New Year’s “Fresh Start” Advice: Go Whitewater Rafting!

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It’s New Year’s Day and social media is overflowing with posts about fresh starts. Well, if you’re a follower of this blog or have read my book, Corporation YOU: A Business Plan for the Soul, I’m living proof that anyone can make a fresh start — over and over.

It’s all about having enough Faith to know that all is going to work out as planned. It just might not be your plan. Having the right person at your side sure is helpful.

You see, life is like a whitewater rafting trip. There’s the preparation. The anticipation. The excitement of the unknown. Once you’re in the water, however, there’s no turning back.

As in life, you go from calm to rapids to calm, again and again. Along the way, there’s laughter and screams — much like a rollercoaster ride. However, with a rollercoaster, you can see the challenge before it starts and for the most part, you see what’s up ahead.

Photo by Hilmi Iu015fu0131lak on Pexels.com

Not so with whitewater rafting. Trees, rocks, and bends often block your view as you edge forward.

Try as you might, you’re still going to hit rocks along the way. The key to success is to wear a life jacket, listen to your guide, and stay in the raft.

So, if you’re hesitant about starting anew, go on a Whitewater rafting trip.

It all makes sense when you make Jesus your life jacket, the Holy Spirit your guide, and the Church your raft. And if you allow it to work out as God planned, the Father will greet you at the shore along with the warmth of a campfire at the end.

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James is the author of Corporation YOU: A Business Plan for the Soul, The Christmas Save, and two children’s books: The Second Prince and Klaus: The Gift-giver to ALL!  

As a writer, James’s appearances include Newsweek, The Inside Success Show, Bob Salter (CBS Radio), Mike Siegel, Mancow, and Megyn Kelly and more.  

Beyond writing, James worked with At-Risk youth in Southern California for over six years.  His contributions to the classroom — featured on local television and in the LA Daily News and the Los Angeles Times’ Burbank Leader — earned him the honors of “Teacher of the Year”.    James was also twice honored by a CASDA Scholar as the teacher who had the greatest influence on that student.   As an educator, James also appeared twice on America Live with Megyn Kelly. 

Today, James lives in New York where he continues to teach — and write.   Besides his books, you can follow his musing on this blog Corporation You.

To contact James or book an interview, please contact Mark of Goldman/McCormick PR at (516) 639-0988or Mark@goldmanmccormick.com.

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Father’s Day

I’ve been an author, a press secretary. Director and screenwriter. I’ve ran a congressional campaign. Advised politicians. Rubbed elbows with U.S. Representatives and U.S. Senators— and once told a Governor’s Top Aide to suck it.

Been Teacher of the Year! Made PBJs for Gary U.S. Bonds, sold Moet to Eric B and Rakim, and broke break with a Maharaja.

I’m one degree of separation from the last three presidents and two degrees from Sir Paul McCarthy.

I’ve even been in the presence of a Pope and a Saint.

But when I die, there’s only one thing for which I want to be remembered — being a loving husband and dad.

Happy Father’s Day to all you Dads who make a difference!

James Henry is the author of Corporation YOU: A Business Plan for the Soul,  and two children books: The Second Prince and Klaus: The Gift-giver to All.   For six years, James taught At-Risk kids in Los Angeles. Today, he lives in New York where he continues to write — and teach. To contact James or book an interview, please contact Mark of Goldman & McCormick PR at (516) 639-0988 or Mark@goldmanmccormick.com.

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The Prodigal Son — a NEW Point-of-View

Father and Son (Source: Unsplash | Pixabay)

We are all too familiar with The Parable of the Prodigal Son.

This moral lesson is known by many names: The Lost Son, Running Son, Loving Father, Lovesick Father. Every time a priest, pastor or minister reads Luke 15:11-32, the focus of the sermon is often us, the congregant faithful and metaphorical Prodigal Son.

he parable is about a father and two sons — even though we rarely hear much about the other son..  

Most who explore Luke’s Gospel (Luke 15:11-32) focus on the many ways of God’s forgiveness.  

The metaphors are clear.  We, the many, are the lost son and God is the father who welcomes us home into His open arms.

But much like I did in The brother of the Prodigal Son, I’d like to give another take on the timeless parable.

I’d like to put parents in the place of the father and make our children the two brothers. Finally, instead of making the father’s home symbolically God’s open arms, let’s keep it simple and make it literally “home”!

As parents, we must continue to work hard to establish and maintain a reverent household and raise faithful children.  That includes nightly prayers and giving “thanks” before means — even when you’re eating out. 

Every home should be a display of our love of Our Lord; a miniature Church

Besides a small silver crucifix in our living room, the walls of our dining room are subtly decorated with a Celtic cross on one side and the Cross of Saint Brigid on the other.   

Every room, in fact, has something that reflects our devotion to Jesus and His Church.

When in the car, we often put on Christian radio or have a CD from Lighthouse media and other outlets. Grace before meals, is a staple part of our diet — whether we’re at home or out.

We talk about Jesus, as if he is part of our family — because he is.  

I’m certain that the father in Luke’s Gospel did the same.  It anchored his one son.  However, temptation still drew his other son away. 

Likewise, our sons and daughters may one day stray and may unfortunately get lost no matter how hard we tried.   We even, sadly, may, be powerless, at the time, to protect them from this fall. 

Not to make like of a horrible situation, but heck … even God, the first parent, couldn’t prevent the first two children from falling for the lies of the serpent. 

But, if a strong enough foundation is built under them during their childhood, they will one day, be able to rebuilt their lives on that foundation.

And, like the prodigal son, they will be come home and be welcomed back with open arms.

As Thomas Aquinas so eloquently wrote:

For the first man sinned by seeking knowledge, as is plain from the words of the serpent, promising to man the knowledge of good and evil.  Hence it was fitting that by the Word of true knowledge man might be led back to God, having wandered from God through an inordinate thirst for knowledge.

 

 

James Henry is also the author of Corporation YOU: A Business Plan for the Soul, ‘Twas, Hail Mary series, and two children’s books: The Second Prince and Klaus: The Gift-giver to ALL! To contact James or book an interview, please contact Mark of Goldman/McCormick PR at (516) 639-0988 or Mark@goldmanmccormick.com.

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