We always hear, “You get out of something, whatever you put into it.” Bad ingredients make a bad cake. Well, I’m not so sure there is any ‘bad’ cake, but you get the point. That is a true statement and along the lines of topics we’ve discussed. Nothing great ever comes easy. It is only defined as great because there is some level of difficulty involved in pursuing it! As I continue on these ideas of living richly and seeking […]
I was thirty-two. My wife and I had grown accustomed to a new definition of marriage, one layered with the responsibilities of raising three boys. The fact that they were all under the age of three just added to the adventure. I was a young professional, focused on building my insurance agency in my hometown of Wilmington, North Carolina. What happened next changed everything. One morning, I was overcome with a longing to write, as if a story from somewhere […]
Crazy This week has been packed full of crazy. Well, most weeks are, but this week particularly! My family is renting a beach house down at Wrightsville Beach; a tradition we started in 2001 after my Grandpa Ham passed away. For those of you that know my family, this is much more than just a family affair. Family and friends fill the house and meet at the beach which makes it such a special time. This, however, is the first […]
What do you know about Otis Redding? Otis Redding (Wiki link) was one of the most influential soul singers of the 1960’s, a black artist emerging in a very challenging time in our country’s history. He tragically died in a plane crash at 26 years old, just as his star was beginning to shine. Only a six months earlier, he had closed the Monterey Pop Festival, sharing the stage with acts such as Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, and The Who. […]
What is Labor Day? For most, it’s a long weekend away from work and maybe a chance to wallow in the fact that summer is finally over; the kids are back to school and the routine has returned. The anticipation of Memorial Day and celebration of Independence Day have faded into the drudging reality of Labor Day. It’s almost like President Grover Cleveland knew this when he signed the holiday into law back in 1887. I can hear him, under his breath say, […]
I love reality shows like, “Survivorman” and “Man vs. Wild”. I am amazed by them because I am so incapable of going into uncharted territory, living off the wilderness for days. Les Stroud and Bear Grylls, the personalities behind these programs, are amazing in their ability to tackle the most extreme environments. When these men overcome challenges it sparks a belief in us that it can be done. As I was watching one of these shows the other day, it reminded […]
My maternal grandmother, Eloise Ham, was raised alongside fourteen brothers and sisters in rural Timmonsville, South Carolina. She learned the value of hard work by caring for her younger siblings and performing her daily duties on the family farm. Tom Brokaw was right when he labeled her and her peers, The Greatest Generation. They taught us the value of an honest day’s work, the necessity for loving our neighbors and what it means to fear God. But the most valuable lessons my grandmother taught me […]
We get busy in life. Matt reminds us of why we dedicate ourselves to something other than ourselves.
- Robert Wagnon, CEO, Republic State Mortgage
