Special Post

Earlier this year, our family traveled to Amsterdam and Berlin.

We chose those destinations because they were two cities we had never experienced together. I had been to Amsterdam before on business, but Sarah and the kids had never visited either city.

While we enjoyed many of the attractions both cities have to offer, the primary focus of our trip was learning about World War II history. In Amsterdam, we toured Corrie ten Boom’s house and visited the Anne Frank House. In Berlin, we took a walking tour focused on Nazi Germany and World War II, visited historical landmarks throughout the city, and spent time learning about the Cold War, the Berlin Wall, and the impact communism had on East Berlin.

Like many family trips, we returned home with memories, photos, and stories. But we also returned with a few lessons that have stayed with me.

1. Hope Matters Most

As I frequently write on this blog, my hope is in Jesus.

What struck me throughout this trip was how faith sustained people during some of history’s darkest moments. Visiting Corrie ten Boom’s house was especially moving. Here was a woman who willingly suffered for the sake of her Jewish neighbors because of her Christian convictions.

Her faith was not theoretical. It was costly.

She risked her safety, her freedom, and ultimately endured imprisonment because she believed loving her neighbor was worth the sacrifice.

When I study stories like hers, I am reminded that hope is not merely a comforting idea. Real hope gives people the courage to endure suffering and to act with extraordinary love when doing so comes at a tremendous personal cost.

2. Evil Never Wins in the End

For a season, evil appears victorious.

For millions of Jews living between 1938 and 1945, it certainly seemed that way.

Yet as I walked through Berlin, I was reminded that evil is ultimately temporary. The physical scale and ambition of Nazi Germany were impressive by human standards. Massive buildings, grand plans, and enormous displays of power communicated permanence.

Yet none of it lasted.

One of the most striking moments for me was visiting the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe. Beneath that area once stood Joseph Goebbels’ bunker. Today, a memorial honoring Jewish victims stands above it.

Nearby, the site of Hitler’s bunker is marked by little more than a parking lot and a modest apartment complex.

Neither man’s legacy endured as he intended.

As a Christian, I see this as a reminder that God is sovereign and just. Justice may not arrive on our timetable, but history repeatedly demonstrates that evil eventually faces judgment.

3. Economic Freedom Creates Opportunity

One of the unexpected themes of our trip was seeing the contrast between capitalism and communism.

The DDR Museum in Berlin offered a fascinating look at daily life in East Germany. Citizens were promised security and equality, yet many experienced shortages, rationing, government surveillance, and limited personal freedom.

What stood out to me was the contrast between systems that restrict individual initiative and systems that encourage it.

Our favorite experience of the entire trip may have been a small sandwich shop in Amsterdam. The young owner proudly shared that his father was an artist whose paintings decorated the walls. Guests could enjoy a meal while viewing and even purchasing the artwork.

It was a simple example of entrepreneurship, creativity, and opportunity working together.

No economic system is perfect. Every system has flaws because people are flawed. But after seeing both the promises and realities of communism up close, I remain convinced that capitalism, despite its imperfections, creates more opportunities for people to improve their lives through hard work, creativity, and initiative.

4. History Is Worth Learning

Perhaps the biggest takeaway from our trip was a renewed appreciation for history.

I do not necessarily believe that history repeats itself. But I do believe that ignorance of history often leads people to make poor decisions in the future.

What made this trip special was watching our children experience history firsthand.

They stood where Anne Frank and her family hid. They walked through memorials honoring six million Jewish lives lost during the Holocaust. They stood near the site of Hitler’s bunker and learned that even the most powerful dictators are eventually reduced to history.

Those experiences cannot be fully replicated in a classroom or through a textbook.

They also gained perspective. While our country certainly has challenges, they saw firsthand that America continues to offer freedoms and economic opportunities that much of the world has struggled to provide throughout history.

History gives us perspective. It humbles us. It teaches us. And when we take the time to learn it well, it helps us make wiser decisions about the future.

That alone made this trip worthwhile.

To the Class of 2026,

We live in a world full of noise.

Social media keeps our eyes on screens at all hours of the day. A 24/7 news cycle constantly bombards us with information—and often tempts us toward division.

So today, I want to leave you with three simple ideas:

Regret. Freedom. Gratitude.

Regret

For most of my life, regret was something to avoid.

Maybe you’ve heard the same message I did growing up: live with no regrets.

But Paul David Tripp helped me see regret differently.

Regret, at its best, is a form of clarity. It is seeing your past more truthfully. It is a prompt toward humility and growth. For those who follow God, it can even be a wake-up call—revealing patterns, priorities, or misaligned desires.

In other words, regret isn’t the enemy. It’s a signal.

It tells us that something in our lives has drifted from who we intended to be.

