Hey Everyone,
I want to share a recent personal milestone that profoundly reminded me of the power of our daily choices. We are all building something, and today, I want to challenge you to look at the foundation you are actively laying for others. This beautifully embodies our 3…2…1 Impact framework: three points to ponder, two quotes to share, and one story of profound impact.
1 Story of Impact
Earlier this month, I celebrated a birthday. Like many leaders, I maintain a love/hate relationship with these annual milestones. I avoid over-the-top celebrations, yet these markers offer a distinct blessing that is needed to continue forward.
I woke up that morning and spent quiet time with the Lord. I grounded myself in Scripture and prayer before hitting the road for my daughter’s college orientation at the University of Northwestern St. Paul. Nothing says “Happy Birthday” quite like nine hours in a car learning about tuition expenses!
Before leaving, a prompt urged me to post on social media. On this day, I wanted to bless others. In June, our family visited our programs in Haiti, and the sheer scale of transformation struck me. Despite the depth of the current crisis, these mothers, children, and students showed up every day to do the grueling work required to forge a better life. I wanted to celebrate my birthday by standing shoulder to shoulder with those fighting to change their circumstances.
That short post triggered a flood of encouraging messages. Generous people donated over $2,000 to fuel the mission. One of our thrift store staff heard about this and asked every person dropping off donations if they could give a little bit to celebrate with us. She raised just under $100 in $1 bills. As I reflected in the weeks following, I realized the results stemmed from far more than five minutes of typing. It was a lifetime of choosing to embody Love in Action spilling onto the page. Supporters from multiple countries and different seasons of my life engaged. Friends of my parents donated. They gave because they watched me demonstrate my beliefs and live my values over decades.
I have learned there are five Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, and your testimony. And many times, your testimony is the one people will read the most, as the Gospel is always much better caught than taught. You are far more powerful than you realize. When you choose to be where your feet are planted and forge inch-wide, mile-deep relationships, you construct a foundation strong enough for others to stand.
3 Points to Ponder
- The Fifth Gospel: Your daily life is the testimony people read the most. If someone were to observe your actions this week, what values would they catch from the way you live?
- The Power of Relational Infrastructure: Our daily interactions build a reservoir of trust. Are you investing in the people around you today so that when a need arises, you have a solid foundation of trust to lean on?
- Leveraging Milestones: We often treat birthdays and anniversaries as moments to look entirely inward. How can you leverage your next personal milestone to help someone else move from dependency to dignity?
2 Quotes to Share
“You cannot build a reputation on what you are going to do.” – Henry Ford
“Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.” – 1 John 3:18
As we continue to walk out our faith, remember that a good life is built through everyday consistency toward something greater than yourself. If you feel called to celebrate my birthday and stand with our women, children, and students actively working to change their lives, I would be deeply honored. You can easily give and be Love in Action today by clicking here:
Feel free to reply and share; I read every response.
Live with Impact,
Tim
