Do You Bunt?

A family Thanksgiving story, a second chance and a reminder for you

Listen here.

I was the nervous kid at the Thanksgiving table.

Every year, the same anxiety. Mom would set an extra place, and my dad would casually mention, “I invited a guest.”

My introverted 12-year-old brain would immediately start spinning. What do I say to a stranger? What if they ask me questions? What do I do with the awkward silence?

One year, it was a visiting professor from Egypt. Dr. Aid. Kind man, broken English, trying hard to connect. Only my dad spoke Arabic, so the rest of us had to wing it. He looked at my sister, pointed to a picture on the wall, and asked, “Do you bunt?”

Bunt? Like baseball?

He pointed again. “Do you bunt?”

OH. PAINT. Do you PAINT?

“Do you bunt?” became instant family legend. We still say it 40 years later. The awkward dinner I dreaded? It created one of our most treasured memories.

With Thanksgiving coming up, I’ve been thinking about what I’m grateful for.

My dad.

We’re coming up on a year since his emergency helicopter ride to Tulsa for aorta replacement surgery. Every Wednesday lunch at his house is bonus time I shouldn’t have.

My family.

My daughter Sarah married Nate last year. Gaining a son who perfectly complements her? What a blessing. Susanna and I just hit 34 years married, which is impossible since I’m pretty sure I’m only 34 myself. She still believes in me when I don’t believe in myself. She is an amazing person inside and out.

My job.

I just finished year 21 at my company. Yeah, I know. In today’s world that makes me either loyal or crazy. Maybe both. But when I switched jobs in 2004, I had no idea how it would reshape my entire life. Not just the impactful work. The people. The ones who pushed me, challenged me, and ultimately made me better.

Here’s the big one.

Purpose.

I never knew what that word really meant. Sounded like something a motivational speaker might say from a stage. Then in 2018, I found myself in an ICU at 2 AM, texting bank passwords to my friend J. Max because I thought I wouldn’t make it through the night.

The clarity that came from almost losing my life transformed it.

Everything shifted. I knew God made me for something more than collecting paychecks, saving for retirement, playing golf, and just…sliding safely into death. I knew I was supposed to help other people find what they were put on this earth to do.

Have you ever heard that quiet voice saying there’s more? The one you keep stuffing down because you’ve got bills to pay and responsibilities to handle?

Here’s what I know: You were made to do something great with your life.

Maybe this is the year you finally listen.
Maybe this is the year you stop waiting for permission.

Before the wave of turkey, stuffing, and pie hits next week, grab a journal and think about what you’re thankful for.

Then ask yourself a bigger question: What would I do with my life if I truly believed I was put here to do something great?

Because you are.

Even if you never learn to bunt.

Happy Thanksgiving, friends.

P.S. I recently took a Purpose Factor assessment that was so profound that it’s changing the way I show up each day. If you’re serious about finding your purpose, I'll make Purpose Factor assessments available at cost to the first five people who reply to this email. No pressure.

“Rebloomed” by my friend Becca. Engineers can paint!

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