Out with the old, in with the new...

With 2008 coming rapidly to a close, it is time to reflect on the past 12 months. Why do we reflect on the past? I suppose it is a chance for us to assess our lives in a "forced" way; you know, the end of the year and all. We should take a look at how we walked the planet and make plans for the next 12 months to be a shining time for accomplishment, fulfillment of dreams, etc. Realistically the difference between December 31st and January 1st is minimal. But symbolically it can be a huge difference for us personally. We seem to have three options: 1) We can wipe the slate clean...of all of our failures, shortcomings, sins, whatever shame and disappointment burdens us, and we can look forward to a fresh, clean year to screw up. 2) We can also build on the successes, accomplishments, and good feelings we had as well. 3) We can ignore the changing of the year and just continue to live our lives as if there isn't anything different between one day and the next. No judgment from me, it can be either of the 3, and there is no right answer on how to express the new year, is there?  It is our choice.

I think I have always been in group #1...wipe it clean, start it over. It might change a little from year to year, but generally I think about renewal, improvement, forgiveness. And most years I fail to renew, improve, or stop bad habits. Last year I realized that I seemed to keep having the same end-of-the-year thoughts and frustrations of not being able to change myself so I resolved not to set any resolutions, but instead I set 1 goal for myself: I wanted to be passionately involved in something that God put in my path. Now how to define "involved"...basically I was going to try to listen to that inner voice that is always trying to tell us what to do. Most times I ignore the voice and avoid "involvement" at all costs. In 2008, I set the goal to jump in enthusiastically.

So 2008 had barely started when the opportunity presented itself...Africa. More specifically a microfinance opportunity for Africa. I have been spouting off for the past few years about how to sustainably help Africans, now I had a chance to put all my brilliant theories to work. As the year progressed, it got deeper. Lori and I helped to buy some land in Kenya to build a future around. No real plans, just a good opportunity presenting itself. We continued to pay the rent on the existing orphanage, and upheld all of our commitments to help as needed. Then in the spring, I helped develop a basic structure of a sustainable model where a "for profit" investment would help fund "not-for-profit" projects. Basically the model is built on the idea of a "corporate" community. The community of people would develop a corporate structure that would develop businesses to employ community members and throw off profits. A portion of those profits would then go towards charitable projects like health clinics, schools, churches, job training and so on. The sustainability comes from the fact that the community supports the charitable work, and it isn't dependent on outside agencies and donations. Way too much of the work being done in emerging economies is based on donations and outside charities. (It is evident when the fastest growing jobs are all in the charitable works field.)

Our model was presented to the board of directors for Christian Relief Fund in October. They liked the approach and wanted to experiment with two areas of the world that they had communities that they believed could start and support these types of works: Honduras and Kenya. However, more details about how to structure a community-held corporation would have to be explored, developed and detailed. But despite the lack of information and detail, they voted to create a budget and project. The real opportunity for my personal commitment came when a board member asked me if I would consider a nomination to become a member of the board for CRF and lead the microfinance effort. So here is where the rubber meets the road...the inner voice was screaming, "yes, do it!", but my sensible side kept arguing that I didn't have time, blah, blah, blah. Then I remembered my goal...passionate involvement. So I said, "yes, I would be happy to accept a nomination." God made sure I had no way out by giving me a unanimous approval.

As I look forward into 2009, I guess I am now becoming more of a #2 kind of person...I need to build on the commitments I made in 2008.  I've got one foot in the pool, but need to jump in with both feet, arms, legs, torso, head and most importantly, my heart. 

Wish me well in 2009, and if you want to join me, let me know!

Happy New Year! I hope you find something to be passionately involved in.

Chow!

Best Month Ever!

This December has to be one on my list of best months in my life...ever. It is strange because the joy of my personal life is juxtaposed against a crazy, frustrating work situation. Even though I feel unbalanced, the good is outweighing the bad. I guess I should elaborate a little.

Even with my terrible travel schedule, my family life is amazing. I really feel like I am truly connecting with my kids. We are communicating, and more importantly, I think they are starting to listen to me. We have turned that corner. I am no longer the parent that embarrasses them in front of their friends (I still do that, but now it seems okay). Maybe I do know something useful to them now. Whatever has happened, I will take it!

