A few years back I found myself in a reflective mood, and was taking stock of my life. I had arrived (so far) at a pretty satisfying place. Most of my life's major decisions were best viewed through the rear-view mirror. Questions long ago grappled with and settled. Such as: Now that you are an adult, what are you going to do about it? How are you going to support yourself? Where are you going to live? Will you marry? Raise a family? If any, who, what and where are you going to worship? What do you hold most dear? What difference will your having been alive have made to anyone, anyway?
In a sense, my life unfolded from a handful of choices I had made years earlier, and they were just playing themselves out. My life had purpose, and it was filled with faith, family, and friends. I pondered, 'Just how had my life been influenced along the way?' I most certainly did not arrive at my current state by my own efforts alone...
It was very clear to me that there had been a handful of distinctly pivotal points in my journey. Maybe you have had them, too? You know, you are just cruising along, living your life, and then Bam!, you are suddenly struck by a person, an idea, or an event that captures your imagination, and everything changes!
Some new person, or insight, or happening interrupts life's equilibrium and causes you to just stop dead in your tracks, re-evaluate your path, and abruptly surge forward in a slightly, or entirely new direction! The new path may be short-lived (and later abandoned), or it may lead you onto a life-long journey. Ultimately, however, there are only a handful, 8 or 10 perhaps, of significant pivotal points in one's entire lifetime which explain how you arrived to become the person that you are today.
In that reflective moment, I determined to return the credit to whom the credit was due. I made a record of the wonderfully pivotal people in my life, and noted their various contributions.
I called my list: Godly Pivotal People Who Helped Change my World.
Then I tracked them all down, those who were still living. Why? In order to personally thank them for their influence in changing my life and my world. As a direct result of their influence, my life's direction was reshaped in a wonderful direction. I have no idea how my life would have turned out if even one the the pivotal person's contributions had not been afforded. I and many others have, and continue to be blessed because a handful of wonderful, caring people crossed my path and caught my attention...
Since I have been fortunate enough to have had an impact on others along the way, I also was able to add with my personal thanks-giving the following sentiment: "My Mom thanks you, my Dad thanks you, my Sister thanks you, my Brothers thank you, my Wife thanks you, my Children thank you--along with countless others that you will never meet! We all thank you. Your efforts have changed the world...!!! "
Well, it was fun, and time well spent!
Let me know how it goes if you try it....
In a sense, my life unfolded from a handful of choices I had made years earlier, and they were just playing themselves out. My life had purpose, and it was filled with faith, family, and friends. I pondered, 'Just how had my life been influenced along the way?' I most certainly did not arrive at my current state by my own efforts alone...
It was very clear to me that there had been a handful of distinctly pivotal points in my journey. Maybe you have had them, too? You know, you are just cruising along, living your life, and then Bam!, you are suddenly struck by a person, an idea, or an event that captures your imagination, and everything changes!
Some new person, or insight, or happening interrupts life's equilibrium and causes you to just stop dead in your tracks, re-evaluate your path, and abruptly surge forward in a slightly, or entirely new direction! The new path may be short-lived (and later abandoned), or it may lead you onto a life-long journey. Ultimately, however, there are only a handful, 8 or 10 perhaps, of significant pivotal points in one's entire lifetime which explain how you arrived to become the person that you are today.
In that reflective moment, I determined to return the credit to whom the credit was due. I made a record of the wonderfully pivotal people in my life, and noted their various contributions.
I called my list: Godly Pivotal People Who Helped Change my World.
Then I tracked them all down, those who were still living. Why? In order to personally thank them for their influence in changing my life and my world. As a direct result of their influence, my life's direction was reshaped in a wonderful direction. I have no idea how my life would have turned out if even one the the pivotal person's contributions had not been afforded. I and many others have, and continue to be blessed because a handful of wonderful, caring people crossed my path and caught my attention...
Since I have been fortunate enough to have had an impact on others along the way, I also was able to add with my personal thanks-giving the following sentiment: "My Mom thanks you, my Dad thanks you, my Sister thanks you, my Brothers thank you, my Wife thanks you, my Children thank you--along with countless others that you will never meet! We all thank you. Your efforts have changed the world...!!! "
Well, it was fun, and time well spent!
Let me know how it goes if you try it....