And here’s the truth: you will have regrets. That’s unavoidable.

But there are two ways to carry them.

You can carry regret as shame—letting it define you, labeling yourself by your worst moments.

Or you can carry it as wisdom—letting it refine you and help you make better decisions moving forward.

My challenge to you is this:

Live reflectively.

Do not personalize your failures.

Learn from them.

Let your regrets become course corrections that guide you toward the person you want to be.

Freedom

We often define freedom as doing whatever we want.

But I see it differently:

Freedom is not doing whatever you want. It’s having nothing to hide.

You are entering a world where the line between private and public is shrinking. What you say, what you post, what you do—it all has a way of lasting.

So live in a way that can withstand being seen.

The Stoic philosopher Seneca taught that true freedom is rooted in inner integrity, not external permission. And that’s exactly right.

When you live with integrity—when your private life and public life are aligned—you experience a kind of freedom that no one can take from you.

Because you have nothing to hide.

And interestingly, the more you live this way, the fewer regrets you will carry.

Gratitude

Gratitude is not pretending life is perfect.

It is seeing clearly what is already good.

In a world that constantly highlights what is broken, gratitude becomes an act of clarity—and even resistance.

I like to think of gratitude as the gateway to perspective.

And perspective is honest.

It doesn’t ignore what’s wrong. But it refuses to ignore what’s right.

It reminds us that, despite challenges, there is still so much to be thankful for.

But gratitude is fragile—especially in the age of comparison.

You are growing up in a world where it’s easy to compare your everyday life to someone else’s highlight reel. And when that happens, gratitude begins to disappear.

So be intentional.

Write down what you’re grateful for.

Notice it.

Name it.

On hard days, remind yourself of what is still going well—even the basics: a place to live, food to eat, people who care about you.

Gratitude may not change your circumstances.

But it will change your relationship to them.

In Closing

Class of 2026,

I believe in you.

I believe in your potential.

I believe in the future you will help shape.

And I believe your best days are ahead.

As you move forward:

Be curious about your regrets.

Live in a way you are proud of when it is seen.

And practice gratitude—daily, intentionally, consistently.

Notice what is good.

See it.

Cherish it.

And as you step into this next chapter: 

Know that we see you, we value you, and we welcome you into the greater society.

The end of Jesus’ life on earth was filled with alienation, pain, and mocking. As Matthew recalls in the 26th chapter of his Gospel, “…the men stepped forward, seized Jesus, and arrested him” (26:50). The first reaction of Jesus’ disciples was violence (verse 51), but Jesus said no protection was needed from his friends (verses 52-56). This was, after all, the plan. As crazy as that sounds. 

Before long, however, Jesus was alienated and left to fend for himself. Peter gets picked on by modern readers, so it is important to clarify he was not the only one that left Jesus. All did. But Peter did deny that he knew Jesus (verses 69-75). Later on, this was all forgiven, and it serves as a reminder that we can always come back home to Jesus (John 21:15-17). 

Next for Jesus was physical pain. The soldiers “…spit in his face and struck him with their fists. Others slapped him” (Matthew 26:67). A “crown of thorns was set on his head” (Matthew 27:29). “They struck him on the head again and again” (verse 30), and led him away to be crucified. Crucifixion involved the nailing of irons into his arms and legs. It was a brutal and unimaginably awful way to die. 

Yet, this was not the end. 

Besides the alienation of his friends and the pain he endured, Jesus also dealt with mocking. Early on, it came from the soldiers: “Then they knelt in front of him (Jesus) and mocked him” (verse 27:29). Later on the cross, it came from two rebels who hung beside him. Then it came from the religious leaders watching all the events take place in front of them: “…the teachers of the law and the elders mocked him” (27:41). 

The end seemed to be now approaching, but it was really just the beginning. 

You Are Not Alone

Do you feel alienated? 

Do you struggle with physical pain? 

Do you feel mocked? 

Do you feel like the end is coming? 

You are not alone. 

“After the Sabbath…Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to the Tomb” (Matthew 28:1). If you were going to make up a story two thousand years ago, your last choice of witnesses would be two women. Women were not considered credible witnesses in that culture, yet Jesus’ resurrection starts with women because everyone matters to Jesus, and all are welcome. “Suddenly Jesus met them. ‘Greetings,’ he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshipped him” (verse 9). 

Have you come to Jesus? The invitation is for everyone and anyone! 

But the religious leaders were not done yet. “When the chief priests had met with the elders and devised a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money, telling them, ‘you are to say, ‘his disciples came during the night and stole him away while we were asleep.’” (Verses 11-13). 

What are we to make of this? Did the same disciples who alienated Jesus come and do this? Did they somehow manage to overcome Roman guards and move a large boulder guarding the tomb’s entrance? Or is this whole story just made up? 