Melanie just spent the weekend with me because she wanted some time alone with me in LA. She has been catching glimpses of Jeff and my summer and has decided that she wants some “LA Memories” of her own. So as a reward for getting all her college applications done, we flew her down for a long weekend. She and I planned a bunch of events with my So Cal friends, and we almost pulled it all off. The weekend started on a Friday afternoon after I picked her up from the airport. She spent the afternoon hanging out in my office while I finished up a few last minute tasks. We went to dinner at my favorite little Chinese restaurant Wacky Wok (yes, that is the name). The owner spent time chatting to us, which always impresses Mel. The food was excellent (as always), and we even walked out with a few leftovers. Our next stop was Blockbusters for a couple of movies to watch on my new BluRay player and big screen HDTV. She and I playfully argued as usual about her annoying habit of talking nonstop through the best parts of the movie, and we stayed up until late.  We got up early the next morning, ate her favorite breakfast (potato and egg tacos), and then hit the La Brea Tarpits Museum. It was actually a nice little museum and park. There is still tar bubbling up to the surface in many spots. After that we met some friends at In-n-Out for lunch, and the girls decided to kidnap her to take her shopping. I eagerly agreed, making up a lame excuse to head back to the condo for a quick nap before picking up her older brother at the airport. We met up with the girls later for dinner at an awesome Korean BBQ restaurant. We had created a FaceBook event for her arrival to LA, and 10 people showed up for our dinner. We all had fun cooking our own food on a sizzling grill. After dinner we all went back to my place and pulled out the Guitar Hero 3 and Karaoke Revolution games. Now that was a hoot! Mel showed her skills at GH3, and I showed my obvious lack of talent at holding a note. I can now give my total and utter respect to William Hung of American Idol and YouTube fame. Singing in front of people even with the words coming across the screen is so hard and embarrassing! The crowd finally left at 2:30 in the morning. I think my neighbors are now advancing a petition to have me take voice lessons. Our plans to wake up really early the next morning to drive to San Diego were blown when we didn’t get up until 11. We decided to chill by going out for brunch at Dinah’s Diner, and then hit the Santa Monica Pier. The weather was cool but the air was so clear that the mountains were out. We thought it would be perfect to ride the Ferris wheel and take some pictures of the surrounding scenery.  It didn’t disappoint. The view was spectacular, and the crowd sparse, so the operator of the ride made it extra long. After our Santa Monica Pier experience we made it home in time to catch some NFL games on the tube (Go Cowboys!) Our final memory-making event was watching the Survivor Finale at night after a dinner of leftover Chinese food and homemade Won Ton soup. The little miss caught an early Monday morning flight home and the boy and I went in to work.  Later that week she called me to tell me her awesome news…she was accepted to two of her colleges that she applied to. One acceptance came with a certificate acknowledging that she was a candidate of “distinction”. Wow, is she proud of that (and rightfully so!)

Jeff was able to squeeze in a week of work before heading to Seattle. If you recall, he spent the summer interning in our accounting group. He had a little project left to finish, and the CFO asked him to come after his finals to put a few hours in. He made good friends here this summer, and they were genuinely glad to see him. He spent the week finishing his inventory project. He and I picked up our roommate habits pretty quickly, and moved through the week efficiently. He has a new female interest in his life, and Cindy (in the office) and I wouldn’t let that rest. She is like a big sister to him, and he has really connected to her; what am I saying, he has connected to all of them. I love watching him interact with my friends here in LA. I get to see a different side of him. We talked about this new person in his life, and I think he will be able to ask me for advice when necessary. 

That is what makes this one of my best months in my memory…the promise of better relationships with my kids, the continued promise of success for my kids as I see them moving into different (and more adult) phases of their lives, and the memories of laughter as we had fun with my friends in LA. They are such a great and generous bunch always willing to help me out.

I won’t even bore you with the negative stuff; it will only depress and anger me. I had it all typed up, but I am erasing it now…

Chow!