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How does one answer a question regarding what defines them as a person? There are some many facets of one’s life that shape and mold him — many undetected. The best one could hope to do is to reflect upon the roles important to him or her. So, in order of most importance, the top six roles that define me as a person and human being are listed and described below.
Christian
Without a relationship with Jesus Christ nothing else in life matters. Nothing, absolutely nothing should ever be more important that this defining characteristic.
Husband
I cherish the responsibilities and duties of caring for and honoring the woman that agreed to be my wife — until death do us part. It’s an awesome priviledge that I too often take for granted. It has been a thrill to see and experience how our love has deepened and strengthened since our wedding day in 2000.
Father
This role is definately one of, if not the most, challenging. There is so much on the line with raising children. Despite the stresses of trying to “get it right”, it is incredibly rewarding to see the lessons you teach them learned. Furthermore, it is pure joy to hear the laughter and delight of a little one experiencing new and exciting things in their little worlds. Already in just two years of being a father, I have so many good stories and memories involving our son. I need to write them down as I remember them so that they may be preserved.
Son
Being a father, has helped me to appreciate more than anything, what loving sacrifices of time, energy, and money, were made by my parents. Being a son, who was fortunate to have incredible parents, has taught (and continues to do so) lessons on being a father — lessons I was learning long ago but never realized it. My sense of sonship has been made stronger by being a father and I feel closer to my parents than I did prior to having children. It is my hope and desire that my life and actions are always an honor to my mother and father.
Brother
I am the oldest of three children so I do not know what it’s like to have an older sibling. I do not know nor presume to know if my younger brother and sister have ever “looked up to me”. I have, however, always respected and adored them both. It has been a honor to see them grow up and mature at times taking some of the same steps I have and at times taking boldly different steps on their own.
Friend
I have been blessed with some very rich and rewarding friendships. My closest friends, who are also brothers in Christ, share all of life’s experiences with me and me with them. Having this fellowship is such a fulfilling intangible thing, it’s hard to describe. I wonder if that was what it was like amongst Jesus’s disciples.
I guess that gives you a sense of my personality and me at my core. There are many other attributes that I could list and assign to myself but they pale in comparison and I am sure you’ll gain from reading between the lines of my postings, if not directly stated.
As for my interests, I guess it is best to look at my book shelf and see what I have been reading lately as the things that interest me change constantly. Lately the list would include, but not be limited to, software development, business, politics, parenting, hermeneutics, running, and woodworking.
Finally, the way that God provides for my family — my profession. I am currently a software architect for a medium sized company in the healthcare industry. I also freelance from time to time on small to medium sized software development projects that have flexible hours and schedules allowing me to work on them during evenings, weekends, and other off hours apart from my primary duties as a full time employee.
