October 27, 2025

“The ordinary human being does not live long enough to draw any substantial benefit from his own experience. And no one, it seems, can benefit by the experience of others. Being both a father and a teacher, I know we can teach our children nothing…each must learn its lessons anew.” Albert Einstein, October 26, 1929

I think Einstein is wrong. I believe we are all given “seeds of influence”. Our words, our actions, our finances can all be used to influence others. The question is “how will you plant the seeds you have been given?”

Every Monday morning, when I am in the United States, at 8:00 a.m. I have a conference call with a group of faith leaders from Texas, North Carolina, Virginia, Pennsylvania. I represent the Sunshine State. We encourage, support and challenge each other in our efforts to minister to others. Last week we were challenged to ponder the question “How do you know that your will is God’s will?” An important question to answer.

Surprisingly, it seems like Jesus had to answer the same question.

“Not My will, but Yours be done.” This moment takes place in the Garden of Gethsemane shortly before Jesus’ arrest. Jesus was human and, in this moment, facing death, he must have been scared. Yet, after praying a sufficient amount of time for the disciples to fall asleep he concluded that it was best to allow his will to be God’s will. For my seeking practical guidance, this encounter offered me the assurance that even in moments of great testing, reliance on God produces spiritual depth and the certainty that His plans are ultimately for good.

What I have concluded after three quarters of a century on this earth is that I am made in God’s image, and I know what makes me happy. I know what fills my heart with a deep sense of meaning and purpose. I’ve decided to do those things.

So tomorrow I take off again to seek God’s hand at work around the world. I will travel to Rome, Greece, Ephesus, Turkey and Istanbul to learn more about the origins of my faith. Luckily, I have a good wife. How do I know? Because she does what all good wives do, she makes this adequate husband a better man. I am blessed that she shares my same passions. And we plan to plant some seeds along the way.

What makes you happy? What fills your heart with a deep sense of meaning and purpose. Do those things.

And plant some seeds along the way. You may be carrying a mustard seed that needs to be planted. A mustard seed is one of the smallest seeds yet grows into a large tree that offers shelter for others. Something that may seem insignificant can lead to significant results. And don’t think you need a lot of faith to get started. Even a small amount of genuine faith can lead to great outcomes.

And as always,

Thanks for traveling with us.