This week I have been enjoying some extended time away with my oldest son, Vince. Otherwise known as ‘skinny Vinny’ or ‘the ‘No Nonsense Muscle building guy. I have two other amazing sons but this time it’s all about Vince.

Next to being away with my bride there’s no greater joy than to have some days to invest in the life of one of my ‘kids’. And of course, the investment goes both ways. He adds so much value to me especially in inspiring to keep going for my ‘zone of genius’, a new term we are challenging each other with.

Vince is here mostly on business and I came along to support him where I can.

Vince and I have some similarities although he gets his appearance from his beautiful mom. We are alike in that we love fitness, love personal development, love sharing books and insights we are learning, and eating good meals. Vince is the big spender and tipper. Dad is, oh well, cheap.

Vince and I are both plodders. We stick to a task till the damn thing gets done. We are both a bit distracted sometimes but we make up for it by our affection and love for people.

More than anyone I know on the planet Vince exemplifies the proverbial insight of Solomon who said,

The world of the generous gets larger and larger;
the world of the stingy gets smaller and smaller.
The one who blesses others is abundantly blessed;
those who help others are helped.

Vince epitomizes that proverb in his generous way of life.

I think most of Vince’s success is do to his ‘I can do this spirit’. I remember in his high school days, while running the steeplechase. He came flying towards the thick barrier and crashed into it. He picked up his battered skinny frame off the track and started limping as fast as he could to the finish. He did finish. It wasn’t pretty but it sure was heart thumping inspiring. As always, whatever Vince does, he does it in style.

Plus he’s the nicest guy you ever want to meet. To have Vince as your friend is a treasure. You know he’ll have your back. Recently while in Miami helping Vince with one of his Masterminds one of his colleagues, who was living out of his car at one time, said to me, ‘Luch, your son gave me hope. If it wasn’t for Vince…’ And he went on to sing Vince’s praises and how Vince helped raise him from ashes to a thriving internet fitness business. And he’s just one story.

I look at how he cares so deeply about his lovely bride Flavia and seven month old Milia, and also how he so loves his brothers and sister in law, and nephew, and it just makes me want to smile and puff out my chest and say, ‘heh world, that’s my boy’. Oh ya, yours truly and his mom are so respected by him and we feel it every day.

Vince and I have spent the last 4 mornings reading the scriptures with a focus on Samson’s life, a man who started out with all the blessings in the world, including godly parents and gifts God gave him, but like a whale he got ‘beached’. This man with so much strength , got sacked, or should I say let himself get sacked.
Each morning Vince and I have read from Judges 13,14,15 and 16 and prayerfully resolved to be strong and to help each other become better versions of ourselves, better men, better husbands, better dads, better sons and uncles and better friends.
I especially love our heartfelt times of spiritual reflection and prayer together.
To pray with a son is well, joy unspeakable. No wonder St John said, ‘I have no greater joy than to hear my children walk in the truth.’

We both know we have a long way to go but that’s okay we’re on the journey together and with others. We also know there are land mines ahead and that we are in a fight, the good fight of faith, but we’re both up for it.

And along with the serious stuff we both got to ‘play ‘ in the waves, eat lunch outdoors and drink good Banks Barbados beer.

It doesn’t get much better than that. I am blessed.

Time to go home.