The very first Psalms says to, “Meditate day and night on what the Lord wants you to do.” When making plans in life, we come up with steps sometimes, the 1 2 3 A B C method to getting us from where we are to where we want to be. In life we have to adapt to the things happening around us, the same is true with a plan, whether a business plan or plans to better one’s self, the plan must be a living plan and must adapt and take directions that will make the end result successful regardless of circumstances. As life happens in front of us continue to meditate and change your plans accordingly, it may be that our goal was in a great direction for us and on our way to an even greater accomplishment that God would love to see us accomplish. With constant meditation and a willingness to adapt and change our plan, success is in our future.

     The business plan for my internet company had steps in it to building a video streaming classroom for live video instruction among other things. As the technology was being completed, the idea of an encyclopedia of videos of how to do almost everything came to light. Taking a turn in the business that was not included in the original business plan was risky, it may upset some investors and some employees and some in management who had a lot to lose. I took the idea of LearnBurn.com to the Lord in meditation and I knew it was something I had to do.

     LearnBurn.com ended up being an awesome website with revenue potential greater than the video classroom; it was a search engine and an encyclopedia of fundamental education. We had professional athletes and celebrities showing the public how to do their specialty in video on the site, you could learn from the best whether learning to throw a curve ball in baseball, or make a lasagna like one of the most popular chefs in the world. Every day, we would sign up more athletes and celebrities, often announcing on the site the new additions. I remember the day Wayne Gretzky and John Elway both agreed to do videos; we had a quote on the front page of our site that read, “Free education for the children, sounds like a no brainer to me,” Wayne Gretzky. The LearnBurn website and search engine was exciting, and a part of the company that wouldn’t have been without the business plan being alive and adapting. After the attacks of 9/11, the company closed, but in meditation the Lord let me know that the LearnBurn videos would be back in a future business that I would create… I can’t wait.

     The first Psalms talks of the man who meditates day and night becoming a “tree planted between streams of water.” What does it mean to be planted between two streams of water? It means we are receiving nourishment from the streams through our roots even when it is not raining. The two streams represent a physical stream and a spiritual stream. We become strong individuals always having what others need, “fruit always ripe in season,” whether food, clothing or shelter (physical fruit), or an inspirational message, a prayer, guidance or a kind word and a hug (spiritual fruit). Even during a recession, we will have the shelter and clothing that others need; and even through rough times in history or personal or family tough times, we will have the spirit flowing from us, for we are planted between streams of water.

     My grandpa was a living example of a strong tree of God who always had his “fruit ripe in season,” ready when people needed it, regardless of circumstances in life. During the great depression he built homes out of abandoned rail cars for families to live in. When I was in trouble in my life, no matter how old I was, he’d have me sit on his knee and he’d share something beautiful and wise and cool to let me know these troubles will pass and life has something great for me in it. At his funeral, there were over three hundred people singing on a hillside, as many people who were not in our family as there were people who were in our family. One stranger after another would approach us with similar stories. “Are you Cedric’s grandson? He told me to never tell anyone, but when he didn’t show up last Friday and then I saw the notice, I just had to come and share with someone. My family would not have been able to stay in our house if it weren’t for Cedric coming by every Friday with groceries and shoes and clothes for the kids; he put a floor in my house years ago or we’d still be living in a house with dirt floors.” Others had new roofs thanks to Grandpa, and on Sundays while he was having the weekly family feast, we weren’t the only ones eating good; thanks to Grandpa many poor families were enjoying a Sunday dinner also.

     Meditate day and night on what the Lord wants you to do and become a tree planted between streams of water and always have what people need regardless of the times; and the Psalm continues, and “He will prosper in whatever he does.” If that Psalm were the only instruction we ever knew as Godly, it would be enough religion for a man to become a great man, wouldn’t it?

     Prosper in all you do by meditating constantly on what the Lord wants you to do, what a powerful Psalm. Some say it was the only Psalm that Buddha read, and that after meditating on it, he received a prophecy, one of his most famous works, “The Lotus Sutra:” The flower of God will come to earth and defeat the serpent who has the power to take life. That prophecy came true hundreds of years later when Jesus Christ came to earth and defeated Satan; Jesus is often referred to as the Lily or the Rose and Satan always a snake or a serpent. Hard core Christian fanatics, don’t be so hard on Buddha and be careful not to judge, you never know who you might be judging.

     Can you imagine prospering in everything you do? Isn’t that the goal in Intentionalistic Living? – to perform at optimal level in all areas of life. It is good to be in tune with the first Psalm and great to become a tree of God who prospers in everything he does. So, constantly meditate and adapt to the changing circumstances of life and let God lead you to greatness.

     I look forward to hearing of how your life is changing since you started meditating day and night; please send your miraculous story in so I can include it in the Intentionalistic Living series or on the web site. Sharing our testimonies is powerful, and when one learns from our testimony then we are sharing that fruit that is ripe in season. Keep it up. You are on your way. Prospering in everything you do is around the corner. Your light is shining brighter every day.

You know I love you, Cary Aubuchon