but we insist on making it complicated.” I was a hard-hitting CEO most of my career and being an insomniac made it easy to work 20 hours a day. I was so passionate about “succeeding” that I worked six days a week and even seven days when I was first getting started. I traveled constantly leaving for the airport Monday and returning on Friday only to repeat it the next Monday.
Soon enough I started getting burned out. My work suffered, my family suffered, and I suffered. I had never taken a vacation aside from a few days and when I did, I spent most of my time on the phone. I decided to take a real vacation and go to Maui for two full weeks. Soon enough I was micro-managing and talking non-stop on the phone and then I had an epiphany. My business could survive without me for a couple of weeks, the world would keep right on spinning, and all would be well if I just let go. And let go I did. I called my second in command and told him not to call me unless it was an absolute necessity and if he did call it better be good! It took some doing but soon enough I left work in Atlanta and I was in Maui. I enjoyed that vacation so much I cannot begin to tell you how great it was.
After that I took many vacations with my family and when I did, I left the office and its problems to my staff. When I returned, I was almost always surprised at what a great job they had done in my absence. I was fully refreshed and ready to kick some tail. My family and I will NEVER forget those times together. It is almost comical because I can barely recall any of those “important” meetings that I had over the years.
My only regret is that I did not learn to stop and smell the roses earlier. I have learned that life is meant to be spent and not saved. Live it and spend it while you can because there is no guarantee that once you decide to start spending it you will be in a position health wise or otherwise to do so.
I received the highly coveted businessperson of the year award in Atlanta, was featured in Inc magazine and was their keynote speaker in Washington D.C. was a finalist for the Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year award, and blah blah blah – I made a small fortune with my many businesses and yet none of that means much of anything to me when I compare it to my vacations with my family and being engaged in other things I loved such as prison ministry and the Jesus Alliance and who could forget hunting and offshore fishing.
I heard one time that if you’re offered a seat on a rocket ship don’t ask what seat! Just get on! Contrary to the prevailing wisdom of all those serious, serious people out there who have furrowed their brows so much worrying about the enormity of life and their dealing with it that permanent wrinkles are etched in their brows
God desires for us to enjoy our life and have some fun along the way too.
I have lived this quote by Mark Twain – “Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So, throw off the bowlines, sail away from safe harbor, catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore, Dream, Discover.”
Psalm 16:11
You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.