The Geek Shall Inherit the Earth
We think we raise our children in the exact same way, same rules, same
standards, same beliefs, same expectations.
Yet they are all so different in how their personalities and character
traits develop.
My oldest son Z has earned the reputation as the brightest, most scholarly
of the three.
He could (does) qualify as
the stereotypical “geek.”
I saw this
trait in him even from a very young toddler, his heightened fascination with puzzles.
The more we bought him, the faster he would
work them, begging for more, each more challenging than the one before.
My
whiz kid.
It just comes natural.
The family teases him about it, but he would
fit right in with the cast of Big Bang Theory.
He hangs out with The Brainy Bunch, a group of young people who seem to exist
and function and converse on that “higher plane.”
Of the three brothers, Z has been gifted not only with brains, but with
brawn.
Tall, blonde, blue-eyes, and an
easy, knockout smile that exudes charm and friendliness.
I’ve mentioned this
before, but he’s constantly compared to “a blonde Matt Damon.”
I can’t tell whether he appreciates that or
not, frankly.
He almost seems
embarrassed about it.
Always having
lacked self-confidence, he’s rather naïve about his good looks and nowhere near
as outgoing and confident as his younger brother G.
I’ve often thought he could learn a thing or
two from his brother. Z’s lack of
confidence has been a stumbling block for his social and dating life.
Finding women who share common interests and
who he feels himself around has been a challenge for him.
As I think about this, “Miss Right” will have to possess these qualities for
Z to show serious interest.
- She will need to be a Christian.
Z is a deeply devoted, godly young
man who puts God first in everything he does.
He is kind-hearted, gentle-spirited, and has a heart the size of
Texas.
I’ve never heard him say a negative
or unkind word about anyone.
He never
complains and insists on finding the good in everyone and in everything life
throws at him.
Deeply devoted to his
family, his brothers, and his church, Z possesses a spirit that puts most
people to shame, young or old.
Never a
day passes that he hasn’t spent time in God’s Word and looking for ways to
serve Him.
Though a little on the quiet
side until you get to know him, he never meets a stranger and he would go out
of his way to help someone in need.
- She should be intelligent and driven -- just goes without saying.
- She should possess a sense of humor.
As serious as he is at times, Z is fun-loving and, like his mom, is
addicted to laughter.
- She can’t be materialistic.
Z has always insisted on living meagerly.
He’s never shown interest in fads, fancy clothes, money or status.
He stretches his money as far as he can, gives
generously to others in need, to the church, and prides himself in living a
very simple lifestyle.
Who is she?
Where is she?
What is she like? When will they find each other?
It’s one of those ongoing, unsolved mysteries
that keeps me wondering…the perfect match for my son.
Z switched majors in his sophomore year of college from mechanical
engineering to focus on foreign studies, Japanese and German specifically.
He spent a year in Japan and six months in
Germany during his time in college to augment his fluency.
He graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor’s
degree in Japanese and German in May of 2011.
This past December he took the Japanese fluency exam that is given in Washington,
D.C. annually.
He will know the results
in February.
For the past several weeks
he and some other young people his age are considering returning to Japan this
summer to teach English.
He would live
there and teach for a couple of years before deciding what and where and when
for his “next chapter.”
Having done his
research and groundwork into this job opportunity, he hopes to use these earnings
to pay off the remaining balance on his student loans.
I’m not crazy about him being so far away for two full years, but I can’t be
selfish about this.
I want him to be
happy, to be fulfilled, to grow and mature and see the world, prompting more
and more opened doors for his future.
I
feel that he is still seeking direction for his purpose in life, and this could
be another stepping stone for him.
I’m
still trying to come to terms with this endeavor of his…it’s a bittersweet acceptance.
Happiness.
Success.
Fulfillment.
Love.
A meaningful and rewarding career.
A mother wants all of those things for her son.
My pride for him and his accomplishments, his virtues, his faith and service to God, is immeasurable.
What will this year bring?
I’m
anxious to see what 2013 will reveal for him.
An airline's passenger cabin was being served by an obviously gay flight attendant, who seemed to put everyone into a good mood 
As the plane prepared to descend, he came swishing down the aisle and announced to the passengers, "Captain Marvey has asked me to announce that he'll be landing the big scary plane shortly, lovely people, so if you could just put up your trays that would be super." 
We think we raise our children in the exact same way, same rules, same
standards, same beliefs, same expectations.
Yet they are all so different in how their personalities and character
traits develop.
- She should be intelligent and driven -- just goes without saying.
