Holey Underwear

Imagine being on vacation with a group of friends and deciding to engage in a friendly little game of truth or dare.  Your turn comes up and you are posed with a question that is one of your inner most secrets that you wouldn't want anyone on the planet to know, let alone the people you are on vacation with.

Take the dare right? The dare is to strip down to your underwear and sing the national anthem.  The only problem is, you forgot to do laundry before you left for going out of town, and planned on washing your underwear once you got to the place you were staying.  But for now, you are wearing the most holey, raggedy, "I Really need to do laundry today", pair of underwear!  I'm talking that one pair of underwear that you just haven't thrown away yet and wouldn't want to be caught dead wearing on that fateful day of your demise. Think of how embarrassing that would be.

Speaking of not wanting to be caught dead: As I am coming up on my 40th birthday next year, I am becoming increasingly more aware that one day I am going to die.

It's not that before recently, I thought that I would never die, but it wasn't anything that I had focused on or really gave a lot of thought.   For a lot of people, when you are in your late twenties and early thirties, it feels like you could live forever.  In this time period, you feel like you are in the prime of your life, looking the best, and feeling your best.

In society and media we talk about taking life for granted, but what does that really mean?  Is it taking too many risks?  Is it wasting or not making the best use of your time?  Or is it like I said before, just feeling like you will life forever or be "forever young"?

Now, I would like to say that it was because I am such a wise and thoughtful personal development writer that I came up with this realization that I need to come to grips with this "universal destination", but that is not the case.

It wasn't until last year that I had some health challenges that I started to really think about what happens if I die.

I don't know about you, but I have a list of things that I haven't done yet that I wouldn't want to be "caught dead" without accomplishing.

I wouldn't want to be caught dead without leaving a legacy for my children.  I wouldn't want to be caught dead without finishing the books that I believe will help millions of people.  To leave this Earth and feel like I didn't fulfill my purpose while I was alive would be the ultimate "Holey Underwear" scenario for me.

Every unaccomplished goal or important thing is like another hole.

So let's play a little game of truth or dare.  The truth is, we all have things that we wouldn't want to be "caught dead" without accomplishing or leaving our loves ones with to handle.

I dare you to start living life being aware that one day you will die and work to have as little "holes in your underwear" as possible.

"I Accept Your Challenge"

There is a saying that says, "everybody likes a challenge".  A challenge can be in anything from a sports competition to chasing the girl or guy of your dreams.  It makes things more interesting and the victory even sweeter.  To know that you accomplished something in spite of competition and adversity is one of the greatest feelings.

One of my favorite challenges is in the movie, The Black Panther.  It's the scene where the current King and Black Panther, T'Challa defends his throne and position in the country.  The leaders of all the tribes have the opportunity to challenge him in a duel with the reward of the throne.

All the tribes sound off declaring, "we will not challenge today".  Things seem to be going well and running smoothly.  The King's sister even throws in a little humor suggesting that they move the process along because nobody is challenging today.

But just when it seems like the coast is clear and everything is done,  M'Baku the leader of the Jabari tribe comes out of nowhere to challenge.  Nobody expected him to even show up let alone, challenge!  He declares the popular line, "it's Challenge Day".  He points out King T'Challa's flaws, mistakes he has made, and questions his ability to be King.

Despite the timing and the source of this unexpected challenge, King T'Challa declares, "I Accept Your Challenge".  He goes on to defeat M'Baku in the duel and retains the throne.

"I accept your challenge".  Those words stuck with me and I was reminded of this scene as I am facing my own "challenge day" period in my life.  Just as The Black Panther accepted the challenge despite the timing and what or who the challenge was coming from, we too have to accept the "Challenge Days" in our lives.

So for me, "it's challenge day".  I accept the challenge of facing my fears,  I accept the challenge of fulfilling my calling and purpose for my life.

I encourage you to declare to your fears and fulfilling your purpose, "I accept your challenge".  It's challenge day!

"The 7.4 Billion Piece Puzzle"

It is estimated that their are 7.3 billion people on Earth today. Out of that 7.3 billion, their are 112 million pregnant women also.

The world is growing at a rapid pace.  What was once cutting edge technology is now obsolete.  Culture, laws, and traditions are changing daily.

Lately, I have become increasingly aware of the state of our society as a whole.  Problems have continued with no solutions.  It seems as if crime, lack, and the separation of races and groups are at an all time high.

If you were able to paint a picture of what our society looks like right now, what would it look like?  But that's the easy part, right?  To observe what is going on and form a conclusion.  No "think tank" is needed to point fingers and complain about how bad the world is right now.

So how does does the world look to you?  I view the world as a 7.4 billion piece puzzle with billions of pieces out of place. Each piece is a person with unique gifts, passions, and purposes that can't be replaced.

Some are spending time trying to fit into spaces that they don't belong in. This hurts them and the people/pieces around them also.

Others are sitting on the sideline trying to find their space and where they fit in.

It is my suggestion that every time someone  discovers their passion and pursues it, then the world looks a little better. This also inspires and helps others fit into their space too.

It's amazing that we can change the world by simply doing what we love. The best thing you can do is be yourself and fill that space that God has designed you to fill.

"Remembering Dr. Myles Munroe"

It was 1998.  My Senior Year at Scarlet Oaks CDC.  I was preparing for graduation and my career plans that would soon follow.

At the time, I was an avid reader of True Crime books.  Books about the mafia, big time drug lords, and "smart" gangsters like Meyer Lansky.  I read all kinds of books, but this particular genre was my favorite.  I was amazed by the accomplishments, leadership, and structured discipline of organized crime.

On one of my frequent visits to my aunt and uncle's house, who I believe was working for at the time as a co-op before graduation, I was given this book from my aunt called, "Becoming A Leader", by a guy named Myles Munroe.  She spoke very highly of the author, and said he was a great speaker also.

The title peaked my interest, I mean, who doesn't want to to be a leader right?  I ended up reading the entire book in like 3 hours.  I loved the book.  It made a lot of sense and was easy for my, "high school mind" to understand.

I liked the book so much that I had two of my closest friends read it, and gave it to another person to read.  I would never forget this book as years passed on.

Fast forward like 6 years. I had become heavily involved in my church teaching bible studies, leading youth ministries, and serving on the church board.  As I began to study the bible, Christianity, and how it relates to "everyday life", I began to ask the question, "is this it"?  And as I began to research and study things for myself, I discovered a lot of contradictions and inconsistencies between the knowledge I was receiving from the bible, and "church" and Christianity presented as a religion.

I had discovered something. I had discovered The Kingdom.  This began a personal quest.  A quest to "unlearn" the lies, ignorance, and religious mindset that I had been taught for years was "right".

I started seeking out preachers and teachers who knew and taught about The Kingdom of God also.  Then I came across Dr. Myles Munroe, the author of the book I had read years ago, on TBN.  I was captivated.  It was like he confirmed everything that I had discovered in my time of research and studying!

He became my mentor from a far.  I read just about every book of his I could get my hands on.  I watched YouTube videos of his messages for hours, while taking notes intently.

You see, to me, Dr. Myles Munroe was like the Michael Jordan or the Tupac of Spirituality to me.  I learned "God's Big Idea" from him.

Yesterday, when I heard that my mentor, my role model, one of my heroes, had died in a tragic accident, the best way I can describe it is,  I was, and still am, stunned.

But I remember what he taught me: He said, in one of his messages that I was fortunate to hear in person, very bluntly, "people die everyday, go on". Many people have died so that we can live.

So as I am remembering Dr. Munroe and the many things I have learned from him,  I vow to remember him by dying empty and standing on the shoulders of this mighty man of God.