I cannot speak for you, but I find it hard to believe that these disciples – the same ones that just alienated Jesus – would turn-around and come to spread the message of Jesus’ resurrection. Not only that, but that they would do so with such fervor that ten of them eventually would be martyred for doing so. That is, unless they were doing so from a place of being certain of what they had witnessed!  

But you have to decide on your own. 

The Hope of the World

In a world lacking hope, and in a world full of ridicule, alienation, and mocking, maybe it is time to reconsider the Hope of the World. 

Jesus is the one I follow because he is the perfect example of truth, love, and hope. He is my Savior. In fact, there are not enough words to describe him in the dictionary! My entire life changed when I discovered the Hope found in him. And there is nothing blind about it. It is there for anyone to see if they look for it. 

If anything written above tugs at your heart, maybe you should consider reading the book of Mark. You can read one chapter per day for the next 16 days and learn what Jesus says on his own. His words are better than mine! 

What I can say is this: 

Jesus welcomes all. 

You can set your bags down. 

There are no qualifications needed. 

Your past is just that, your past. 

You are home now. 

Easter morning is here. 

Hope springs eternal because of Jesus. 

This Memorial Day, I’m thinking about the values that make our country great. While there’s a lot of chatter about America and a growing political divide, I believe there is still much to celebrate. 

I am writing this post not so much to convert you to my point of view, but rather to get you thinking about the cost paid by the men and women who died for our freedom. All the comforts of this Memorial Day weekend came at the cost of their human life. 

No Other Place I’d Want to Live

To be absolutely clear, there is no other place in the world that I would want to live but the United States. I also pray that my friends in other countries would think the same about their home country. I believe that no place is perfect. Again, having said that, here are some of the values that make America a different (and in my humble opinion, better) kind of place. 

While this list of core American values isn’t intended to be exhaustive, I think of these principles most when reflecting on what our fallen heroes fought to protect. Remembering these fundamental values and those who gave their lives defending them is what Memorial Day is truly about.

Sacrificial Service

America is at its best when we live out our sacrificial service value. The most striking example of this, in my opinion, is the Omaha Beach landing in World War II. Twice, I have stood on that beach pondering the courage of the men who came ashore on June 6, 1944. The only possible explanation for being willing to do what they did is that of sacrificial service. While exact numbers are difficult to come by, approximately 2,400 casualties occurred out of 34,000 troop landings. Yet, these sacrifices led to the end of the European War less than a year later. 

Both times I visited Omaha Beach, I also visited the American Cemetery at Normandy. Words cannot describe the emotion that came with those visits — it’s where the idea of sacrificial service moves from the head to the heart. Want to know what it means to be an American? Walk those graves and you will know. 

Patriotism

Patriotism is the love and devotion one has to their country. It is the feeling that most of us get on July 3 or 4th when we hear traditional music while watching a fireworks show. It is a healthy view, similar to the healthy view one has of their family. 

When I think of our servicemen and women and their patriotism, I often think of the Tuskegee Airmen who served even though they often faced racial discrimination at home. Their heroic service led to President Harry Truman issuing Executive Order 9981 desegregating the U.S. Armed Forces and mandating equality of opportunity and treatment on July 26, 1948. Their sacrificial service and love of (an imperfect) country are instructive to us all. 

Freedom

My favorite thing about our country, and what makes it great, is its pursuit of freedom. As the example above of the Tuskegee Airmen indicates, this pursuit is always a work in progress. It is never something one arrives at. 

One of the most striking aspects of contemporary American culture is its political divisiveness. 

Quite frankly, it tires me out. Yet, simultaneously, I realize that the ability to express one’s political differences is part of what makes America great in the first place! So while I would prefer we dampen down the political stuff in pop culture, sports, and even the business world, I also recognize that in America, it is part of what makes us free. In fact, I can use my freedom by turning off movies, sporting events, and media that over-politicize things. Feel free to turn me off as well. 

That is your freedom! 

A Reminder

I will end with a recommendation and a reminder: 

Ken Burns has done remarkable work on a variety of documentaries. As the examples above indicate, I am a student of World War II. Burns’ documentary The War is absolutely breathtaking, convicting, and inspiring. I give it my full recommendation. 

And one last reminder. 

Those of us who follow Jesus are to remember that our love of country cannot become an ultimate thing. We can have love and devotion to our country so long as we bow to Jesus and God’s word. 

While we love our temporary home in our home country, our heart’s truest longing is for the eternal Kingdom of God, where sickness, death, and evil will be forever defeated. And where there will no longer be any political divisions, war, or death. 

Until then, let us live, love, and remember what is good. And let us give thanks this Memorial Day to the families that have paid the price for us to do everything we do. 

