The plain fact is that the planet does not need more successful people. But it does desperately need more peacemakers, healers, restorers, storytellers and lovers of every kind. It needs people who live well in their places. It needs people of moral courage willing to join the fight to make the world habitable and humane. And these qualities have little to do with success as our culture has defined it.
— David Orr

I am now 30, have been for a few months, and I suppose we all look back on our previous 30 years and reflect. I remember a prayer that my father prayed over me as I was growing up. I don’t remember it all but I do remember it asking that I would be “happy, healthy, and wealthy” and a “Millionaire by age 30”. My father was a man that worked hard and chased after his money. He made alot over the years but at a great personal sacrifice to his health and family.

I am 30 and am no millionaire…I barely scrape by month to month. I don’t drive a Lamborghini or a Porsche…I drive a 11 year old van with almost 200,000 miles on it. I don’t live in a huge elaborate mansion with brand new everything…I live in a RENTED house that is falling apart around me. I may not be wealthy in the money arena but I am in family. I have a wonderful wife and 6 beautiful children; who drive me bonkers some days but I love those kiddos just the same. I wouldn’t trade a one of them foe a Million or a Trillion dollars.

In retrospect on my last 30 years I wouldn’t change anything. Every moment, every decision (good and bad) has brought me to where I am today. I thank God for His grace and mercy in my life. Without it there would be nothing left of me. I will continue in this race as best as I can until God sees fit to call me home. I have made mistakes (as we all have) and will continue to do so but I pray that God will encompass me with His holy angels, that guided and guarded by them, I may attain to the unity of the faith and to the knowledge of His unapproachable glory till the ends of my age.

 

Into thy hands, O Lord, I commend my soul and my body. Do thou thyself bless me, have mercy upon me, and grant me life eternal. Amen