Category: Legacy

CZD Feature Student of the Month: Dredon Lackey

~ Jonathan Clark ~ Leave a comment

In life, God blesses each of us with wonderful gifts… things we do exceptionally well with less effort than most.  Since we are not born with an instruction manual that tells us what those are, we can spend a significant stretch of our journeys searching for what we do best.  In fact, many of us don’t discover our gifts until the mid to late portion of our lives, and those who do know their gifts often don’t develop or pursue them.  As a result, many people go to their graves without ever knowing what they were capable of doing.  However, there are a select few individuals who have a finger on the pulse of what they are meant to do well before the rest of us.  By the age of nine, Dredon Lackey had already...

If Even Kobe Can Die Young, What’s the Point?

~ Jonathan Clark ~ Leave a comment

Beyond being stunned, a sudden tragedy like this can trigger many confusing thoughts.  Kobe had smoothly transitioned into his post-basketball career and seemed to be on the verge of matching or surpassing his on-the-court success off the court.  He appeared to be much more at peace after basketball, and the radiant joy on his face when he was with his daughters was evidence of a man who loved being a father.  Such an abrupt end to an incredibly successful and happy life brings to mind the question: Why?  Why them?  Why so soon? Why now, when life was going so well and Kobe was doing so many good things?  If Kobe can have so many accomplishments and do so many positive things and then have them all cut short by sudden death, what hope is there for every-day people like us? 

What to Do When Stuff Keeps Interrupting Your Goals

~ Jonathan Clark ~ Leave a comment

I had everything planned out.  Creating a schedule was a regular part of my routine, and I planned my day down to the minute to make sure I achieved all my goals.  I even built in some cushion between tasks to allow time for any delays or hiccups that might come up.  What could go wrong? I was about halfway through my day, and suddenly I got a call from my wife.

The Price of a Dream

~ Jonathan Clark ~ Leave a comment

Big dreams require big sacrifices.  The strength to make those sacrifices requires focus, clarity of purpose, and the willingness to swim upstream. The road to success can often be a lonely one.  There will be times when you are up late or up early working alone while your friends or family hang out laughing and having a good time or sleep in late.  There will be precious moments that conflict...

Cra-Z-Dreams Feature Student of the Month: Ryanne Foster

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Cra-Z Dreamer of the Month:  Ryanne Foster Sometimes you meet a person who has a light… an aura that glows softly with goodness and compassion.  It’s not forced or calculated but sewn into the fabric of who they are… as much a part of them as their eyes, mouth, hands, and feet.  The first time I met Ryanne was at a career fair at the local high school.  We were promoting our Cra-Z-Dreams life skills programs and she asked for some information.  She later attended one of our Love Yourself First workshops for girls.  Her warm spirit was undeniable and immediately stood out to our instructors.  We absolutely loved having her in class because she affected the energy and helped put the other girls at ease as we talked about self-esteem, self-love, and empowerment.  We later decided that she would be an excellent choice as our May feature student of the month.

Legacy in My Shoes: Greatness Leaves Traces

~ Jonathan Clark ~ Leave a comment

Cloudy with a Chance of Phone Calls I was halfway through my commute home from work when the phone rang.  I grabbed my cell to see who it was so I could decide if I felt like talking.  I have never been one to talk on the phone or anywhere else much for that matter.  I am an extreme introvert and most of my life is spent in blissful silence.  My drive home was typically a calm and peaceful time spent unwinding and reflecting or listening to podcasts.  I rarely spent that time talking on the phone unless my wife called with some update or an errand for me to run.  But today was different.