I’m not giving any commencement speeches this year — but if I were, here’s what I’d say.

Dear Class of 2025, 

There are moments in life that you always remember despite the passage of time. While it has been a quarter of a century since I graduated from high school, I remember much about that day. 

Similarly, in the decades to come, you will remember much about today and the coming weeks. Soak in these moments because they will pass. And although having fun is essential now and in the future, it’s important to embrace the people in your life who might not be around 25 years from now. The only thing I would do over from my commencement 25 years ago would be to linger a little longer with my grandparents rather than heading to one last graduation party. 

The other perspective I have to offer you today comes from the following three points: 

Choose Gratitude 

I graduated from high school before social media — before everyone had smartphones and constant access to news and information. And while I fully embrace technological advancements, I have also come to appreciate how disruptive they can be to one’s psyche. 

But I am not going to be another voice sounding the alarm on these things, nor am I going to pontificate about how great the past was — as if my grandmothers wouldn’t have loved to be able to order groceries on their phones! 

Instead, I’ll point out that, despite our technological advances (and the promises about how much better our lives will be with them), we are generally more stressed out than before their invention. 

With this in mind, I urge you to choose gratitude. 

And gratitude certainly is a choice. Think of it like getting dressed. You can put on the “clothes” of criticism, bitterness, and selfishness. You can involve yourself in every political controversy, and let every little aspect of life drive you nuts. You can even blame all the problems on the other side, the other team, or that weirdo in your biology class.

Or you can wear different clothes altogether — the clothes of gratitude. In this outfit, you see the world as it is, but you find what is good, even when the only thing good is that the sun still comes up every morning. 

Gratitude doesn’t deny that life is hard. 

Gratitude doesn’t deny that there are things fundamentally wrong with humanity and the way we treat each other. 

Instead, gratitude is a conscious decision to find the good despite all the things that are wrong. 

You hold the power to choose what you see. Choose to see the good. Choose gratitude. 

Define Success, and Hold That Definition Loosely 

What does success mean? When I graduated, I only had vague ideas of success — a college degree, a job, a wife, or a certain quality of life? 

Don’t get me wrong.  My dreams included countless pursuits — including being an ESPN sports broadcaster! But I didn’t have real clarity on what success looked like. So I went through my twenties with a constant feeling that I wasn’t living up to the extremely vague and unclear version of success that only existed in my mind. 

I would have been better off had I done what I am recommending you to do: spend a little time this summer thinking and writing on the following prompts: 

• If you had to boil down what success would look like for you at age 25, what would it be? 
• What about later in life, like in your 40s or 50s? I know this seems like forever from now, but it will be here before you know it. 
• What are the things that matter to you: family, wealth, relationships? What are the things worth sacrificing for? 
• And finally, what are the most important relationships to you? Who are the people that you should forgive at almost every cost to ensure relational longevity? 

I have discovered that peaceful relationships are worth more than vast wealth. 

Just something to consider as you think about your definition of success. 

Belief Drives Behavior

Another lesson I have discovered the hard way is that belief drives behavior. Not only does my executive coach remind me of this, but I often live it out. If you believe you’ll be successful only by gaining a certain level of wealth, guess how you will behave? You will either work exceedingly hard to make money or feel like a failure when you don’t. Be clear on what makes you a success. 

And then hold that definition loosely. 

I imagine you see things differently than when you started high school. After all, learning isn’t about information as much as it is about personal transformation. As you experience life in the coming decades, your views will continue to change — which means that your opinions on what it means to be successful will also change. Mine definitely have. Treat this process as a work-in-progress rather than a plan written in stone. 

Feel the ground you are standing on. 

Be Present Today

This all leads me to my last point, which is being present today. 

“Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is a mystery. Today is a gift. That’s why we call it “the present.” This quote, largely attributed to Eleanor Roosevelt, finds its way into many commencement addresses. To some, it may produce an eye roll given how cheesy it feels. 

But you’ll grow to realize its wisdom. Life tempts you to either look back or forward. But looking behind or in front of you forces you to miss today. And missing today is the absolute worst thing you can do in your life because you cannot order more days on Prime — and like your favorite show on Netflix, this “season” will be over before you know it. 

Don’t believe me? I wouldn’t have either when I was 18, so I don’t blame you. But I will challenge you: Talk to someone in their 90s and ask them how fast it went. Their answer will speak volumes. 

At the risk of being judged on my movie tastes, I must tell you that About Time is one of the most underrated movies I know. I urge you to watch it for yourself: it’s a story about a father (and his son) who can travel in time. It follows the life lessons they both learn, particularly about what matters most. And in the end, the son, Tim, shares the most important lesson he learned. He says:

“The truth is I now don’t travel back (in time) at all, not even for the day. I just try to live every day as if I’ve deliberately come back to this one day, to enjoy it — as if it were the full final day of my extraordinary, ordinary life.” 

