FROM SUCCESS TO MEANING

“What will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?” (Mark 8:36 NKJV)

Why is it that I long to be part of something more than mere “success?” Why does my heart raise a sword when watching movies like Braveheart, where men are willing to lay down their lives for a cause greater than themselves? Why am I attracted to battle scenes where men will risk their own lives to save a fellow warrior and friend? Why is my soul’s desire to leave a legacy of eternal meaning versus having a life of worldly success and significance?

Most of my life I have tried to find real meaning through my vocational career. For most of my working life, I have enjoyed the competitive software and internet business environment. Although achieving corporate goals brings temporary satisfaction, it is hardly something that “takes my breath away,” nor is it a cause noble enough to die for. My wife has appreciated my secular work, because it supports our family financially. But it is very hard for her to understand why I have wrapped so much of my life and manhood into a temporary cause such as “revolutionizing the software industry.”

At Band of Brothers, our hearts desire a life mission bigger than “making a living.” We long to be a part of a larger story – something that has eternal implications and is noble enough to die for – and to live for! We not only want a noble cause, but we want to have other men beside us who would come to our rescue, and to whose rescue we would go. We would fight side-by-side on our heroic journey, and our wives would send us on our way with a soft kiss and would look upon us with eyes of admiration. Our children would yearn to hear the stories of our adventures, and our God would greet us when the battle is finished with, “Well done, my good and faithful servant.”

Such desires were eloquently expressed in Shakespeare’s Henry V. Although the English army was outnumbered 5 to 1 and was facing inevitable death and defeat, King Henry’s words inspired the souls of his tired and exhausted men. By giving the men a vision for the “more” of life, arm-in-arm these men were willing to enter the overwhelming chaos before them – “...We few, we happy few, we band of brothers.” (Please read the speech of Saint Crispin’s Day, one of the truly great moments in English Literature depicting what it means for us as men to be called into a noble cause.)

We believe God made men for such a cause, such relationships, and such honor. God created us for a worthy mission – yes, a battle – to which He is calling us. Yet, too often we believe Satan’s lies that we were not made for something so meaningful and significant, so we often live out of our smaller stories and drink from lifeless water. We men are living in a generation of thievery. Although I am thankful for my secular vocation and its provision for my family, I pray it is a clever front for a greater mission that is righteous and worthy. I pray Christ’s brothers of this generation will have the courage to refute the lies and to live out the purpose for which we were created. I pray that on our deathbeds we can reflect on a legacy where we engaged in the Lord’s battles, where we risked everything in the attempt to save our families and our brothers, and where we are ready to take our honored place in a story that will be told and celebrated for an eternity. We are living in important days, and “we few, we happy few, we band of brothers” do not want to miss out!

- Submitted by a Brother

 From Success to Meaning (120 KB)