Enjoy life’s smorgasbord

The Wimbledon finals featured four highly-focused athletes.
In the women’s finals, Serena Williams defeated big sister Venus.
In the men’s, Roger Federer outlasted Andy Roddick.
The men’s was a classic, the longest major tournament on record.
Andy and Roger battled for more than four hours in July heat.
Our son Mark and I met Serena and Andy earlier this year.
They were in South Carolina for a fund-raiser for charity.
We had heard criticism of the Williams sisters.
They were interested in things other than tennis, the critics said.
Well, why not? You can’t play championship tennis all your life.
Having other interests has not blunted the sisters’ focus.
"Never give up and always keep fighting," Serena said.
"It’s a good lesson, not just in sports, but in life as well."
They beat the best women players in the world last week.
Together they have won Wimbledon seven times.
The point is that you can be the best and have other interests.
You can have balance in life and still excel at what you do.
Life can be a smorgasbord. Make the most of it.
P.S. Tomorrow’s the last day of our Great Book Sale.
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Find your passion

Local TV personality Joe Pinner is a lucky man.
Joe knew at age nine that he wanted to be a radio broadcaster.
Radio was big and Joe says he had the perfect face for radio.
Joe started broadcasting in New Bern, N.C. in 1950.
He told the world "This is Joe Pinner and here’s Nat King Cole."
His broadcast career continues in its 60th year.
Joe says he has not worked a day in his life.
He admits a few days have been more trying than others.
"Some by my own stupidity or lack of preparation," he says.
Now in retirement, Joe still airs commercials and weather.
You may not be as lucky as Joe to have found your passion early.
That’s all right. It’s about the journey, not the destination.
Keep hunting. You will find it. I guarantee it.
One clue: What are you exceptionally good at?
It’s probably not "digging ditches" or "selling widgets".
Those who never find it give up too soon. Don’t be like them.
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P.S. Our Great Book Sale has been extended one week.
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The journey is the key

I mentioned Ken and Laura Colton in Tuesday’s blog.
Ken pastors a local Methodist church congregation.
Sunday Ken preached on Moses and the Promised Land.
Moses’ life is one of the Bible’s great adventure stories.
Hidden in Nile reeds as a baby to escape being killed.
Found and raised by the Pharaoh’s daughter.
Chosen by God to lead the children of Israel from bondage.
Crossing the Red Sea with Divine intervention.
Wandering in the desert in search of the Promised Land.
Receiving God’s commandments on Mount Sinai.
Learning he would see the Promised Land but not reach it.
God was teaching Moses that life’s not about destinations.
It’s about what we learn and how we grow on the journey.
It’s good to have destinations. We call them goals.
The real benefit is what we become on the journey.
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Put balance in your life

My "Do what you love" blog last week struck a nerve.
Blog reader Mark Bostic designs homes.
Mark admits his work is a true passion.
But he warns not to focus your life too narrowly.
"A job you love can be great," he said.
"But great passions must be under control."
Mark makes a great point.
I made that mistake as a young journalist.
I lived and breathed writing and journalism.
After MacLeod and I were married, I didn’t change.
I just kept on working 12 hours a day.
That hurt her as she was raising our first child.
I was unaware that I was neglecting both of them.
It took a confrontation to show me my error.
I convinced her to unpack but it took a lot of persuasion.
Last Sunday we went for a cruise on Lake Murray.
Ken and Laura Colt0n invited us to join them on their boat.
I realized this was the first time I had relaxed all week.
Even now my passion for what I do can consume me.
So I’m still working at it as I know many of you are.
Don’t let passion blind you. Life has many rewards.
Faith, family, country, community, your health and well being.
With balance, we multiply life’s rewards.
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Do what you love

Blog reader Dan left a comment Tuesday.
He loved the idea of doing what you love.
But, for Dan, an income has to come first.
I realize it takes time to find what you love to do.
Then more time to figure out how to make it pay.
He’s not alone. A lot of us went through a search.
I’ve driven trucks and ground optical lenses.
I’ve bagged groceries and shelved stock.
I once ran an alcoholic beverage warehouse.
In the Army, I ran the 7th Division hotel in Korea.
My guests were visiting celebrities and other VIPs.
Each one of those jobs taught important lessons.
One important lesson: They weren’t what I love.
They were jobs until I became the next Hemingway.
I gave up that dream. I didn’t have the gift.
God gave me another gift: A newspaper job I loved.
Now we own two publishing companies.
We publish books, newspapers and magazines.
I coach, consult, teach and speak publicly.
God gave me a great life with a wonderful mate.
Dan, you’ll find your passion. Keep looking.
Be patient. Learn all you can whatever you do.
Try my book "Your Life’s Great Purpose".
It will show you the way in your search.
For more about that, click here.
P.S. I’ll send info on our Great Book Sale today.