When I think back over my life, there are many people who have had an impact on the man I am today. There were teachers (good and bad) who contributed to my desire to be a lifelong student, leaders of various groups who taught me what it is to be worth following and friends who demonstrated grace and strength in just the right measure at just the right time. The man in this photo with me was one of those people. He’s my brother-in-law and introduced me to my wife 30 years ago. He also married us (he was our pastor) almost 26 years ago. In this photo we were in Holland (Michigan) – a town that you could call “fake” if the people there weren’t so quirky and interesting. Anyway – I digress, but it’s my blog so I can digress if I want to right? My point is simple – we are, in large part, who we are as the result of the choices we make and the way we respond to the people and circumstances that make up our lives.
I am the father of three boys (men now) and one of the things I’ve tried to impart to them over the years is that regardless of what life throws at them they always have choices. For example, when wronged they can choose to see themselves as victims or they can rise above it – it’s really a mindset more than an actual condition. Choosing not to see themselves as a victim doesn’t mean they weren’t wronged, it just keeps them from getting mired down in a woe-is-me mentality where everything is someone else’s fault and helps them move on with life in a positive way.
This life really is about transformation. We start out one way, with one set of circumstances, and we are transformed simply by living – hopefully into something better. Life is about character development and overcoming difficulty and facing conflict. It’s about creating something positive and making a difference for others in the process. As for me – I’m thankful for the ongoing transformation – and for people with big shoes that influence me and inspire me to be better. No matter how old I get, how much “success” I am blessed with or “challenge” I face, I will always be humbled by those with bigger shoes – even as I step up and try them on for myself. Besides – I only have to look at my hairline to be reminded that things don’t stay the same. Same is boring anyway.