Congratulations, graduates! And may God bless every single day of your extraordinary, ordinary life.

Dear Grandpa,

Every year, I have a moment while walking through the company when the significance of our work hits me anew. Last week, Dennis retired after 46 years at the company. He kept his emotions in check until it was time to punch out for the last time. He simply could not do it. 

So, Nadia did it for him. 

And then they both wept. 

I have pondered that moment all week. It reminds me that our work matters in ways that I often forget. 

Though this year brought its usual share of challenges, stresses, and frustrations, watching Dennis struggle to punch out that final time put everything in perspective. His emotion showed me what Gretchen, Charlotte, and I are really stewarding here – not just a company, but a place that becomes woven into people’s lives, a place worth caring about this deeply. So, thank you for the business you founded. We mold much more than plastic parts here. 

We mold lifelong relationships.  

A Personal Check-In 

In many ways, I have been on the verge of a mid-life crisis this year. Contemporary Western culture prioritizes its identity in self. While there are some good aspects to it, it has often tempted me to become too self-centered. The pursuit of a refined “me” has led me to feel like:

• A mediocre CEO — despite taking advantage of executive coaching and driving myself to exhaustion with books and podcasts.

• A stressed-out husband to Sarah and father to my three kids. 

• A body showing its age, despite my stubborn belief that discipline and hard work would somehow make me the exception to time’s rules

In sum, chasing my identity in “self” has continued to produce a mostly stressed out, often joyless, and definitely aging man who does not do a good job of spreading the joy of Jesus to others. 

What I am changing 

I came to the above conclusion over Christmas break this year. It led me to confess that I was looking horizontally for my identity. I have been running myself ragged, trying to prove to the world I am worthy. 

Despite what I said to others, my life wasn’t showing that I trusted Jesus about my identity. In short, I could speak Christian, but I was not acting like one. 

Looking vertically, here is what I learned: 

I am sufficient as a CEO as long as I am centered on God. I will read books and listen to podcasts when I want to. But I rest in God’s sovereignty and find my worth in Him. 

Full stop.

The most important relationships I have on this planet are with Sarah and then the kids. These come after God but before everything else. They deserve a me that is fully available to them, not centered on self. 

My body is aging. As my Marine buddy reminds me, the aches and pains indicate a life lived well to this point. I must accept this — and all the other things I cannot change through discipline and hard work. And the hope is in what will only come when I am given a resurrection body, one with no aches, pains, or imperfections!

The Real Marker of Success 

When I find my identity vertically, I am then freed from the need to find validation in horizontal markers. As a Co-CEO, this does not mean I am off the hook for business results. The markers of a business are extremely important. I am proud that our sales and profits grew last year. But, my life and worth are not better because of this. And this reality allows me to work hard and then rest.

It is not up to me. 

My identity is tied to the vertical, so I am on solid ground, no matter the weather. On solid ground, I can be there for people and do so from a place of joy. Sarah counsels me often that this is my most important work.

As always, she is right.

Gosh, I wish you had gotten to know her Grandpa. 

To come full circle, I want to close by telling you about three significant retirements this year at your company. These people all worked with you:

Lizzie retired after 54 years  

Mary retired after 48 years  

Dennis retired after 46 years 

All three said basically the same thing: This was their family away from their family, so all three reminded us never to lose sight of the power of relationships. 

I imagine that if you had been here, you would have told us the same thing. 

In fact, I can hear that whisper as I walk through the production floor. 

That, and to get more presses running. 

Roger that. 

I miss and love you. 

Alex

Marriage is a journey of continuous learning and growth. And recently, a conversation with my accountability partner sparked insights so valuable, I knew they had to be shared. Our discussion challenged conventional wisdom and reinforced timeless truths about what makes a marriage not just survive, but truly thrive.

Read on to learn three tips for nurturing a successful marriage.

Be 100% to 100%

One often repeated idea about marriage is that each person has to work to a 50/50 split. The intent behind this usually revolves around compromise. The thinking goes that if each person gives in a little, the couple can avoid unnecessary conflict. 

The problem with this approach is that if I want to go to New York and Sarah wants to go to Phoenix, ostensibly, the compromise would be going to some city in the middle of the country. But neither of us would be happy with that compromise! Instead, I would be better off traveling to Phoenix and being 100% in on Sarah’s choice. Or conversely, she would be better off going to New York. 

An all-in marriage — where both partners are 100% — is the way to go on every issue, not just a hypothetical travel conundrum.

