Let's Move Forward Together

All living things tend to grow. People, blogs, websites, and companies are no exception. The challenge is to make sure that they grow in a way that is good and profitable for everyone they touch. If you find this blog to be useful or interesting, let's move forward together in one of the following ways.

Charles has published a book and continues to write at www.charlesheyworth.com and with a group of Christian authors at www.conciliarpost.com

Listen Love Lead has morphed into a full-fledged philosophy of leadership through relationship that informs services in business, education, and the church. Learn more at www.listenlovelead.com

Finally, Kevin has begun his own blog on business, education, and Christian life at kevin.listenlovelead.com

Thanks for visiting this blogger page, I look forward to connecting on one of the other sites.

Also on Twitter
@charlesheyworth
@listenlovelead

Introducing my book!

The following short essay is taken from the back cover, inside panel, or introduction to the book I am getting ready to publish. Does it make sense? Do you want to read the book now? Any suggestions? If you want to help with the final edit/design or promotion, let me know!

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Simple subscription to a set of ideas requires no sacrifice from individuals and thus has no power to change their nature. Therefore, theories and principles constructed through careful study and observation do not carry the power to transform a life. That which has no power to change an individual has been drained of its ability to impact the world.

Thus, those who wish to encourage transformation in the world around them through the imposition of a philosophical identity must first demonstrate its value by personal application of its fundamental principles. Though the definitions of value vary with every individual, the prize of a successful life, which these principles are meant to produce, remains unchanged across individual and cultural distinctives.

This book outlines a way of life by which every individual can realize the full potential of his or her success. Unique among its peers, its standard of value has no limits, and encompasses the entire human experience. At its core, the philosophy outlined here derives its value from the application of Christian doctrines to the experience of life.

Because the application is imperfect through the author's life and experience, it transcends the limited usefulness of academic theory and sheds light on the foundational truths that hide in between the lines in the form of faith, hope, and love. Though the story presents evidence of their existence, these truths can only reveal themselves as the individual pursues a relationship with their creator. Thus, even for the author, this story is only the beginning of the adventure.

The River

Before the clock changes and I begin the second day of my 24^th year of life, all I can say is ‘thank you.’ I have discovered beauty that I could never imagine. Hope that I never dreamed of has filled my heart. What I had come to know at my last birthday, I have now come to live. I am awash in a river of love. Carried about by its currents, I know neither my destination nor my course.

I have walked the pathways beside this river wondering at the fools who chose to cast themselves into the water instead of simply refreshing themselves with its goodness on occasion. I knew my pathway and chose my destination carefully – that is, I chose to always stay where I could access the life-giving water of this river if I should need it. However, what I really wanted was so far from its banks that I would never reach it unless the river changed its course.

I tried to dig many channels and streams to direct the water along the route I wanted to go, but in my riverbeds, the water became muddy and undrinkable. It was still water from the river, but it could not satisfy my thirst when I had brought it so far away from its source. Eventually, I discovered, I could not have the water without the river. I could not have the river without giving up the destination I had chosen.

In despair, I began to walk the pathway beside the river and wonder where it might lead. While others floated past on swirling currents, I struggled to continue my journey in the hot sun beside them. My heart could not yet decide between the sweetness of the water and the temptations of my dreams that lay so far from it.

I cannot say why I did not recognize the foolishness of this decision until the day that I stumbled on the road for what seemed the 100^th time. Why this time was different, I will never know. Instead of getting back up and continuing my journey, I realized that my heart must choose one direction or the other. I would leave the river behind me, or I would jump in.

I will never know what would have happened if I had turned my back to the river and followed the dreams I had carried for so long. At times the current that now carries me seems to rush toward what I once desired, but even then, I desire only to be more fully immersed in the water. So I wait, content to see where this rushing water will carry me, excited to explore its endless depth, and eager to invite others to join the experience. For now I have seen that every dream finds its fulfillment in this one thing, every accomplishment is made possible by its power, and every desire is satisfied in this water.

This year, I gave up walking. Everything I wanted turned out to be unsatisfying compared to throwing myself in the river and letting it carry me to its destination. As I face this next year, I realize that I have just been launched over the edge of a waterfall and cannot see where my journey will continue. But even here, I am surrounded by water that has itself come over the edge of the cliff with me. It continues to carry me and remains unchanging even though my experience of it will never be the same. If every person must take a journey through this life, there is only one way I could possibly recommend.