Absolute Moral Truth

Throughout the course of my life I have defined and redefined the meaning of the word success. The expanse of human experience yields many perspectives on the often subjective viewpoint of success. It is often defined by the singular point of view stemming from the mind of each individual. Yet I can’t help but believe success is not merely what I think it is; there has to be a truly objective meaning.

For seasons of my life I believed success to be relative to my social status and “place in the world”. I believed that my home ownership gave way to some noticeable badge of honor that would surely yield respect and admiration. However the congratulatory statements and the approval of friends and family meant little in the search to fill the void of the seemingly endless pursuit of meaningful success.

Climbing to the top of food chain in the work environment promised not only untapped potential for six figure earnings, but also a widespread respect from managers and the promise of promotion and longevity. Again I was met with the overwhelming disappointment of the top of the mountain, leaving me only wanting more.

In the past few months I laid to rest that wicked part of me. That part of me that allowed myself to be hooked by the lie of this world that meaning and purpose is found in things, physicality, and worse “worldly success”. I learned a new part of that today on my way to take my two young daughters to school…

My oldest daughter Alyssa is an exceptional diligent student attending her first year of grade school. She excels in all of her studies and enjoys homework. She begs to read the Bible past her bedtime and often recounts stories of how she prays for her friends in class quietly to herself when they are being unruly to her teacher. Both of my daughters are incredible, but something happened today that changes everything.

Alyssa has been ill off and on for many weeks and has had to miss school. She has an incentive program in her class that rewards students for good performance. Students must collect 20 stickers and can only earn 1 per day. Alyssa had been saving her stickers for well over a month and was very excited about her chance to redeem her stickers for use to pick something from the “Treasure Box”. She had earned every single one of those stickers and worked hard to get them, she waited patiently to earn them all. When it came time for her to redeem them she did something that blew me away.

She requested a new bouncy ball from her teacher for the stickers she earned. She placed it in her backpack and went about her day. Later when my wife came to pick up both of my daughters from school Alyssa did something amazing. Without regard for herself, without anyone asking her to, without announcing it to anyone, she handed her little sister that new ball she earned.

Amanda her little sister had lost her other ball and had been sad about it for days before. When I asked Alyssa about it she didn’t hesitate to say how she thought of Amanda first and wanted to get her something to make up for what she had lost.

I no longer need to pursue success; I already have it in my family.

My daughter is a blessing from God and while I have spent so long getting it wrong as a man I know that I must have done at least one thing right when I see her selflessly give without even a thought of herself. Her mom’s compassionate heart and passion for people is alive and well in her, but this isn’t just about a dad bragging about his daughter. This is so much more…

We waste so much time chasing the same monotonous fruitless things in this life and forget that there are people around us who want our love and attention. In this life there is nothing more important for me than to be a great husband, a loving father, and a follower of Christ. When I do those things, everything else is just icing on the cake.

Alyssa when you get older and read this. I want you to know how proud your father is of you. I have never in my life been more amazed by the love of God that burns so bright in you. No matter what happens in your life never let go of God’s love for you. I love you so much.

Love,

Daddy