One team  

It is easy to be 100% all-in when you view your marriage as “one team.” To be clear, I don’t think I have ever used the term “team” to describe Sarah and me. But that is how we act. We are one unit that is in lockstep and fully aligned. 

If a big decision needs to be made, what matters is not what I want (or what she wants) but what we want.

If one of our wonderfully behaved kids tested our boundaries (okay, they do all the time because they are kids!), it is now not how I react but how we react. We agree on the next steps. 

Marriage is a commitment before it is anything else. It is always WE before ME.  

Never use the word divorce — even in jest 

My accountability partner talked about how seriously he has taken this “rule” with his wife. This reminded me of some off-hand joking comments I made early in our marriage (don’t judge) about divorce. Sarah gave me one of those looks that stopped me in my tracks. Some jokes are off the table. 

There’s a good chance someone reading this blog has been through a divorce — and I want you to know that I share this principle with absolutely no judgment. I do not think I am better than you, nor do I think I have all the answers, nor do I believe my marriage is divorce-proof. I think my marriage, and any marriage for that matter, can dissolve when two human beings are involved. For this reason, I believe this principle is a good one. 

What this principle conveys is that there should be a stickiness to marriage. The vows say it best: through sickness and health. I could add my own junk here: through my annoying sports rooting meltdowns, my aging body that no longer looks like it did when I was 24, my constant self-induced pressure to be better at every aspect of life, my insecurity around my leadership, and how I carry all that junk home and often am irritable, tired, and discouraged. 

You can pray for Sarah, and given what I listed, there could easily be times when she could joke about divorce.  “Keep this up, buddy, and you’ll  ….” 

But she never goes within a million miles of that. 

Why? 

We are 100% to 100% 

We are one team — it is about WE. 

We are all in. 

And what about Sarah’s imperfections? No way. I’m no idiot! (See, now that’s the kind of marriage humor I embrace!) 

My prayer is that these tips help those of you who are married. 

*Every year around July 5th (my “Papa’s” birthday) I write him a letter. He passed away in 2005, but he is never far from my mind):

Dear Papa,

We live in interesting times these days. An opinion article in the WSJ recently pointed to one of the differences between our generations and yours: “In 1960, only 5% of Americans had a negative reaction to the idea of marrying somebody from a different political party; now it’s 38%.” 

This statistic encapsulates our current state as a society. Politics is becoming the primary characteristic of our lives, leading to division.

I usually write blog posts about leadership, and I firmly believe that leadership can be taught. This belief stems from a growth mindset rooted in critical thinking. Unfortunately, I often observe that the most fixed-minded among us are those with the strongest political beliefs: Republicans are evil, Democrats are evil, and both are evil. It is no longer “I disagree.” It is, “Those people are evil.” 

Apparently, it is even “you better not marry one of those people.”  

This makes me sad and concerned about where it will lead our country. 

Having said this, I do not long for a return to the 1950s. While some reading this post might long for the good old days, there has been progress that we should be proud of. Our team at Hoffer Plastics is more diverse than ever, which is a blessing. I am co-CEO with my two sisters, which would have been unheard of in the 1950s.  

But I also have to be honest: not everything we call progress is progress. Our culture is both the most individualistic and, by most studies, the most unhappy, perhaps ever. So, we are not only becoming more politically divided, but we are also becoming more sad in the process. 

I am sharing this because you and your generation prioritized three things that are instructive to me in this cultural moment that we are living in: 

Sacrificial Service

We call your generation the greatest generation because of sacrificial service. Later this year, I will once again stand at Omaha Beach and walk every last gravestone at the American cemetery in Normandy. This is the ultimate example of sacrificial service. These soldiers died together regardless of political identity. 

I also know that you embodied this at a personal level. After V-J day, you came home and worked diligently for your family. You set aside your ambition in music to work at your father-in-law’s pharmacy. This was a personal sacrifice. Your sacrificial service helped your family, which eventually led to me. For this, I am thankful. 

Community 

On one hand, our generation tends to prioritize family over everything else. We easily attend more events than your generation did. But at the same time, I fear that our view of family is smaller in scale than it was for your generation. What I mean is that your generation knew your neighbors well, whereas our generation waves as we drive by our neighbors heading to the next Little League game. We are too busy and scheduled to really know them. 

Your generation also tended to live near grandparents and prioritized family gatherings. Our generation tends to use technology like FaceTime and text messaging to stay in touch. On the one hand, I am thankful for how these technologies keep us connected, but I am also sad at how hard it is to make time for extended family. We tend to live lives that are too scheduled for family reunions. So, we are more connected and yet less known. 

