Everyone’s story has a beginning, a middle and an end. The beginning is the past which cannot be changed. The past is the past and that is just the way it is, or was. It is important for us to know what the past was so maybe we can learn from it and understand who we are. The middle on the other hand is the present and it is still being written. The end is the final destination and is yet to be discovered but what we do today will determine where we end. If we want to finish strong, we need to be determined today to have a specific destination rather than just let life happen like so many do. This is my story.

I come from humble beginnings. Born in the USA, yes, but into a poor family. I was the fourth of 4 sons and my Dad struggled to support us through retail jobs. Previously, my dad had been a Pastor in several locations which failed to provide for our family as it grew, so my Dad worked hard to provide through other means. I mention this because this determined my view of work, money and lack of wealth. It was a lot of delayed gratification and waiting to see what life has next. It did not get much better when my Dad left and my Mom had to go to work, it was tough times until my Mom and Stepfather came together. 

My stepfather was an engineer and Vice President of a company and life changed for me only, because my brothers had already grown up. I now had an example of someone who was determined to succeed and had. He did his best to pass this on to me. The rest of my growing up was still based on what life brings and life was certainly much better, yet it was life determined by what my Stepfather did, not mine. I did take advantage of the opportunity presented and develop my skills as a musician as well as did my best in education to prepare for life. I also, at that time, felt an affinity to help young people so I would also embark of being a minister

I graduated High School determined to become a Youth and Music Pastor. Very much having the desire to help others which I still carry with me today but to also share my gifts (music, singing, guitar playing, song writer). There is one thing that continue to permeate through everything and that was I was just allowing life to happen, not really focus on a specific direction. There were many little successes but not enough focus to string them all together. Maybe you can relate. I did go to college studying basically ministry and would finally get to that career but not without a bunch of detours. More like just taking the next fork in the road and then the next and so on. I was searching for what would be my successful thing without understanding true focus, just hard work which I learned from my Dad.