Big Picture

Hello Everyone, Erica is so good that she planned out her next four blog posts and one of them was for me to write. So, here it is.

Last Thursday I took a quick trip to Minneapolis so that I could attend the 12th, and final, session of what is called The Master’s Program. The program is the brainchild of a gentleman named Bob Shank and is a meshing of his marketplace experience, his pastoral positions, and his biblical knowledge. He’s the kind of guy who can see the end-game and mentor others to orient their lives toward that end.

Once per quarter for the past three years I have been attending these sessions with the same guys. We started as a group of 16 and ended with a group of about 10. The content? Well, one of the tag lines for the for the program is to help “marketplace leaders discover their Kingdom calling.”  Basically, learning how we are uniquely designed and then figuring out how we put that unique design to work making this world a better place. 

If you know our story you know that I went from a senior position at a bank in Edina, MN to work for a ministry based in Dallas called Time to Revive. The insight, training, exploration, and preparation from The Master’s Program helped me understand how I was uniquely designed and how my gifts and talents could be put to their most efficient use to have in impact in this world.

Most people think that to live out your calling that its all about “you” but neglect to think through the other important parts of life that fit together to make a calling possible. Physical fitness, mental sharpness, a thriving marriage, a healthy family, an understanding of your own design and finally a context on how to use all of these things together to benefit others.

On the fitness front I’m sadly banking on the 8 marathons I ran previously. I need to work on that and Erica and I are trying to fit fitness back into our routine as new parents. 

As for mental sharpness I’m constantly learning and reading books. I don’t really like fiction so most of what I read is non-fiction. So long as I’m learning, I’m enjoying what I’m reading.

I have quickly learned that a thriving marriage is critical to living out a calling. There is no way I could do what I do with out the love, encouragement and support of Erica. I bounce ideas off her and she has amazing insight into situations. Every time I’m preparing to speak at events I send her a quick text letting her know that I’m up in a few minutes and ask her to pray for me. I always get a text back that says “praying.” 

Erica is great at supporting me. The Master’s Program taught me how to support her well in language that men can understand - strategic planning. Sounds cold and structured doesn’t it? Well, it is if you take it at face value. But, the process created and taught in The Master’s Program is designed to understand the goals and dreams of your spouse and then come up with plans to make them a reality. We did this process about a year ago and it was really helpful for me. I learned Erica’s dreams, she learned mine and we came up with plans to achieve them. Some have been realized. Some are in process and some are ongoing. Some remain dreams.

We also discuss ways to invest in family - specifically kids. While I haven’t had a chance to try out some of the things with Nicole since she can’t talk yet, I do look forward to some of the activities and time we will spend together.

The point in all of this is that a job, a career, a calling are futile if they are all about you (or me). It takes a well-rounded foundation to make it possible and sustainable. I’ve spent the past three years studying them and now I’m actually putting them into practice. Let me tell you, after 6 months on the job and seeing tangible change in this world, I have learned that I need these other things in place in order for MY calling to work out. 

There’s lots more that the program taught me and maybe the stories will be made  known right here on this blog. What I do know is this; whatever your calling, its not just yours and you won’t be able to do it alone. It takes a well-rounded and strong foundation and THOSE are the things you can invest in to make YOUR calling work out.