It’s always interesting when I look at snapshots of my life – just moments, short chapters and then the page is turned.
- Snapshot One: For the last few weeks I was working at the Swiss UMEF University in Afghanistan, teaching a course for their MBA program. It was nothing like I thought it would be. I almost walked away from it at least twice. 🙂 But I didn’t. I stayed and finished and saw changes brought about in the lives of students. Students that – according to common sense – I should never have met. But I am glad I did.
- Snapshot Two: Then I flew to Oxford to conduct a leadership conference for US students – and it was amazing, and hopeful. Yes, some of the students have to get over their sense of “entitlement” (most of us do) and some have to stop “overthinking’ life and start living. And others need to discover their “reason” for living. But it was worth investing my life and time in these people. Intense experiences and memories – and it’s over – another page is turned.
- Flashback Snapshot Three: And then suddenly there was a flashback – a student who I had taught when he was in 5th grade contacted me. He is probably nearly 40 years old now – and he’s been following my life and work on FB. He is in the middle of strategizing his life’s purpose and wants to connect with me. Do chapters reopen? Do we sometimes pull out old photo albums and find again things that have meaning and value?
- Snapshot Four: I am now in Copenhagen, interviewing people for my “Happiness Project” article and learning a lot about how people view happiness, how they define it, and even how genetics play a role in the perception of happiness. In a couple of days, I’ll head to Beirut, Lebanon to follow stories in that part of the world.
So many short chapters…some have continuing story lines…some have guest characters that don’t return. I guess it’s all part of living out and following your story. So, I wanted to leave you with a few thoughts – things that occur to me while working in the corners of the world:
- Don’t waste your life on people you can’t trust.
- But always be open to trusting new people.
- Give more than you take.
- But don’t be afraid to let others know how to support you and share your life.
- Let go quickly – lots of things (and some people) don’t work out.
- But always give it one more try before you let go. 🙂
- Pray for wisdom to follow the path God has chosen for you.
- But don’t sit around doing nothing when you know God has already given you enough information to START living a bigger life.
- Always be thankful. No matter who you are, or where you come from, life, in itself is a great reward. Don’t waste it.
- Always know that there is someone…somewhere who needs you – who needs some grace, kindness and help to be shown in their lives. It may be for a short while – or it may be for a long time. Your job is to reflect God’s grace – without expecting back from those to whom you are dispensing the grace. I guess that’s called serving….
Always feel free to check out http://www.globalnext.org to find out what we’re doing!
The Global Nexter 
I’m glad you finished teaching the course! I’m sure there were challenges, but you persevered!
Love this one, friend. Hope to run into you again soon – Jack