For Good or For Evil

I’m on the board of directors for an organization in SE Asia, and have been for going on 8 years now. My fellow board members have become a second family to me. As with any group of people scattered around the globe, it’s not often we get to meet face-to-face. We try to do at least two board meetings in-person each year (one in the US and one in Asia), with the rest being via Zoom.

I don’t remember how it happened, but about 18 months ago, one of the board members came up with the idea of doing book studies together. After a bit of planning, we were off and running. Twice per month, we gather via Zoom to catch up, spend time together, and learn. The time doesn’t work great for anyone, as it’s Friday night for us in the Western Hemisphere and early Saturday morning for others in the Eastern Hemisphere. However, it’s always a beautiful time and it fills my bucket immensely.

It always gets me thinking about the power of technology. Because of technology, we’re able to meet as a board, spend time doing a book study, build relationships, and collaborate on new projects. One person even gave a video tour of his new house during last night’s call.

Yes, technology, like all the resources we possess, can be used for evil. Destructive and devastating evil. It’s easy to point our fingers at it and give it our wholesale blame. Like many things, however, technology doesn’t have morals. It’s just a tool. It takes on the values, morals, and behavior of those using it. We can use it for good, or we can use it for evil. Social media, podcasts, YouTube….the list goes on. The crazy part is most of the technological tools at our fingertips are either free or very inexpensive. Billions of people, limited financial hurdles, instant access, and very few barriers to entry. This is the opportunity in front of us. We can either shun technology (or insert any of your other resources here), or we can use it for good. I for one choose to use it for good.

In a world flooded with bad intentions and gross negativity, we each have an opportunity to bend the culture the other way. It often seems like the bad far outweighs the good….enough to make us feel like our contributions don’t even matter. But what if I add something good, you add something good, and the next person does the same? What if we all got intentional about using our resources for good? Could we change the world? There’s only one way to find out.

"Excellence is Always Its Own Reward"

For the last few years, I’ve been in a book club of sorts with a handful of close friends. We all serve together on the board of directors of an international organization. While we may be geographically scattered around the world, technology allows us to come together to accomplish good work, encourage one another, and build meaningful relationships. This group has sincerely been one of the great joys of my adult life.

Every few weeks, we’ll get on a Zoom call and discuss the most recent reading. The meeting times are always inconvenient, as everyone has to make a sacrifice due to dramatically different time zones. However, it’s always valuable and it fills my tank. We’re currently reading From Strength to Strength, by Arthur C. Brooks. The book focuses on how we can find success, happiness, and deep purpose in the second half of our life.

As I was preparing for last night’s meeting, one quote stuck out to me. “Devote the back half of your life to serving others with your wisdom. Get old sharing the things you believe are most important. Excellence is always its own reward, and this is how you can be excellent as you age.”

I have to admit something. As the youngest member of this group, I initially treated the content as something I would someday apply to my life, when (far down the road) I started to age. However, I’m starting to recognize this book is indeed talking about me, too. The signs are there….I just don’t always like to admit it. Where I sit today, there’s nothing more fulfilling to me than serving others with my wisdom. Whether it’s public speaking, one-on-one coaching, podcasting, partnering in businesses, or being a youth group leader, nothing provides more satisfaction than serving others with whatever wisdom I have to offer. Some people think I’m an idiot and wouldn’t listen to a word I said if I was the last person on earth. Others pay me a pretty decent sum for my wisdom. Life is funny like that. We serve those who wish to be served.

As much as I’d like to believe I’m still a wide-eyed kid fresh out of college, I’m not. I don’t mourn what I’m not….I celebrate what I am. Today, I’m someone who serves others with my wisdom. Sometimes it pays well…..often it pays nothing. That’s not the point. Excellence is always its own reward!