2012 Was good...but 2013 is going to be better!

 My friend and co-worker, Genna, asked me the other day, "What's your favorite job?"

I pondered this for a while whilst I stretched the canvas photo around the wooden frame (that's my fulltime job, although I've always wanted to do graphic design fulltime...more about that later). I began to think about all those moments when I felt like a good human, a good man, a good person. Memories from years gone by flashed through my mind's eye and I saw many many great moments. They say hindsight is 20/20, and it's true! Every time I think about what I want to do or who I want to be, I think back to those moments when life was good. Yet I know that those moments weren't only good because of me—it's bigger than that. I give credit to God for those great moments. I'm not saying I'm a bad person without God, but I'm definitely worse off.

All those moments that I think about are good, because I see Him helping me to grow as a person, as a man, as a brother, a son, a friend, a husband. I'm not the same person I was 2 weeks or 2 years or even (especially) 20 years ago.

So, "What's my favorite job?"
Genna had gone to do something else and when he returned about 30 minutes later, he asked me again.

My reply was simple, but complex. I told him that my favorite job was one where I help people. It's one where I feel better through the work I do. It could be designing a business card to help a business have better exposure. It could be helping the team setup the stage and sound equipment for Sunday morning worship. It's the job where I believe I'm helping to move God's Kingdom forward. What I mean by that is that I'm not just doing good to do good. There are a lot of good things out there in our world to do, and we can do them—but if I know my heart isn't in it, I'm really not giving it my best to help move anything forward. It would be like going through the motions.

A Better 2013
I believe growth happens when we choose to let it happen. It happens naturally in our bodies everyday, but to really change in one's character, ideas and influences, one must choose to grow and to flow with the changes of that growth.

2013 is going to be better because it's building on my experiences from days, weeks, months and years ago. It's going to be better because I choose to let God have more influence in my decisions. If you're not a person who believes in God, then let me put it this way: I'm going to walk out my faith in a real, genuine way, trusting that the choices I make are going to be the best ones; that helping people make better decisions to improve their lives, businesses and families is my job; that sometimes it isn't about finding the perfect match, but making the best of what you have.

So, what's your 2013 going to look like?