THE PATH: Emphasis on Learning

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MY WHISPER:  Thanks, Mom and Dad. I feel extremely fortunate that I grew up in a family that put an emphasis on education. We probably took it for granted at the time, but with you guys it was always “WHERE are you going to college?” – not “ARE you going to college?”  I’m sure there are millions of families that never discuss college – or even the possibility of college – with their children. That makes my heart sad. Even though you guys never graduated from college, the significance of learning was never compromised. You guys even took it a step further, instilling a determination and work ethic to help us reach our educational goals. 

THE PATH: Perseverance

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MY WHISPER:  I carried this quote when I ran my first marathon. It reminded me – and still reminds me – that quitting is not an option – even when the “the road is uneven,” “the abyss yawns below” and “the hurricane is furious.”

THE PATH: The 'Perfect' Path

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MY WHISPER: I went to school every day for one reason – I didn’t want to let you down, Dad. Letters like this were nice after a long school year, but the journey was justified when I saw how proud you were. I also owe you a big dose of gratitude. Going to school everyday also instilled a work ethic that I still carry today. I am very proud of that gift you provided me.

THE PATH: The Future

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MY WHISPER: I’m convinced that you get the best answers when you ask the best questions. This journal entry signifies the time in my life when I started to ask these questions. Were these the “best questions?”... probably not – but they led to follow-up questions that have shaped me into the person I am today.

THE PATH: Vacation From Hell?

MY WHISPER: I am comfortable and confident enough to say that I have changed – from junior high to high school, from high school to college, from college to the real world, and so on and so on. That’s why I thought this narrative I wrote on a family vacation to Colorado was so perfect to share. What makes us change? What calls us to action? What forces us to alter our mind set? For me, I went from “ugly” to appreciative in two days and 800 miles. Even though I lacked a relationship with God at this time in my life, it’s obvious he was talking to my twisted and angry adolescent soul. My favorite part of this passage is when I actually admit that I’m being a pain in the butt. I’m sure that didn’t happen too often. (NOTE: I retyped excerpts from my handwritten narrative. The scanned pages were hard to read, but I also HAD to clean up some of the garble – e.g. poor English, misspelled words, etc.)

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THE PATH: 'Excerpt From My Life'

MY WHISPER: This is a page from my high school creative writing notebook. It’s interesting to see how retrospectively my focus and priorities remained in disarray between junior high and high school. Just like many high school kids, I was lost – simply trying to feel my way along a pitch-dark path.

FOUNDATION: More than Being 'Good Enough'

MY WHISPER: This is another lesson from my men’s fellowship. It is a brief look into other religions and what their followers believe will get them to heaven. As the lesson shows us, it’s all about being “good enough.” A very subjective measuring stick for eternity, don’t you think? I feel like I’m a good person – I care about others, do some volunteering, try not to be malicious – but is that “good enough” to get to heaven? That’s a very scary question. I like some of the principles of the worldly religions – do good works, self control, moral living – but when it comes to eternity, I feel more comfortable putting my faith in Jesus Christ. That way, there are NO QUESTIONS when it comes to life after death.

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