Post 1500 (A Cynical Success Story)

For as pessimistic and cynical as my internal wiring tends to be, I'm consistently amazed, humbled, blessed, and lucky to find so much success in life.

Over 5 years ago, I thought I'd start sharing parts of my thoughts, journeys, days, and emotions publically on the internet.  This post marks 1500 unique posts to that effect.  Many of you have read all 1500 of them.  The cynic inside me does not understand this.

Life has been good to me.  Blessed with the best family to grow up in, with actual opportunity to become anything i would set out to, life has been good.  I found many skill sets to be average within myself, but others came alongside and helped me grow in those abilities.  Natural wirings and gifts from God have pushed me forward in both social, trivial, vocational, and meaningful pursuits throughout my life.

I've always critiqued the worst of myself and of other people, but find most others do the opposite for me.  While I judge, favor is extended to me.  Where I see faults in others, grace is extended to me.  Where I doubt myself, encouragement to overcome comes from others.

On top of all that, I've married up in a huge way, somehow convincing the best person in the world, that partnering through life with me will make both of us better.  We often look at our life cynically, analytically, and with a lens of idealism, but when I take those glasses off, even if only for a brief moment, our life is filled with joy that comes from each other, from our friends and family, and from our savior.

We are blessed beyond understanding.  This has been the story of my life.  I am the cynical success story.  I was against religion, against conformity, against abandoning the intellect (I thought faith required this) and combatant against others who thought it was a good idea.  But I've been captured by an overwhelming love, one that looks past what I thought the world should be and has shown me something better.  Captured by a savior who has redeemed me, transformed me, given me life, value and worth, I've been taken from cynic to success, not by my strength or works, but by His love, Grace and Sacrifice for me.

I've been seen, called valuable, and loved by God most importantly, followed closely by my wife, family and friends who have refused to let me walk through life just as a pessimistic cynic and have instead made my life to this point...success.

Looking forward to continued sharing of those successes (and my cynicism) with you.

P.S.  The soccer team won the regional tournament for the men for the first time since my senior year in college.  I get another trip to a national tournament in Florida.  It will be my 5th, I haven't deserved any of them.