Be A Story

... through the highs and through the lows one must wonder where to go, but through it all we must never forget... we are here to be a story, and to be a part of a much bigger one...


Today I write with a fresh look on all the crazy hits that have come in these past few years, from parents re-marrying to brothers divorcing, to people struggling and the top man glowing, from being in love to being said goodbye, from standing up to the evil that exists to falling on my knees begging God for forgiveness for my sins, to all the folk who come and go, to the politicians who lie while the statesmen stand for truth, it has been a time of trial... a time to produce my story.

______________________

You know it is funny I just took a look at my last blog to see when I last wrote... one year ago tomorrow. Destiny would have it that I would open my digital journal and write at this particular moment in time. But rather than go into detail of all that has occurred over this past year, I would rather delve into the place I have come to now, and the stories that light my fire.

My writing abilities have probably deteriorated a bit from this long hiatus, but bear with me while I attempt to bring them back.

__________

This country is in a very prime place right now... prime for making REAL changes, prime for growing, prime for listening to our hearts once again, prime for learning humility again, prime for re-awakening the dreams that exist in our hearts.

For the sake of not wasting your time, let me just say this. I am on my way up. On my way up with God, man, work, and all that I am capable of doing for others. My dreams are alive and well, and God is at the helm. I pray He keeps this crazy horse on course, because it will inevitably be a wild road ahead.

____________

Let me just tell you about a little experience I had the other day that I would like to call "Sessions with 'The Man'."

To preface, let me tell you that I have recently begun working for a unique financial services brokerage firm with a huge vision. (Don't worry, I still teach/play tennis & the bagpipes and hopefully will continue for years and years to come.) I have already become licensed in Life Insurance & Annuities and I sit down with people and help them get into a feasible financial plan to improve their future without the downside risk that stocks, 401(k)'s, 403(b)'s, and Mutual Funds come with. Let's just say, the right products for the times, and the right vehicle to help. The company is called People Helping People, or PHP. It has been around for only 2 years and has grown to over 5,000 Associates and is playing big time offense in this downtrodden economy. I am sure you will be hearing about them from more than just me over the coming years...

At the helm of this company, sits a 6 foot 5 inch Iranian Christian man named Patrick Bet-David, who immigrated here as a child during the first Iraq War. You can read his story here. I read his story, read his blogs, his vision, etc. I think they are great. I have met him before, but this past Thursday I got to really spend quality time with 'the man.' He was coming into Atlanta to do a Corporate Overview for the Atlanta Headquarters. We first had a meeting at 2-4pm with licensed associates only. He frequently mentioned me during the meeting as a hopeful leader to emerge within our company. I knew this beforehand, as they see my ability to work with people and my drive to become a success. But I wasn't really interested in this, as much as where my 'leader' was in mind and soul, in particular. We all sat there and listened to a man very well versed with his tongue, but through all the great stories and thoughts on his beliefs, I wanted to come up with a question for him that he was not used to hearing. I didn't want to stump the man, I just wanted to hear him answer a simple, but also tough question that was outside of his comfort zone.

The question was this: "What is the number one quality of a leader?"

He immediately spun the question around and asked me what I thought it was. Though I knew my answer, I refused to say it, as I wanted to hear his answer. I could tell he was a bit bothered just by the fact that I was not going to tell him my opinion. So, stuck there, he went on to answer the question, stating many many good qualities of a leader, but he could not say one to be the greatest, nor could he say the one thing that I believe it is. It wasn't until later on after our Corporate Overview meeting that I had the pleasure to sit right in front of him where we all met again for dinner at Chili's. Yes, I sat down right in front of him, so that I could look him in the eye and get a true feel for his presence and what it really is he stands for. I heard him speak about some great things in one sentence, but then in another sentence about expensive purses for his wife and a huge mall in Houston. I knew at that point that he is struggling with the same things that every wealthy American is faced with... greed. This is not to say he is full of it... it is just an inevitable struggle of being in his position. It was at this point that I was asked what my answer to the question I had asked earlier was, to which I responded: "A servant to the many."

