Four years ago I set out to pursue my dreams and fulfill a purpose God assigned for me to do. At the time I was 23 years old. I had no wife, no kids, no obligations of any kind, and so I was in a great position to take great risks. Although failure wasn’t an option, I knew that I could make any amount of mistakes I needed to make and if there were any negative consequences involved they would ONLY hinder me and not put the livelihood of a wife and kids at stake. If I didn’t eat I could handle that, but if I had a family decisions would have to be thought over a thousand times before I acted upon them. I also had a cushion. My dad told me “If you fail, you can come back home and start over again.” I decided to set sail, left that port, and burned the ship as soon as I reached my destination. There was no going back for me. I said to myself, “Let’s see what we can do B!”
My purpose in life has been to serve, period. I was never good at math (hated it), science (had no interest), history (too busy making it to be concerned with old stuff lol), and english (probably my strongest, but still not my best.) But there was always one thing I was great at; something that I knew I could NEVER fail at, and that was serving and helping other people. It’s not scientific, you don’t need a degree to do it, and it makes you feel good on the inside! If I could do nothing else well I could make people smile. My character, my humility, my confidence, it has been enough to encourage the next person to keep going. I learned this word betterment through this entire process and it has stuck with me for 4 years now.
My mission has been to do better, for better. That’s it! I want to grow people’s thinking, so their behaviors will change, so they can lead their lives better, then lead their families better, which will improve socialization of families, then neighborhoods, then communities, then society, and then the World. Sounds like a pretty good plan, huh? :0) Well think again! Taking on that task for the #betterment of life, is a burden of mine to keep. But when you’re chosen, you should be obedient.
Lately God has been calling me out on this #betterment thing. He has challenged every promise I’ve made and every portion of the mission to do better, for better. I recall driving down the road listening to a gospel song by Marvin Winans called “Draw Me Close/They Will be Done.” In the song he says “I’ve seen you work in others, now I want you to work in me.” He is basically telling God that he will do whatever He tells him to do. As I’m listening to this song I pull up to a stop light and look to my left and there’s a homeless man holding a sign. God says to me “Here’s your chance!” So I pull out some money and give it to him.
That was only one incident but there has been so many between that time and now. I have to admit though, I haven’t always answered the call. There were times I was skeptical of the need – as if it were my job to determine what was best for that person. After having not acted I began feeling convicted on the inside and I questioned, am I really living up to my mission. Have you ever felt challenged by God to do what it is you’ve prayed for? Or told Him you were going to do for Him? It’s tough.
Just the other day I was challenged once again. I went to the store with my girlfriend to get some food for dinner. I was only planning to go to the store ONCE that day because I needed to relax. Lo and behold I forgot the main ingredient…the hamburger meat. Needless to say I went BACK to Target to get the meat and as I was pulling into the parking lot a lady ran out and was waving at me for her help; almost at the expense of my front bumper! I pulled over to the side of the parking lot and let down my window. The lady comes a little closer to the car and begins to ask me for $2.50 so she could get on the bus. She needed to get somewhere and didn’t have any money. Now rewind back, I just started my own business called The Betterment Company and I printed service shirts that read “You have not lived today until you have done something for someone who will never be able to repay you.” That quote immediately popped into my head during that moment. So I reached into my arm rest and pulled out the change she asked me for and gave it to her. Buses come every 15 minutes so I ran into the store, got the meat, and came right on out. There she was getting on the bus headed to her destination.
Now, I don’t know where that woman was headed but she obviously needed to get there. I don’t know what that homeless man did with the few dollars that I gave him, but he obviously needed it. But even more importantly was I needed to be obedient to the voice that was moving me to act. I’ve learned through many experiences in the last four years that God will challenge you to act just to see if you’re really about what you say you’re about. He is going to test you to see if you really want to do what it is you say you want to do. It may not be major or significant but one small act of kindness, I believe, goes a long way with God. I don’t do what I do to receive anything in return, and I don’t know why he chose those couple of people, but I do know this…if it keeps me in favor with Him, I’m going to answer the call every time!
Like God, I challenge you to do more and be more for the #betterment of life today. Go out and help someone who will never be able to repay you. Pay attention to opportunities to help someone. Make a phone call to a loved one or send them a text. Share your blessings with other people. Buy someone a card and tell them how much you appreciate them. It’ll go a long way!
#Betterment
-BD
Brandon Denton 