It started over 20 years ago. I was married, two kids, and chasing the "American / Canadian dream," trading Agricultural Commodities up and down the continent's western side. At the same time, I pursued a passion for ministry, which took tons of time too. As you may appreciate, there were never enough hours in the day for other important things like … my family.
My dream came true, and I started ministry full-time and building a ministry that would care for people with no strings attached. We developed a youth drop-in centre with an indoor skateboard park; we had a clothing bank, a furniture exchange, giving away food to anyone in need, and a whole lot more.
While it was a dream come true, there were more issues and more people experiencing challenges than one guy, or even a small dedicated team could handle. I found that I was working 16-plus hours a day, seven days a week. As you have probably guessed, I was pretty stretched.
Sharing with a friend, he encouraged me to slow down a bit and suggested that I spend more time with my family (that wasn’t ministry related) and find an unrelated hobby. A hobby? What’s that? Ministry was my hobby during my corporate life, and when full-time ministry came - it was both my full-time gig and my hobby.
I took the guy’s advice, and we, as a family, took our first real vacation (non-ministry trip) and headed to Ocean Shores in Washington State.
As we travelled, I kept my eyes peeled for a hobby. Something that would keep me challenged, relaxing when I wanted it to be, and thrilling when I wanted that. Something that our entire family would enjoy and could share together.
Near the end of the week, we stumbled into a store that sold kites. It was like the lights went on. These kites were a lot different than the $2.95 plastic Bat kites with the yellow stick-on eyes I had as a kid. I was sold! I bought my first stunt kite.
My kite collection has expanded into various kinds of kites. Kite flying has been an answered prayer for me as it is something my entire family enjoyed as they grew up and even now as adults. I find flying kites of all types therapeutic and meditative. I pop my earbuds in, groovin’ to my favourite tunes as I maneuver the kite through the sky.
Kites also have become part of how I make my income with an e-commerce retail kite store - Great Canadian Kite Company - selling kites throughout North America. It’s a great fit with my Spiritual Direction Practice (from a Teilhardian and Open & Relational Theological perspective) and Grief Coaching. It also provides lots of flexibility for being a good husband to Andrea and supporting my 17-year-old son in his life, academics, and basketball.
Zest for Life
Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, a French Jesuit and scientist, spoke about finding and cultivating a Zest for Life. For Teilhard, this Zest could be anything that you are truly passionate about that adds vibrancy, soul, and knowledge to the world. Pursuit of a passion that contributes to general well-being and beauty in our own lives and, in turn, contributes to the vibrancy and well-being of others, creatures, and the planet.
It can be a passion for science, helping people, creating, playing music, telling stories, being innovative, healthy spiritualities/practices, writing, sculpting, coding, medicine, poverty alleviation, farming, mechanics, math, teaching, construction, athletics, being an amazing parent and spouse, or being an amazing faithful forgiving friend - the list is endless!
Cultivating a Zest for Life nurtures a deep sense of being alive and a sense of connectedness and purpose in the grand scheme. Living into this Zest quite naturally inspires more capacity for love in the world in big and small ways.
I fly kites. I paint the sky with colours, motion/choreography, and whimsical shapes that make people smile. When I fly kites, it is an expression of myself through creating a display or via choreographed soul-flying. Flying kites makes me smile. It brings joy to others and contributes to the beauty and well-being of the world.
Discovering and making space for our own unique beauty-making passion(s) is a way that each of us can be a gift - to ourselves, others, and the world.