M.I.A.

Whew!

What a year, huh? Last time we chatted it was January and I was telling you that this world was broken. And it is, but we’ll get to that later. The real questions are:

Where have I been?

What have I been up to?

Did I write that book?

Let’s start with the first two.

I’m still residing in Atlanta with my family, except when I wrote my last post; my son had just turned one and was hardly entertaining. Now, my son is about to turn two and can eat a medium pizza by himself. I’m a proud dad.

Nevertheless, as the dudes in the hood say, “I’ve been grindin.” I’m teaching at an elementary school, taking teacher classes in the evenings, I’m doing stand-up comedy, still a dad, husband, son, brother and still serving with Blueprint Church.

I’ve been busy. Yet, in the midst of all of that, I lost something. I lost this very thing–sitting here in front of my computer, with an empty wrapper of a Little Debbie snack next to me, typing away endless rambles hoping to bring joy and inspiration to someone.

Has that ever happened to you?

You ever get so entangled with life and the “hustle and bustle” that when you come to shore, you realize some things are missing?

Maybe for you it’s your family. Maybe for others it’s their careers. Maybe for a few it’s their relationship with God. Whatever it is, it’s still there. Whatever that passion/hobby is, know that you can scoop it up and get back in the groove.

Losing things isn’t always bad. It can help bring humility to our lives that we may need, occasionally.

But it has to be something worth fighting for, worth searching for, worth losing sleep over.

So, here I am.

I found what I was looking for. My blog.

What’s gone missing in your life? 

How do you plan on finding it?

(And no, I didn’t write that book yet.)

2011: Part ONE

2011 will be the greatest year of your life.

Sounds good doesn’t it.

Well, I have good news. 2011 could be the greatest year of your life.

I also have bad news. 2011 could also just be another year.

pic from Flickr neilpomerleau

Crazy, right?

I was talking with my wife at the end of 2010 and inquired, “why do we always see the upcoming year as THE year?”

Is it just I?

Am I the only one who struggled with the idea that the “new” year will bring a better job, a better marriage, a better relationship, better health, more money, more traveling, more adventure, more of this and more of that.

The problem with this thought is: you.

As much as we wouldn’t like to admit it, we are the roots of the issue. Somehow, the world didn’t get the memo because when the clock hit 12:00am and the calendar flipped to January 1, 2011, you were supposed to transform. You were supposed to be more diligent with your diet and more discipline with going to the gym. You were supposed to be a harder worker on your job, a better husband, a greater mom, and a smarter student.

I’m sitting here, unlike you, and I’ve already failed to accomplish goals I set out for this year.

Despite the date, nothing has changed.

Why?

This world is broken.

And with a broken world could any year really be your greatest?

(To be continued)