Korea, a great place to get your *&^% together....

Sometimes you get what you want. Sometimes you get what you want, leave it in the backseat of your car and forget about it, think you lost it, then find it six months later, only to realize it's only gotten better with age and you never would have really used and appreciated it at the time you got it in the first place.

What's my point?

Coming to Korea six and a half months ago, I had two main goals:

1. To save money and get out of debt
2. (Most important) To finally be so far out of my comfort and security zone that I would be forced to learn what it means to be a man

No sooner had my plane landed however, that a vortex of incredible energy enveloped me. I was consumed by the veritable cornucopia of activity and excitement that is Seoul, South Korea, and six months passed in the stuttering blink of two blue eyes.

Then about a month ago, and for no identifiable reason, I woke up. After hitting the snooze button several time, I fixed breakfast, scratched my belly, and looked at my life. Against all odds, I liked what I saw.

Without even meaning to, I had hit my stride. Maybe it was the volunteer work I started doing. It could have been the strenuous exercise I started putting my body through. It may be the time spent in prayer with God. My money's on C: all of the above.

All that time, I thought I was putting off my goal of learning what it means to be a man. Turns out I was neck deep in it the whole time.

Now, I'm not saying I've become the man I want to be. Far from it. And Lord knows there's much work to be done in all areas of my life. All I know is that here I am, exactly where I need to be, being prepared for a purpose, getting ready for my big date with destiny.

You see, I'm filled with passion. God blessed me with a soul on fire. A soul that yearns to give, to grow and stretch itself, to bring joy and love and good things into the world. To make an impact that ripples through eternity.

As of publication however, I don't have a clue how the heck that's gonna happen. Schucks, I can hardly get prepubescent Korean kids to listen to me consistently while I teach them the difference between right and write, how am I supposed to impact the world?

The answer?

I'm not supposed to.

Not yet.

I'm not ready. To paraphrase an incredible mentor of mine, I'm like a five year old who wants a Ferrari. Sure it sounds cool, but if I got one, I'd immediately crash it into the nearest ice cream truck, and, best case scenario, spend the rest of my life with chronic injuries, debilitating pain and horrific scarring. And what good would I be to the world then?

So here I am. In Korea. Being prepared. Learning to drive a Ferrari by starting with what's in front of me: a Batman Big Wheels. And you know what? Big Wheels are pretty sweet. And a Batman Big Wheels? Shoot, I'm totally over blessed on that one. I deserve a Barbie one that has all my friends making fun of me and crying for mommy.

To put it another way, I'm like Rocky in Rocky IV when he goes to Russia to train and fight Drago. He's out of his comfort zone, he's forced away from his family to train and become hardened by the Siberian winter. If he fought that big Russian monster right away, he'd get killed just like Apollo. But he puts in the work and prevails in the end (If you're wondering, I'd say I'm about six months, maybe a year, until the scene where he climbs the mountain, thrusts his hands in the air and screams, and about 3 years until, "If I can change, and you can change, everybody can change").

But I digress. I want to make the point that it's so funny and incredible how God works.

Back in the states I owned and operated my own business. Great business plan and model, completely proven, this thing worked and still does. I worked my tush off. I had a great attitude. I did everything a business owner is supposed to do. And then I did more. I did everything right. I should have been a huge success.

Nope. Abject failure.

So I fell back on my trade: cooking. I worked at some of the finest restaurants in San Diego and tried to convince myself I wanted to become a chef. Why not? I love to cook, I've been doing it since I was four. I'm fascinated by all things food, from how it's grown to how our bodies process it and turn it into energy. As a chef there's no staring at a computer screen all day, no talking on the phone. No sales calls. No suits.

Just action, immediacy and adrenaline. Great food and wine. And let's not forget the steady stream of college-aged cocktail waitresses who just love a man who can cook and looks good in his whites.

I tried and tried to sell myself on becoming a chef.

Turns out I'm a terrible salesman. Sure the good is good, but the downside is huge: ridiculous hours, terrible pay till you make it big, insane rates of burnout, alcoholism and drug abuse.

I couldn't lie to myself anymore. I was miserable. So I looked for other options, a way out. And suddenly there it was: Korea.

"Come to Korea to teach English. No experience or certification necessary, just a BA in any subject. Save money. Travel."

Done, done and done. Where do I sign?

As always happens when God is moving you, everything went smoothly. My belongings were sold easily and for a good price. I was given a good job in the exact area of Korea I wanted to be. Everything felt right and good.

And now here I am. Riding my Big Wheels (copyright Mattel. Not to be combined with other promotions. One per household). Learning to drive that Ferrari. Living. Laughing. Loving.

Thank you Korea for bringing me here. Thank you God.