Every brand has a motto—just do it, eat mor chikin, better ingredients/better pizza. The motto acts as a life mission of sorts, representing the end goal of an organization while encompassing the general feeling that organization wants to capture. Moreover, it helps if the motto is annoying enough to get stuck in your head—hellooooo 5 dollar footlong.  In my career, they tell me to work on my personal brand, and  if I had to give a motto for myself, it would simply be “I’m learning”, because I find that almost always, I am doing just that. The more I learn, the more I want to learn and the more I realize that I’ve got a lot to learn.
One expression of learning is written reflection AKA what you’re reading right now. These written words do more than just organize my thoughts; they provide an outlet of information that hardens into a life lesson learned as it pours onto the page. I hope if you choose to read these words, that you’ll take each word carefully—and ignore the grammar mistakes—so you might learn with me. I’m no expert on life, but I can tell you this: I’m learning.

Humble Ambition
I’m approaching a milestone in my career, and in August, I’ll take on a new role at work. While the change itself is nothing monumental, the impending adjustment is enough to cause me to stop and contemplate what exactly I want my career to look like. As I look into the future, my opportunistic personality bristles at the thought of acquiring more power, more acclaim, and more wealth, yet—fortunately for me—there is still a voice loud enough to direct my attention elsewhere. While the mightiest businessmen laud selfish ambition, the Holy Spirit whispers that it might be better to come last, rather than first. I see wisdom in ambition but joy in humility, and I find myself wondering how to reconcile the utility of aspiration with the merits of meekness. As I look into my ever changing [pick a number]-year plan, I notice  myself getting caught up in an endless pursuit of achievements and accolades. I know Jesus teaches me to be “as shrewd as a serpent but as innocent as a dove,” but how do I become shrewd without becoming the Serpent? What am I striving for? Is it possible to be humble and ambitious?
After spending months trying to figure out what I want to achieve, I’ve determined that I want my greatest successes to be friendships. While common business practice is to use the people around me to acquire greater wealth (i.e. networking), I would much rather use my worldly wealth to acquire greater friendships—like the shrewd manager in Luke 16. At the end of my career, it won’t be the long-service awards or the retirement fund I’m most proud of, but instead the relationships that grew out of Christ’s love. If we truly are eternal beings, than the shrewd action plan is to use temporary supplies to secure eternal payoffs. I realize that “I want to make friends” isn’t a traditional career map, but then again, my career isn’t exactly my life’s purpose.
            In a sense, my ambition is to become more humble—not that I want to think less of myself, but I would rather think of myself less. Similarly, if my ambition is to become a great leader, than my plan of action is to be a great servant.  Beautiful things happen when humility and leadership become friends. There is now no doubt in my mind that leaders worth following are those who lead from behind in importance but ahead in example. While a self-ambitious leader presses off the shoulders of their followers to achieve new heights, it takes a selfless leader to elevate an entire group of people from below. That is my humble ambition—to make myself and everyone around me more like Christ through love, encouragement, and prayer.

Creator vs. Consumer
            In my analysis of my future plans, I’ve realized that most of my “to-dos” derive from what I can consume, rather than what I can create. My list of purchases extends 5 years out, my list of new restaurants is ever-growing, and my list of places to visit might as well be a world atlas. Everyday holds a constant stream of food, entertainment, and Netflix while future plans are riddled with vacations to take, things to purchase, and experiences to try. But while consumption has its rewards, my Creator is calling me to be like Him. In all of recorded history, God is creating, healing, building, and rebuilding; when we create anything, we are becoming more like Him. The truth is, clothes fade. Entertainment ends. New toys get old quick. You’re not going to see my impressive binge-watching skills on my resume and my satisfaction from a good meal lasts about 15 minutes. You won’t find me on my death bed saying “You know what? I was just too generous. I wish I would have watched more Netflix instead!”
            I want to grow friendships, build business value, cultivate life-long memories, plant encouragement, spread hope, establish peace, create love, and love creating. If we can only reap what I sow, then a lifetime of sports, Netflix, video games, food, sleep, and vacation isn’t a fruitful harvest. However, one problem with ‘creating’ is that it isn’t as fun or amusing as consuming. It’s hard work. It’s much easier to watch Netflix for 3 hours than it is to pray for 15 minutes. It takes less emotional energy to assume everyone is doing alright than to intentionally encourage someone even if they may not “deserve” it. It’s more work walking with others through hardships than it is minding your own business. While consuming is about what you can get, creating is about what you can give.
            One of the real changes to result from this reflection has been the cancellation of Netflix (Gasp!), the deletion of all my video games, and the extinction of cable television. While I may now have to wrestle with boredom every once in a while, my focus is no longer how can I pass this time? But rather, who can I invest this time in? Whether I choose to invest my time in myself, my wife, or my neighbors down the hall, I know that time spent creating laughter, prayer, reflection, memories, and encouragement is time well spent.

An Awe-Full Life
            One of the reasons I love to travel is because I find a sense of awe in new surroundings, and that awe leads me to a new appreciation of who God is. I’m convinced that awe is one of the purest forms of worship. There is nothing that exalts the Creator more than being in awe of His creation, whether it’s a miraculous healing or a summer sunset. Awe doesn’t have to come from the Grand Canyon; it can come from daily thankfulness, from silent prayer, from goofiness, from dirt, from a smile, and from a tear. Awe is not restricted to Hawaii (though Hawaii certainly helps). Awe is as simple as a breath and as complex as the starry sky.

 As I lay out my ever-changing life plans, I want each moment to ooze with awe: awe in His financial providence, awe from His natural creation, awe in my love for my wife, awe in my friendships, awe in childhood, awe in parenthood, awe in my career path, awe in silence, awe in music, awe in my five senses, awe in blessing, awe in tragedy, awe in evangelism, awe in my salvation. I have no idea what my life will look like 10 years from now, 1 year from now, even 5 minutes from now, but I pray that I might live an awe-full life.