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Pat Williams: 'What are You Living For?'

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THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS

From the age of seven, Pat Williams’ one and only dream was to be a Major League baseball player. But, after two lackluster seasons as a catcher for the Miami Marlins he decided that dream was not meant to be. Instead, he had found a new dream – being the general manager of a baseball team.

Pat was not even 25-years-old when he managed the Spartanburg Phillies. During his first season, they drew 114,000 fans to the ballpark for 60 home dates. He was also named Executive of the Year in the Western Carolinas League. The next season his success continued as the Phillies went on a 25-game winning streak and the attraction of 173,000 fans to the ballpark.

“I reveled in my success. I had a fat bank account. Everyone in town knew my name and I was getting attention from the national sports media,” Pat said.

Although he felt successful in his career he also began to feel empty.

“I couldn’t understand why, in the midst of my success, my life seemed hollow and without purpose,” Pat recalled.

In his pursuit of fame, fortune, power and pleasure, Pat discovered that he was really chasing happiness, but could never catch it. At the same time, Pat recognized that his boss, Mr. R.E. Littlejohn, seemed to be a man who had found true happiness. He was a humble man despite his material wealth that used his resources to serve God and help others.

“Many times, Mr. Littlejohn tried to explain his Christian faith to me - but everything he said went in one ear and out the other,” Pat said.

READY TO SURRENDER

One evening in February 1968, Pat went to a folk music concert. While he was there he met a girl who was one of the singers in the group. The girl started talking to Pat about Jesus. Before she said goodbye, she handed him a little booklet. Later that night Pat pulled the booklet out that she had given to him. It was entitled, Have You Heard of the Four Spiritual Laws? The message of the booklet helped him to understand the difference between faith and religion. Pat met with Sandy the next morning to discuss his spiritual questions.

After returning to his office later that day, the message of the booklet still rang in his ears. So he decided to talk with Mr. Littlejohn. Although Littlejohn had tried to explain his Christian faith to Pat many times before, it wasn’t until that day he was ready. Pat went over to Littlejohn’s office and together they prayed a prayer of commitment that changed Pat’s life.

REASONS FOR LIVING

Pat says almost every person in the world is ruled by at least one of the following four driving obsessions: fortune, fame, power and pleasure. For many people money equals meaning in life. The more their net worth grows, the farther ahead they are in the game of life. For others, fame equals meaning in life. These people associate self worth with being recognized and applauded. Some may believe that power or control of others will bring them meaning and satisfaction. The truth is that power is fleeting and does not truly satisfy. And finally, people who are driven to seek pleasure, an obsession that can take many forms: the lust for sex or fine food or luxury, are often the emptiest people in the world.

What then are we living for? Pat says there are four true and satisfying reasons for living and for dying. Those reasons are: character, influence, parenting, and faith. God wants our character to be like His character. The more we pattern our life after God, and his Son, Jesus, the more we can achieve the purpose for our lives. Our influence is how we impact those around us. God wants us to live for others. Parenting is the process of raising children to carry on our faith, values, etc. Faith is the most important reason of all for living. It determines what we believe in and how we are investing our lives.