This often leads to surface-level relationships. Our distant relatives’ political rants on social media drive us crazy, not to mention the sign of the opposing party that our neighbor puts up. We roll our eyes in disgust as we drive by, but we do not know much about them outside of this sign in their front yard or the rant on social media. So, it is easier to indulge in our anger and judgment because we have failed to prioritize our community and getting to know them.

Getting to know them would open us up to who they are. We might even discover that while they have different political beliefs than we do, they have an interesting perspective. Community regularly leads to growth: It is hard to hate your neighbors when you know them. Conversely, it is easier to be graceful when you know them.  

Unity

Finally, your generation prioritized unity over division. Decades after the fact, I can still remember dinners with some of your friends, many of whom were veterans of World War II. For the life of me, I cannot remember any of their politics. I cannot remember who was for/against Vietnam, who liked Reagan and who did not, nor can I remember political discussion being all that important.  

What I do remember is a lot of laughter, good food, and better memories. In fact, I still get goosebumps when I visit my friend John and go to Evansville Country Club. I can still hear the laughter and feel the memories come back to life. 

My fear is that our generation’s lasting memory won’t be that of unity but of tribe. We are busy bodies with little time for depth. Our surface-level interactions make us easily offended. No wonder some messages are deemed “unsafe.” 

An Invitation 

But what if we got to know each other? What if we spent time getting to know what makes our neighbor tick? Or, what would happen if we got to know why one of the parents at the Little League game wears a political T-shirt of a candidate we disagree with? 

My guess is that we would learn something in the process and become a little less divided.

As I close, let me assure you, and anyone looking in, that I am not a doomsayer. I believe all things can be restored. In fact, I believe that one day Jesus will restore all things! On that day none of these differences will matter whatsoever.

I am also of this generation, and I have to confess that I can fall into my own tribalism when I am at my worst. Simply put, part of my sadness is a recognition that I sometimes bite the apple and believe this “election is the most important election of our country.”

But the news will say the same thing in two years, let alone another four. Their business model relies on us biting this apple. 

What I know is that we would be best off putting others above ourselves, getting to know our community, and prioritizing unity over division.

Like your generation, I still believe our best days are yet to come. But these better days are certainly not guaranteed, nor are they promised. They will only come if we wake up and become people worth following. 

The kind that loves their neighbor like themselves. 

I always miss you, but I miss you a little more during times like these.

To that end, I promise to do my best to love like Jesus loves, and to treat people like I want to be treated.

Love,

Alex

The best television series I have seen in quite some time is Apple TV’s Masters of the Air. This miniseries follows the actions of the 100th Bomb Group during World War II. 

The 100th became known as the “Bloody 100th” because most airmen didn’t survive the war. The losses included 184 missing air crews, 229 planes either lost or salvaged, 757 men killed or missing in action, and another 923 taken as prisoners of war. 

While there are several inspiring moments throughout the miniseries, there is one moment that, to me, captures the heart of Memorial Day. In the last episode, the Allies are closing in on one of the prisoner-of-war camps, and while violence is breaking out inside the camp between the prisoners and their German prison guards, Major John “Bucky” Egan weaves his way through the crowd to the building flying the Nazi flag. Lifted up by his fellow soldiers onto a small roof, Bucky climbs the flagpole. The soldiers cheer wildly, almost to the point where it appears that no one is even acting anymore. Bucky then drops the Nazi flag to the men, who rip it to pieces.

He then hangs the Stars and Stripes. 

Bucky then looks down at the mass of men — black and white soldiers, all together — cheering and sensing that they were on the cusp of what they had longed for all those years of war: peacetime and home. 

Bucky surveys the scene once last time and then puts his forehead on the flagpole, appearing to pray silently. 

What occurred to me watching this episode was that peace only came through immense loss and sacrifice. 

This is something to pause and consider on this Memorial Day. 

A Memorial Day Message 

I’m not one to glamorize war. I’ve read enough history to know we should avoid it at all costs. 

I have also read enough about the World War II generation to know that their sacrifices for humankind are almost incomprehensible. Those who served in the 100th, for example, either did not make it home or were never the same.

Their sacrifices freed the world from the oppression of Nazism. They were a necessary and costly sacrifice. 

When I think of Memorial Day, I always think of the sacrifices that ALL the men and women of our armed forces have made through the years. I think of those who served in places like Afghanistan, Iraq, Vietnam, and World War II. Regardless of what I might think about the particulars of each conflict, I salute and give thanks to those who have served. 

And this includes all the family members who mourn for those who didn’t come home. They have served our country as well. 

Thank you to these people. 

They are the real heroes and real leaders. 

I pause this blog to reflect on and thank them all.

A few moments after getting to my in-laws for Christmas, I received a phone call telling me that one of our team members had died the previous night. It was tragic, sudden, and extremely sad. But little did I know then that this was only the beginning. Over the next six weeks, we lost three direct team members to tragic health situations and a total of nine people overall when counting team family members. 

