A Different Perspective

Running as fast as he could to the front of the house, This giant of a man kicks the front  door. Opening it immediately, kind of how they do in the movies with one fell swoop of the leg. Scanning the entry way of the house, he begins searching the house intensely, knowing that "he" is in there somewhere. He goes into the living room, shoving aside the coffee table and then overturning the couch and chairs. Propelling into the kitchen, he exits that room almost as fast as he'd entered it. But not before flipping over the kitchen table and opening every cabinet and drawer that stood in his way. Building steam, he motors down the hallway and into the bedrooms ransacking each room of the 4-bedroom house the same way. First lifting the bed, then looking behind the remaining furniture, and then tossing out everything in the closet. Like a runaway train, he's now breezed his way into in the last room of the house. Now with only the closet remaining, he throws open the doors. His experience in these searches always leads him to the place that he knew to look the entire time. There in the darkest spot of the closet, in the farthest room of the house, in seemingly the safest place of the house, he finds whats he's been looking for the whole time. 

There he was crouched down on the floor of the closet trembling with fear. He'd hoped that he wouldn't be found, but now there he was in the shadow of the one that was looking for him. It was his lively hood that had just been overturned by the towering figure and he could hear the the hunter ransack every room as he made his way to where he was hiding. He grew more scared with each thought of what he would do to him once he found him. Now cornered in the room and exposed, he yells out as he is now being lifted off the floor. 

Only he's not being torn limb from limb, but rather being embraced. Held on to by one squeezing has if he never wanted to lose him again. Looking at the face of the man that he was once hiding from, he doesn't see the emotions of someone who is angry, but rather that of someone relieved. His emotions then switches from that of fear, and eases into one of peace. The hug from the hunter is much more comforting than what he once thought the closet would provide.

This story reminds me of how we sometimes see God or how we think God sees us. In our lives, we picture God as this huge guy who's looking to crush us at every whim. What if we didn't pray today? HE'S GONNA GET ME...I have sinned again! HE'S GONNA GET ME....I hadn't been to church in  ages or read my bible....HE'S GONNA GET ME....I don't even believe in God...HE'S GONNA GET ME...

But the truth is, that God is not out to get us. He's not out to punish us. It's just the opposite, God is out to love on us. He is trying to get to you, not to find some twisted way to punish you. But to extend a love to you that is unmatched. God is always calling out to you, with arms extended to show some love. Similar to the predator in the story, or how you would be if your child or loved one was in danger, God will move any and everything out of the way to get to you. There's nothing he won't move to get to the thing that he treasures most. He loves you right where you are and is eager to show you how much.

I hope that you would have a different perspective of a God that longs to love you and not one that loves to punish!

I am a king, and these are my thoughts....  

The Measure of a Man

A couple weeks ago, my sister and I had the opportunity to sit in on an awards program for a business association that took the time to honor my dad, Jimmie L. Goodwin Sr. He was the initial president of the association, and a "founding father" so to speak as he helped to build the foundational principles on which the association was able to thrive and celebrate, as of last night, its 10 year anniversary.

I know that my father would have loved to have been there to celebrate that event. To be in an environment where he could be around people, discussing business, and dreaming of a better future was right up his alley and a testament to who he was. In his absence, however, it was a night in which we were there to receive recognition on his behalf. The plan of the association was to honor us with a plaque, but due to some petty oversight, there was no plaque there for us to receive. I wasn't offended that we didn't receive a physical award, that night, particularly when it dawned on me what we did receive. All night long, as speaker after speaker, came to the podium they shared a brief, yet awkward, story about my dad. There were moments in the program when we were able to shake hands with people that had nothing but positive things to say about a man that left an invaluable impression upon them during his life. At the end of the night, I realized that I had received something that was better than any plaque, trophy, or physical recognition they could have given us. My sister and I were witnesses of something much more important, something much more special, its what remains after a man leaves this earth.I contend that a true measure of a man is whats remaining after he dies. Its the legacy that you leave, its what people have to say about you and the memories they hold on to long after you're gone.

These people spoke of how's he was a "self-starter", how he ignited dreams and supported them along the way to get there business where it is today. How the man they once knew, wasn't a quitter, didn't take to kindly to the word "no", and how invaluable his persistence and consistence meant to them. Even my cousin reminded me, recently, of a time when my father would hold family meetings with the entire family. He had everyone in our family write down a vision for their lives and how they planned to get there. He reminded me of some of the positive things that resulted from those meetings. During that time my mom got her Real Estate broker's license after taking the necessary courses and passing the Broker's exam. Another cousin, was given an opportunity to get into college and not only received a degree, but was awarded a basketball scholarship his entire time there. And I'm reminded how he wouldn't allow me to quit or take a break during my college tenure because he wanted to make sure that I finished and got my degree. I am thankful for the day he got a chance to see me walk across the stage 3.5 years later.

Jimmie Goodwin, left an invaluable impression on people as he lived his life. And by no means, am I saying that he was perfect, but to be able to speak positively about the character of a man amid his faults is astonishing. It reminds me of a verse in a song called "Before I Die" by Derek Minor. There is a portion of a verse that reads:

And maybe before my last breath
You will see a man that finished the race and ran hard until his last step
Whether it’s cash left
I know my seed will be the branches of a tree of a legacy that their dad left
And let that legacy be rooted in the cross

I'm so thankful that my father ran his life as hard as he did. That he loved God, loved people, loved success and, more importantly, he loved to see that success lived in the lives of people. I'm honored to be apart of that legacy and honored even more to share some of those same passions. In addition to his children and siblings, the branches of his legacy extend far beyond his immediate lineage and into those fellow businessman, clergy, and customers.  And to the best that he knew how, he lived a life that he thought was pleasing to God. Rarely does a day go by that I'm not appreciative of the deposit that was left with me to love God with all my heart.  Heaven only knows, where I'd be if it wasn't for the foundation of Christ in my life. Although, his stubborn approach to want the best for those around him, wasn't always appreciated during his life, it has been commemorated in his death.

I am a king and these are my thoughts.....