I had a very odd conversation with a really good friend of mind this week.
Let's rewind to frame this for anyone that might be younger reading this. And younger I mean, anyone less than 45 years old LOL
I often tell my kids, you will be able to count your REALLY good friends with one maybe two hands when you get to be my age. It's just how life is. People change, friends that you used to spend all day with are no longer in your life. It's not throwing shade at anyone, it's just life.
So when I tell you it was a really good friend I had this conversation with, they are most definitely counted on my two hands. Just to give you understanding of how much this conversation impacted me.
How's life, what's going on, blah blah....But then when I hear:
"Jon, I'm not really happy with where I am right now in life. I thought I'd be further ahead."
Now coming from this guy, that's a shock. Dude's got a brilliant mind, has a fantastic family, a great career...On paper, he should be super happy right?
But what is missing in his life?
Something is. Because that is the last thing I should have heard from him. You see, you never know what people are going through.
Take for example, social media...How many times do we look at a post that someone created. They are smiling and super happy, living the good life right? Or are they?
I know this is nothing new to anyone in 2024, but maybe, just maybe a lot of us are putting up fake smiles for the world to see when we are hurting inside.
Now that being said, I'm not sure my friend was hurting...It was more like he was pushing himself to be better and get more from his life. Which is fine to an extent, but I think we start making idols out of 'levels' of wealth, success, etc.
That's a dangerous game to play. When I made all the money in the world, I used to joke with people and say....The best thing money buys is no stress. But wow, was I ever miserable inside. I'm earning a tenth of what I used to make in my business with this offline gig and guess who is one happy chappy? lol
And yeah, my faith plays a HUGE role in that because I truly believe true life contentment comes from God above. And developing a servant attitude for the world. But that's not my place to tell people what can and cannot make you happy.
All I can do is talk about my own experience. My own walk with Christ. My absolute passion for everything I have now about my faith.
Is it for everyone? Maybe not.
But God truly is for everyone ;)