Dear 18 Year Old Robby

So, listen to
some advice I have for you!

In the years to come, you will
wrestle with two major things: Your identity
and purpose. Yes, I know that you have been trying to put your thoughts
into words lately, so now you have them! Nice and Bold.

– Believe it or not, you will ask who
you are in relation to many things such as education, career, political
affiliation, and your stance on various social issues (Oh, and you will be
exposed to a lot my friend) so be ready … While you are asking how these shape
you, there will also be the “so-what?” attitude. So what if I get a college
degree (Will it fulfill me? Will it change the world?). So what if I meet people
in modern day slavery (How will it affect me honestly? What will I do about it?).
You will find your identity and purpose in what you believe, what you do, and whom
you know.

– Chill with Dad. Go have some beer
and share life… you actually like it more than you know.

– Encouragement: When you go to
college, don’t think only about the paycheck. A majority of your friends will
do this and they’ll express a lack of fulfillment in the years after you
graduate, Enjoy the lack of money. Actually, I would think twice about going – you’ve
always wanted to travel abroad, so go ahead and do it.

– If and when you get involved in
political or social issues, be balanced and listen to those with opposing views
(there is a lot to learn in this world).

– The summer you go to Amy’s lake
house and throw Daniel off the Jet Ski, be ready for the hospital :>)

– I know you are in complete denial
and you play the game well, but I am calling your bluff…. You are full of
anger, bitterness, hurt, and have issues with male authority from the words
spoken over you as a child – but let me tell you something bro: You should
forgive today, like right now… sit down and actually let it all go. Call your
grandfather and you ask for forgiveness. This is only festering in you and it will
almost ruin yourself and cause tension in your family. (No need for details,
but dude- it is time.)

– One Christmas you will think you
are a macho man and put the Christmas tree back up in the attic all by
yourself, yeah – get some help…

– I would advise you to look into not
playing football this year, your heart is to play soccer and you really don’t
want to look back and say what you say now…

– Porn. RUN
away from this dude…the enemy is a liar. So, instead of getting trapped in nasty
addictions, go ahead and get addicted to candy, sprite, or something else of
that nature…  just too much hurt you are
causing yourself… oh, and search out a man to share this stuff with.

– Which leads me to silence: Do not
be a man of silence. It is killing a part of you. (So, speak now!)

– Less than a month ago, the whole world changed more than you realize. Sept.
11, 2001, something terrible happened in the United States. There will be a lot
of debating for the years to come (As a matter of fact, 10 years was just
remembered and dude, it is still an on-going war). Everyone will seem to have
the solution to the world’s problems, yet no one will have real answers.

– It is not the
apocalypse, so please ignore end-times preachers who say it is. (Actually, just
ignore them in all the years to come).

– People will start connecting less in person and more via the Internet. I
know, this seems weird, but it will happen – like REAL SOON. So whatever you
do, don’t let your only friends be
found on something called “Facebook.” Make sure you remember friendship is not
based on “how many,” but rather “how loving” and “how loyal.”

– Robby, listen to me: You are not stupid. You have wisdom. Ask questions all
the time. Love does conquer all. Money comes and money will go. Commit to being
a man of commitment all your life. Many people you think are lifelong friends will
soon leave and new relationships will form. You will think you’ve found “the
one” and you’ll be completely wrong. You will not succeed at every venture you
take up. Failure and loss are natural (Hint: Nursing). Embrace these all and do
not be discouraged.

– I know that Don Ross Riggs drives
you bonkers, but dude – love your little brother beyond your religious mindset
and stop focusing on how he should be ‘living’, because you have no flipin’
clue how you should live. Do not wait till a day in your future you get a phone
call telling you, “We don’t know how he is, if he will even make it, because he
has been in an accident” and then have the epiphany that all you were called to
do was to love him…so start today! Look at him with grace because boy, you have
a lot grace covering your own life!

– Speaking of religion… dude, you are
religious. Go get some deliverance and look that word up!

– I know you struggle with Church and all the shenanigans that go along with it,
I know that you are freaking out inside and you do not know how to share this
with people. So, listen: Your beliefs will change in the years to come…radically
dude! Stop wigging out, you’ll still be a Christian (Maybe, J/K) ß FYI that means just joking (yeah, lingo
changes too). Some things will take place and you will understand God as “Abba,
Daddy” and it will forever change you.  Do
not let your life be ruled by all your doctrinal edifices. Remember at 14 where
you understood Austin speaking in tongues over you at a local Missions Week and
everyone else heard gibberish – that moment you were never the same, so embrace
this! This is you more than you know…

(Ps: He tells you that you actually are more of yourself in the supernatural
rather than the natural). Have fun with that thought!

– Watch foreign films… you actually
enjoy their uniqueness and authenticity.

– Don’t make church a business. It’s
about people.

Your pal,