Winter is the darkest time of the year, and this past winter was one of the darkest. 

As those who follow Jesus celebrate Easter this week, I want to dedicate this post to exploring this question: Can there be light after darkness? Admittedly, this is my annual Easter post, which is a departure from the usual format of this blog. I hope you continue, but if you don’t, I’ll return to the usual format next time. My prayer for you and those grieving is that you find the light. 

Darkness 

As I’ve shared before, one of the most striking things about Jesus is his compassion. The gospel of John does a good job of giving a glimpse of this when his friend Lazarus dies (John 11:1-44). After comforting Lazarus’ sisters, Martha and Mary (verse 19), Jesus moved on to where Lazarus was laid to rest. Then, the narrative arrives at the pivotal moment. Upon arriving, John writes these words: 

“Jesus wept.” (John 11:35)

Not only is this the shortest verse in the Bible — it is perhaps the most relatable, for we live in a very broken world. Another way to say it is “broken” is to say it is dark. 

Darkness is cancer, heart attacks, and sudden illness that leads to death. Darkness is gun violence, racial injustice, and poverty. Darkness is all kinds of war, just and unjust. Darkness is loneliness, broken relationships, and political strife or idolatry. Darkness is abuse, neglect, and harassment.

The list could go on. 

The skeptic asks, perhaps rightly — with all this darkness, how is there even a God that is good? 

While such a question deserves to be answered — and to be fair to the reader, I believe such an answer exists — notice what Jesus did not do with Mary and Martha. He didn’t answer the question of why. When Mary stated that her brother would have survived had Jesus been there (verse 32), Jesus didn’t agree or disagree. Instead, he just asked where Lazarus was (verse 34), and then he wept.

One of the thousands of reasons why I follow Jesus is because of this: Jesus mourned with those who mourned. He is worth following because his goal was not to win an argument, prove a point, or win a convert. 

One chapter prior, in John 10:10, Jesus said:

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” (Emphasis mine). 

What I learned about darkness this year is that I have to force myself to wallow in it. I have to mourn with those who mourn and resist the urge to move on to the next business opportunity or distraction. And if that means I must wipe away a tear as I walk our plant floor, then so be it. 

Jesus wept. 

So must I. 

Light

I’m going to confess something now: Sometimes, it takes the right set of circumstances to allow myself to feel what I need to feel — and sometimes, it takes international travel for this to happen. I’ve discovered that the lack of sleep, change of routine, and a little bit of homesickness can lessen my self-defenses and allow me to feel what I need to feel. 

One of those moments occurred on January 25th this year. I was leaving Barcelona, one of my favorite places on the planet, and was in the right place at the right time for something I might never forget. 

We were headed to Munich before switching planes and heading back to Chicago, and our flight left Barcelona right at sunset. As we took off, the sky was cloudless. Amazingly, the darkness that had engulfed us on the ride to the airport 90 minutes earlier had disappeared. Outside the airplane window, I could see light beginning to emerge over the Mediterranean. 

I looked up from the book I was reading and then decided to put it down. As I looked out, I just sat in complete and utter wonder. 

One of the things my friend and pastor has always encouraged me to do is look for God in the every day and then praise Him with attributes found in the Bible. This was that kind of moment: 

I silently prayed: 

God, you are the Creator. As I look at the sun coming out from what appears to be underneath the Mediterranean Sea, all I can say is WOW. You are majestic. You are the Light of the World. As I ponder the darkness of losing several Hoffer Plastics team members, I am reminded in your word that you are the Comforter. Jesus, you wept. Because you wept, I know it is okay to weep myself. And Lord, I have! I mourn with those who mourn and pray for you to bring comfort that is unexplainable. Lord, there are times when words just are inadequate, and this is one of those times. I pray you will intercede and bring peace. While your people can be divisive, I know you are the God of peace and I praise you for that. Amen” 

As our plane gained altitude and headed north to Germany, I realized there could be light after darkness. After all, Good Friday was the darkest of days, and it led to Easter morning. 

I know that a short blog post will not convince anyone that Jesus died and rose again. While I believe He did, my prayer is that this post increases your curiosity about Jesus. What I know is that this year has been hard, and most years have elements that are also hard. Jesus is my hope in those years and where I turn when I am at my lowest. If I lean in enough and wait long enough, my experience is that the darkness disappears. I hope that in Jesus, one day, it will be gone forever. 

My words end here, but if you are curious or need a little hope this Easter, may I direct you to something that may help? 

Here is singer-songwriter Blessing Offor — a blind man — singing about how he hopes heaven is like a Tin Roof. I hope it moves you like it moves me.