Look up

We have more important things to do

Today I felt tired of talking about money.

I usually enjoy it.

That’s why I’ve chosen a publication dedicated to it.

I appreciate a good spreadsheet. There’s something satisfying about a complicated formula actually working when you hit the enter key. Math math-ing is nice. Monopoly is more fun when I get to be the banker (anybody else out there? 😀). Watching my zero-based budget land on $0 brings a smile. Strategizing investments gets the blood pumping.

I realize this isn’t the case for lots of you. For me, though, I believe it makes up part of my purpose.

So I’m talking more about it.

I enjoy writing about it too. I’m working on getting better at that. I enjoy breaking down steps, so they can help people make progress. I enjoy the puzzle of it all. And I especially enjoy seeing other people grow and develop through the process of digging in and taking action.

But today?

I’m tired of talking about money.

Here’s why.

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The attention it doesn’t deserve

I’m tired of talking about it because it’s not ultimately about it.

While wise money management might be my chosen subject matter, it’s not the point.

The real goal is to talk a little bit about money, so we can then talk a lot about life.

To focus for a little bit on building a system that runs your money, so you can focus a lot on being a blessing to those around you.

Money can be a powerful tool if it’s used well, both for the one managing it and for those in that person’s world. You can experience peace and confidence personally. Others can experience blessing through the margin you’ve created.

On the flip side, it can also be a poor master. If the manager never gains clarity, or neglects to pay enough attention it can result in stress and exhaustion.

Here’s the thing…when we’re constantly worried about one paycheck making it to the next, our focus remains on ourselves.

I’ve heard it said that poor personal finance is selfish because it keeps the focus on you. Wise personal finance is selfless because you have the margin to impact others.

And if you ask me (which I guess you kind of did by reading this 😊), the latter is so much better.

Picture it

Imagine a life where your money is working through a clear framework and simple habits. It’s not more difficult than it needs to be. It’s mostly automated, so your work as a monitor is minimal. It’s easily accessible and quickly understandable.

You spend most of your time thinking about how you can enjoy what you’re building and who you can impact. It’s peaceful. It’s confident. It’s quiet. The action is in your family. It’s in your friendships. It’s in those around you that only you have access to.

Wise stewardship leads to this kind of margin. And margin leads to freedom. Freedom allows you to look up and see around you. And when you see a need you can take action on it. All because you’ve figured out your money.

Where the action is

As I was reflecting on how I got here, I was reminded of a verse I’ve read in the past.

“Don't shuffle along, eyes to the ground, absorbed with the things right in front of you. Look up, and be alert to what is going on around Christ - that's where the action is.”

Colossians 3:2 - MSG

Isn’t this just the perfect description of why it’s worth the work to do it well?

Paul was the writer of this verse that’s been paraphrased by Eugene Peterson. He was talking to ordinary people in a busy city who had jobs, debts, families, and social pressure. These people were distracted. Tired. They have traded their ability to see what’s important with their present urgencies. They’re shuffling along through life focused on the wrong things.

His message was to reorient their minds.

An “eyes to the ground” posture speaks directly to the things that consume our thoughts, but shouldn’t. Simply looking up with a new mindset gives us access to what’s important and to what is available all around us: compassion, peace, patience, hope.

Look down. See yourself.

Look up. See a world around you that needs what you can bring to it.

I’m convinced that a lot of people taking on this kind of posture will create a ripple effect in families and communities all over.

Why

That’s the point of this process.

That’s why we figure out our money.

Because when we’re constantly thinking about our bank accounts, it’s hard to think about much else outside of that.

But when you commit to the journey. The journey of:

Committing to wisdom as a foundation

Deciding to be generous first, no matter what

Budgeting on less than you make

Saving and investing for your future

Saving for your family

Creating Margin

When you commit to these things, you’re positioning yourself for more opportunities to look up. Your neighborhood needs you. It needs, dare I say, Wayfinders like us determined to make a positive difference.

The challenge

Here’s my challenge for you.

If you have allowed money to become a point of stress. If you haven’t done the work to align your values with your spending, to live below your means, or to get your money working for you, there’s no better time than now to jump in.

Our money doesn’t deserve all of our time.

It’s a tool to be used. A resource to steward.

And that requires a certain level of work to make it that way.

So handle your money. Spend one season building your system. Spend a short time paying more attention to it, so you can then start giving it less attention.

Use this platform as your guide. Invest in yourself here, so you can invest in others out there. Message me with questions. We’ll keep growing The Club to help where you need it.

I say it often, but this space isn’t just for more money tips. We have plenty of those.

It’s for real progress. For posture change. For system development. It’s for giving you confident, peace, and margin to live life.

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As for me?

I was tired of talking about money today.

And I’ll get tired of it again.

Just know it has more to do with my wrestling through the point of it all.

I really do want us all to get the money part right, so we can move onto what’s better.

So here’s what I’ll do:

I’ll keep talking about it.

I’ll keep writing about budgets.

I’ll keep writing about saving and investing.

I’ll keep writing about automated systems and habits.

I’ll do it so you have tools to lock your money system in.

I’ll do it so you can spend more time looking up.

That’s where the action is.