I once thought getting ahead through amassing wealth and knowledge was the pinnacle of success. Professional and spiritual activism meant everything to me as I sought to fulfill my purpose in life, until a May 2020 cancer diagnosis shifted my worldview completely. Hearing the shocking news that I would soon be embroiled in a possible late-stage head and neck cancer battle caused all previous professional pursuits and accolades to melt away. In that moment, I found clarity that faith and family were truly everything!
I learned plus twenty-five (25) years of experience in energy commodity trading/risk management could not save me, nor could my recently secured Master of Divinity fully prepare me for the road ahead. Soon my body would begin betraying me as the cancer diagnosis was indeed beyond my personal strength. I would need more than a stern work-ethic to mount a compelling fight against this internal foe. Laying voiceless for nearly five months, and body ravished from aggressive chemotherapy and radiation treatments, I finally understood what true connection with my Savior meant. To rest patiently in faithful obedience under the care of a merciful Creator, who simply desired personal intimacy with me (and with you as well)!
When things seemed bleakest, the knowledge of this assurance crystalized the importance of engaging family and seeking purpose. While I had previously maintained a fundamental belief mankind was created to glorify God, in the moment I learned to live a completely enriched life, every human being should tirelessly search to identify their God given purpose. As a result, after decades of building a life emphasizing achievement, I shifted my focus to explore the depths of how positive family interactions could directly influence the culture at large. While not ashamed to admit the journey is incomplete, our Family Standard endeavors to chronicle the organic growth of our family’s evolution, as I personally transition from concentrating on mere success to human significance.
