The Barn, Books, Business, The Bus

Some ask me why I ride the bus. My life events seemed to have brought me full circle to what I thought about in my youth, to being expressed now. A near-death experience in the prime of my life stirred a revisit to that expression. It progressed something like this.

On the farm as a youth, it was my job to feed the cows, take them to pasture, and in the summertime, stack the freshly baled hay on the wagon, and then stack it in the hay loft in the barn. During those times working in the barn, the hills, I saw myself helping those neglected, struggling, just trying to make it in life. As I thought about going to college, I would think about studying psychology, sociology then working with VISTA, or a social service organization.

After nearly completing my hours for a major in psychology, my college had an offer by a local TV station to provide jobs to students in broadcasting. I had the opportunity to actually work and get college credit. So I switched my major to broadcast communications.  I seemed to be a natural there and realized I loved communications psychology more than clinical psychology. After a year or two I was offered a chance to broaden my communications skills by creating audio-visual media for a national religious publishing organization. While there I completed an advanced degree in education and communications. I was not making  a great deal of money, but I enjoyed what I did.

Events started to move more rapidly. As president and on boards of several educational/training association groups, I became noted in my field. The business sector caught my eye. Started a video production business producing videos mainly for corporate applications, became a corporate training professional, and moved on to partnering with entrepreneurs as an advanced resource/personal strategist. My professional career continued to advance.

Then all of a sudden things changed.

A near-death experience, barely escaped dying, totally changed my perspective of life quite dramatically.  This summation of those with near-death experiences gives a fairly accurate description of who I am now.

"Most people who face near-death experiences are profoundly changed for even decades after their near-death experience. They particularly become less materialistic, less competitive, less involved in personal power, prestige, fame. Much more altruistic (selfless concern for others), much more concerned with relationships and the spiritual side of lives. Many change careers, change their relationships as a result of their near-death experience."  From:

Resurrected Millionaire doesn't care about money any more. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_K2I5P36-Z8

I don’t value carrying the image of being successful, having an impressive position, or possessing things as before. Life for me is about living on purpose, a mission, and creating quality lifestyle that’s more internal than external. It is like God sent me back with this message… we all have His gifts and an assignment related to it. I can see God’s gifts in people. He has given me a Gift to guide people in how to use their Gifts for Noble Purposes. Everyday I see a rich reservoir of latent talent, undiscovered, underdeveloped gifts on the bus… not just the bus riders, but also the bus drivers, the leaders that surround the system. No matter how little someone has or how much someone has accomplished, I see so much more that they could be.

I want to help those who want to do better, need to do better, to live out a healthy philosophy of life, an inspired life, a life with purpose, a sense of mission, a reason to be here. As we mature into our God-given Gifts, we make a difference. We then exist in… that happy spot. When in our place as our Creator made us, we find happiness and fulfillment in a measure we value.

“Before you were born, I set you apart for a special role in God’s purpose.” (Jeremiah 1:5)

This has been my ride… the barn, books, business, the bus. An interesting ride. I have returned full circle to the thoughts of my youth I had while riding on top of the hay wagon as the tractor driver took us to the barn. Now it’s the bus driver taking me home.

In all of this, I am finding my own happy spot. The bus has brought me back to seeing this again, and living it again. In my youth on the farm, many remarked that I was a happy person. I created happiness and fun for myself. I like the simplicity that opens the door for that happiness again.

Maybe this helps so you see why I ride the bus.