Hello, Benjamin from Brother’s Campfire here.
I cannot tell you how much I enjoyed the Campfire Tale of Steve from https://stevescountry.com/. I would like to see him on a regular here. He is an amazing Storyteller and photographer. It has been an honor and a privilege.
Today, I have a different type of post with a lot of self reflection.
In many ways, the world looks upside down to me. (No offense meant to the other hemisphere of course.)
And lately, I have been left wondering if there is something wrong with what I have been doing with my life. A Lot…
With the political scene, Covid, and all the changes in law enforcement related fields in the United States,
I needed to find a benchmark to see if my mindset and actions reflect who I want to be as a person.
I would love to divulge the ins and outs of these concerns, but there are a lot of things I cannot talk about online due to my job description and not wanting to be overtly offensive.
About mindset, when I have concerns brought to me by my staff or inmates, I try to see what is motivating them and what specific priorities an individual has set to determine courses of action.
For instance, I spoke to an inmate at one point who wanted to be released to the streets to utilize chemical substances upon release.
I went through a wide range of angles in discussion with this offender, and even if given a house, sports car, and Betty Crocker herself to bake cookies every day, he would never give up these substances. Simply, his mindset and expression of future actions determine where he will be in the future unless his mindset toward life changes dramatically.
I recently used this approach on myself to see where my motivation and priorities reside.
I got a slip of paper and began writing down what is important to me and then put these things in order. I even wrote silly things like, “I want to wear a shiny badge as I used to instead of this dumb polo shirt.”
There are many things I desire and a few things that motivate me. I considered these things honestly with myself, prioritizing them numerically on the page. There were many things on the list, and some of the motivations and desires I put aside out of necessity and maturity, crossing them off of my list.
Because this is a ramble to be seen by the public and written by the seat of my pants, let me clarify.
I believe people are motivated in all kinds of ways, and it is good to recognize what causes someone to make choices. As a husband and a father, I have the responsibility to direct what I intend to do and how I conduct myself in a way that prioritizes said roles in life.
After working on it a bit I obtained a little insight on where my priorities lay.
My Priorities
Living For Jesus
I am seeing a lot of trends that look down on this priority, but it is how I choose to live. As a human being, I am prone to making poor choices so I am working hard to live a repentant life. Simply a must have.
Husband and Father
The roles of husband and father have distinct responsibilities. Being a positive role model and being there is my priority. I find that living for God assists in this.
Work
In my job assignment, I want to do the best job possible as my work ethic needs to be as unto the Lord. While I work in a prison, I want everything I do to reflect God’s ways by being a good steward of the skills God gave me. Having a family provides direction and purpose in this area.
Hobbies
Urban Farming Creative Writing
From my outlook, in using the Bible as a roadmap there is peace and security in living for God that brings everything into perspective. When I have found myself in a place of turning from sin and living a clean, well-ordered life, things seem to fall into place. My marriage is together, my children seem to be thriving, and work makes sense as a necessary part of life.
When I look at my list, it is bare-bones for brevity, I am comfortable with it. The world around me may very well be upside down,
But I am not as insecure as to what I have been doing with my life. Covid, political concerns and the everchanging world are nowhere to be found on my list. I am going to live the way I have been living. It is suiting me just fine.
I have a simple invitation to join me in in similar priority and here it is.
Will you go to church with me, friend? You can listen to our services at https://www.csfpc.com/ on Sundays and Wednesdays. If you want a Bible study, I am more than happy to give you one.
I like my priorities.
Author: Benjamin
Benjamin Thiel is a community leader, urban farmer, and author of The Ongoing Tale at Brothers Campfire. He might know a guy...
Uplifting message. Working to attain something can be missed by people and thus the benefits of satisfaction with ourselves is outweighed by pangs of entitlement.
I like it
Thanks! I appreciate it! Have a beautiful rest of your day!
Those are good priorities! God bless, and Merry Christmas!
To you as well, friend!
Beautiful priorities. Best place to go and worship God with you bro!
Absolutely!
Hi, Benjamin, it’s good to take stock on occasion. Happy holidays! 🌞
I think so as well! Merry Christmas!
These all are my priority too.
Allah and our spiritual leader. A daughter and a good friend, study (work) and making way to my career, hobbies 😁😁 I have so many😜
Merry Christmas brother Ben wish you a safe, fun and happy new year. 🎄🎅🤶♥️🌺🤠🔥
Have a Beautiful rest of the year, Zahra!
I also like your priorities.
Why thank you!
You’re welcome.
You are on my longer list of priorities as well.
Awww!!!!
Very good list. Many people get things out of order.
Thank you.
Pretty good list! It’s good to get things straight, especially in troubling times. Also, merry Christmas 🎄
And Merry Christmas to you! Looking forward to the next amazing podcast of the great Erratic Hat!
Bless you! (You’re a born evangelist! Comes out naturally, bro!) 🙌
Thank you.
Lots of introspection this year Ben and open sharing which I wish you could go into more. Having your priorities in order is the first line of defense.
Love you have your church online.. so lovely and thanks for the invite,
I personally do my own daily practice these days.
Stay blessed! ❤️
You as well, Cindy! I always appreciate when you stop by. I wonder what those at the golf course think when you go home smelling like a campfire!
Thanks Ben.. It’s a pleasure.
When the golphers play … we’ll never say!!!
❤️
Amen, Amen, Amen! And I love the title, nephew!
Thank you Auntie!
You’re welcome!