Tick tock, tick tock, I knew this answer would certainly bring the conversation to another level... and... it did. Patrick is a very strong stature character who usually is able to wield himself by his amount of wisdom plus the above, but I knew for this time, he felt threatened. I could sense it. I wished he would simply say, "Good answer Nathan", but I knew he wouldn't go down without another challenge. So, I asked him another question. It was this: "Since this company is very much about obtaining leaders, what is it that you want to use these leaders for? In other words, why should leaders work for PHP?" Immediately he stormed back with the comment, "Why are you working here?" To which I responded, first off to help people, secondly to pay for certain things and get into a better financial situation (or get out of my 'shituation' so that I can help other people with theirs'... haha just kidding), but also, to learn more about the financial services industry. So, we sparred back and forth with each other while everyone listened in. What the reason for my questions came down to was this... Is this company reeeaaaalllly what it claims to be, or is the talk a front for a means to an end? Afterward I came to the conclusion that this company, along with every profitable organization, struggles with the balance, the balance of making money and following your vision. Yet this company has such a better vision than any other company I have found in recent history, that naturally, I must hold them to a higher standard. Gosh, this sounds a lot like me! Yet, I know in my heart of hearts that there is such a thing as a fine line that we can walk to fulfill both. I am constantly striving to stay on (and sometimes find) that line.

One word keeps us on it... and that is prayer.

_____________________________

After the great sparring session at Chili's, Bo, our head of Atlanta Operations and all of the east coast as well as CMO of the company, convinced Patrick that he needed to check out the famous Veggie Bus at my home, so he did. We all trucked over and hung out for a bit while showing him the famous veggie bus. Here is a little video Patrick made from that experience... I hope you don't hold it against him... or any of us!



_____________________________

You see I have so many incredible stories and I am sure you do to, but I haven't hit the road in such a while. How badly I would love to get the veggie bus ready for a road trip you do not even know. I just need to focus on my PHP business and hopefully I can help many of you through this company while you in turn help me to hit the road... where many stories await... If you are curious and would like more information as to what I do, please write back and I will be more than happy to tell you!

What else is going on right now? I am working out early mornings with Bo, our CMO, who has also become a good friend and mentor. Lots of other stuff going on, but maybe we'll just have to catch up in conversation. But boy, how I would love to hit the road...

In the meantime, I plan to continue building on my story... I hope you build yours too...

Hope continues... faith envisions... and love thrives. I miss you all and hope to see you soon...


God bless you big time. I am signing off...


~ Nate


_____________

Lyrics:

Josh Garrels - Farther Along

Farther along we’ll know all about it
Farther along we’ll understand why
Cheer up my brothers, live in the sunshine
We’ll understand this, all by and by

Tempted and tried, I wondered why
The good man died, the bad man thrives
And Jesus cries because he loves em’ both
We’re all cast-aways in need of ropes
Hangin’ on by the last threads of our hope
In a house of mirrors full of smoke
Confusing illusions I’ve seen

Where did I go wrong, I sang along
To every chorus of the song
That the devil wrote like a piper at the gates
Leading mice and men down to their fates
But some will courageously escape
The seductive voice with a heart of faith
While walkin’ that line back home

So much more to life than we’ve been told
It’s full of beauty that will unfold
And shine like you struck gold my wayward son
That deadweight burden weighs a ton
Go down into the river and let it run
And wash away all the things you’ve done
Forgiveness alright

Chorus

Still I get hard pressed on every side
Between the rock and a compromise
Like the truth and pack of lies fightin’ for my soul
And I’ve got no place left go
Cause I got changed by what I’ve been shown
More glory than the world has known
Keeps me ramblin’ on

Skipping like a calf loosed from its stall
I’m free to love once and for all
And even when I fall I’ll get back up
For the joy that overflows my cup
Heaven filled me with more than enough
Broke down my levee and my bluff
Let the flood wash me

And one day when the sky rolls back on us
Some rejoice and the others fuss
Cause every knee must bow and tongue confess
That the son of god is forever blessed
His is the kingdom, we’re the guests
So put your voice up to the test
Sing Lord, come soon

Chorus