As a young teen I struggled for a purpose and a plan for my future.  Growing up in a small town close to a big city brought a bitter sweet imbalance to my life.  I know that is made me grow and gave me a different perspective than if I were just a city slicker or a small town boy.  After many challenges with addictions and rebellion I was able to find the desire to explore my purpose by attending college.  The years at Stephen F. Austin State University were a sanctuary to a rural community full of richness and southern hospitality.   I was able to escape the demands of the call to the city and the connection to a small town. 
     The past month I have taken time to revisit old places and see familiar faces.  I went to my hometown for Christmas to unite with family and see cousins that are now parents.  It is a reality that we are all growing older and the family is getting bigger and bigger.  This is an amazing thing to see.  I tend to be different and not desire marriage or immediate family.  I just desire connections to people that are real and honest.  This brings me peace and honor.  I enjoy my times to my self.  My fear of being a father is that I would not be able to give my child the time that she/he deserves.  Instead, I am the father to my son The Great Gatsby.  He is a miniature Schnauzer that loves me just as much as I love him.  My times on the road seeing familiar faces and familiar places he was my travel partner.
     Living in a large city brings much opportunity to many avenues of people and places.  It also creates a desire to retreat to the country.  This call to the wild is strong, but the call to the city is stronger.  After Christmas I returned to Nacogdoches to see friends and revisit my college home.  I ended up in Center, Texas (population next to nothing) to spend time on a friends ranch that is a haven of pine trees.  It was a great escape.  It was a resting place.  It was a place to sit and contemplate my desire to forget the world and my professional career.  That was the purpose of my vacation.  Then my desire to return home to the City was stronger. 
     Now that I am back home and back at work I am grateful having an honest and humble life that is rich. I use the term rich with out the meaning of material or wealth.  All I know is that my life has been blessed as I connect with people.  I see life in a perspective that often others miss.  I see life from the perspective on humanity.  I feel that we are all people first.  We have dignity and deserve richness.  In some people this is hard to see, but I promise if we keep looking dignity can be found.  Some times I have to keep looking to see the peace and dignity in people.  It is my goal to lead others to see dignity in themselves.  The quest and journey of life is reaching a place that you know and feel inner strength and peace because of the gifts and qualities that you have.  Take time to find your richness in places beside your checkbook.  If you do not find it there join the club.