Communal Life Stage

Going through different life stages is a part of growing up. Some people take each life stage in stride. Others may fight each stage tool and nail because of the growing pressures and responsibilities they may want to avoid. I was in the latter category for quite some time until I just finally embraced the necessity for maturity. Da** it!!! No, I'm not bitter. Okay, maybe a little.

One of the earth shaking experiences was becoming a father. It certainly changed my view on parenthood. At least some of those views anyway. But I'm not here to talk about me. Recently my dear friend, Aaron Brown, just became a father.

Aaron and his wife Megan had a rough labor. I could totally relate. By the grace of God, they got through it and Eliot Christopher Brown was born. Even though Aaron don't talk quite as often as before he's no less a brother to me today than he was when we went to Biola University together. I remember being there for his wedding and giving a wedding speech he really appreciated. I remember when he was here for my wedding. He's been one of the most supportive friends I've ever been blessed with. He's offered me wisdom and counsel that was directly empowered by the Spirit of God.

As the due date came closer and closer Aaron would ask me questions on what it's like being a father. We have completely different backgrounds growing up so I could only offer my subjective experience on the matter. I told him how much it changed me. I told him how important it was for me to tuck in my daughter when it's bedtime and how it's amazing when they begin to recognize you as their father. There's also the absolute terror in a parent's heart when something could be wrong with your child. And of course, we'll have those "Shrek 4 Days."

I know Aaron will have his own experiences and process things his way. Even though we live in different coasts I know his journey through fatherhood will enrich me as much as his friendship has. That's why I'm really excited. It's more than just "joining a club" but a deeper level of intimacy within the communal life. I know we'll have long phone conversations processing through different concepts and ideas and help each other articulate our thoughts and emotions, just like when we went to college talking about classes and relationships. Now, we get to talk about our children. They'll be heartache and pain. There always are in parenthood. But I feel empowered having another brother in arms helping me fight the battle of being a good father.

Hey Aaron, welcome to the club.

The Hands of the Diligent Get to Retire

Recently I had a 70-year-old man call asking questions about the Required Minimum Distributions (RMD) on his IRA. I kindly explained to him the rules and was happy for him since he was able to save $200K in his account. He felt healthy and wanted to keep working. Good for him.

In contrast, I had another 70-year-old man call me about a week after. He is a trucker who works 80 hours per week and has not saved anything for retirement. He called because his body is starting to feel like he can’t take 80-hour workweeks anymore and was wondering if there was anything he could do. At this point I’m not sure how much I could help him.

Proverbs 12:24 says,
“The hand of the diligent will rule, while the slothful will be put to forced labor.” Of course this person was not “slothful” (lazy) in the sense that he was unwilling to work. He’s working 80 hours per week! But he has been slothful in the sense that he didn’t take the time to plan and diligently save for what everyone will eventually face, retirement. Retirement could be a milestone achievement “I get to do whatever I want.” That could be traveling the world, go to the mission field without having to raise support, go into full-time ministry and giving away most of your underpaid salary. The possibilities are endless. Or retirement could just be a ticking time bomb where life blows up in your face. If you don’t plan now you’ll be put into “forced labor.” Why? Because you want to put off planning for something EVERYONE faces?

The lowest requirement I’ve seen for opening a personal IRA (Individual Retirement Account) traditional or Roth is $50 per month. I believe most people could spare that money. My wife and I have been more diligent with our written budget. As a result, I’ve noticed more and more how much the Lord really blesses us. Before, all our bills were paid every month so why really think about it. I mean that’s all that really matters right?

Wrong.

After tracking our spending we notice there were a lot of waste that we could begin to reign in. Once we started doing that we found more to give to others, pay off debt and invest towards our future. None of those things are mutually exclusive. But it does take work. Either you begin planning now and live like generous kings later or live like slaves and be put into “forced labor.”

“You work too long and too hard and put up with too many strange people in your life to come to the end of it and have nothing to show for it.”

Investing Minute: January 2015