Lesson #1 Mission Minded

Have you ever gone through developing a mission statement? It’s a neatly worded phrase that gives direction to a company. It’s a useful tool when used. Otherwise, it occupies wall space and paper that could’ve been filled with a brighter color wall paint or larger letterhead. A mission is useless unless it’s used. Duh. My challenge as a business owner is no matter my mission statement, I’m still bombarded with the same challenges that I had before I set that as my target. My mission is always dependent on me. And I don’t know about you, but I know a lot about me. And my ability and my time is finite. Yet unchecked, I’m always  hungry for more. More praise, more money, more acceptance, more clients, more employee satisfaction, more vacation days, more social media likes. More. More. More. So I could work hard every day of my life, accomplishing the mission I made for myself, check every box and still end up empty and isolated and searching for more at the end. 

But what if there is a better way?

A way to be full of life here and now and still productive? A hope that doesn’t fade? A peace that’s present in chaos?  A mission that is one I can spend my entire life on. One that inspires and informs me through every decision I’m faced with. One that leaves a legacy far beyond what I’ll ever see. 

I believe that exists and can be had in our businesses and families today. 

A  story: I was a theatre major in college. I worked hard at it and, as it turned out, I was really good. Good enough that I was committed to moving to Chicago and making a go of a professional career. Had connections, had friends going with me, had it all mapped out cleanly. As a Christian, I said this is how I’m going to honor God with the gifts that He’s given me. To become a great actor and along the way, honor Him. Then, the summer before I was going to move  I got hired as an actor during a summer camp tour. It was a kids show, and boy it was fun. I traveled around the Southeast performing each week at a summer camp. It was during one of these camps that I had an absolutely undeniable experience with God. I was sitting in the balcony of the performing arts center waiting for one camp to end so that we could begin a late night load in for our show. I was listening to the music and really enjoying thinking about Chicago and my upcoming adventure. Then I suddenly heard a voice in my heart that said “I don’t want you to tell me how you’re going to worship me. I made you for a purpose. I love you and my plans for you are good.”  I remember it clear as day. I fell on my face and said “Yes.” Suddenly Chicago didn’t have the same taste to me. And it became very clear in the next few days that God had a different path for me. One that I honestly still don’t fully understand. 

That path led me through starting a theatre company with my best friend until he was diagnosed with a brain tumor and eventually passed away. That path led through moving to different cities with people I didn’t know. Losing jobs and gaining jobs. Heartbreak and moments of complete joy. Success and failure. Horrible mistakes and surprising moments of perseverance. But let me be perfectly clear, it was never my strength that got me through any of it. It’s never been my abilities or knowledge or wisdom that’s made this present company successful. It’s God, fulfilling the promise He made to me that night and fulfilling every promise He made prior and since. And that, my friends, has made all the difference. He has given me wisdom. He has given me strength. He has given me a mission far bigger than I could dream of. It’s a quiet thing but it is an act of faith. To honor Him in all that I do.  

For my Christian friends, I can only share with you what I know to be true. God loves you. He’s made you for a purpose. The best role we will ever have is being a child of God. And if you’re trying to prove your value to Him, stop. If you’re trying to build a kingdom so that at the end of your days, you can give it to Him, stop. He doesn’t want your kingdom. He needs you to be part of His. He loves you and needs you to be part of that. Yes, it’s good for us to honor Him with our work. It’s good to be successful in these assignments and endeavors. But too many of us are trying to run our business as if He is a by product, not the reason for it all. Please don’t treat Him like He’s common. Your businesses, families, lives can have so much more joy and experience such great freedom when you stop putting Him into a box or treating Him like an afterthought to “business life”. He deserves so much more. 

For my other friends, I can only share with you what I know is true. God loves you. He has made you for a purpose. He offers you peace and freedom from the struggle of this work. The struggle of trying to please everyone and succeed at everything. He offers rest. True, unending rest from it all. He has been my comfort, and I know He will be that for you too. We’ve all been hurt by Christians who profess His name but don’t act much like Him. There’s a lot of fools and fakes out there. Please, please, please ask don’t ignore Him because of them. Ask Him to show you Himself. Seek Him. He doesn’t run from us. He’s not playing hide and seek. He loves you. Just as you are, but He has so much more He wants to give you. I still fail. I still make mistakes. But each new day I have strength, hope, love, joy, peace because of what He offers.

So the biggest lesson I’ve learned in five years? The one that's made all the difference?It’s a lesson I’m still learning and honestly have been learning since I was 4 years old.

God loves you. That supercedes any financial success, overwhelms fame, undercuts fear and insecurity. It’s what has made all the difference to me. To believe that. And to see it true each day. 

I imagine in 10 years when I write the lessons I’ve learned, number 1 may still be this. I’ll work to trust each day that I can learn it again. I hope these blogs have been encouraging. Of course, if you have questions about any of them or want to talk about them, please let me know. I’d love to get coffee or have a meal with you to hear your stories too. 

Andrew