An Unstable Foundation

I’d like to take a different opinion/angle on these mass shootings. When you take away the arguments of politics, guns, mental illness, etc, I’d like to consider the absolute dysfunction and destruction of families over the past few decades.

Let’s consider it in general, as I am not casting blame.

Whether it’s a matter of dysfunctional, broken families, or parents who are simply not intentional with time, love, and attention – a product is emerging that has no purpose and no hope and no value – or so these children/young adults are led to believe.

The Texas shooter posted on his LinkedIn that he is just getting by. That he guesses he’ll do software development because it seems to suit him best. I hope I’m wrong, but to me he appeared to be your stereotypical “no ambition, sit on the couch and play video games all day” type of guy.

I may be stepping on some toes, but that’s a parenting problem.

It’s a parenting problem to not teach your kid ambition. It’s a parenting problem to not teach your kid hard work. It’s a parenting problem to allow your kid to sit on screens all day.

But that’s the issue. It’s hard work to parent and be intentional with parenting.

At the end of the day, do I know all the details? No.

At the end of the day, do I know his home life was the issue? No.

At the end of the day, was he at fault? Yes.

At the end of the day, are we, as parents, responsible to teach and train and love? Yes.

I don’t post this to flippantly add to the outcry and pointing of fingers, but rather to say that the foundation of America is the family. And the devil knows it’s where the attacks are the most affective.

So where do we go from here? We all look inside and say, “What can I do to build up and strengthen my family – our foundation?”

Before you respond, know this. Please. I’m not saying because you are divorced, this happens. I’m not saying your child cannot be raised well and then turn from the truth. I’m not saying that video games are the reason. Or guns. Or donkeys. Or elephants.

Just consider this angle: Without a reason to live, without hope, and without purpose, you are capable of destruction.

Please consider your time. Do you come home from work and selfishly do what you want to do and let your kid sit there, alone, with headphones on their ears, mindlessly playing games for hours on end because no one makes them feel important, or loved, or inspired to do anything?

They’re skilled. They’re important. They’re valuable. But do they know that? Have you told them?

I can promise you this. God forbid that’s ever my son on the Walmart security cameras, but if it were, I would look back and take a lot of responsibility.

So the next time you hear people say to hug your kids and love on them because they could be the next victim, think about hugging them, loving them, and being intentional with them as parents, because they could be the next killer.

That’s hard to read isn’t it? It’s hard for me to think about that.

I close with this.

Maybe you were burned by church. Perhaps you were hurt by religion. Don’t let that keep you from teaching your kids about God. About a personal relationship, not a religion, with Jesus Christ.

NO Jesus, NO hope; KNOW Jesus, KNOW hope. ❤️

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Mission: Compassion

I met Amanda about four years ago. She delivers for FedEx, and our Chick-fil-A in Wesley Chapel, NC was one of her stops. The hustle is REAL with these folks, and we tried to always make her day a little better by offering a drink or a sandwich.

Fast forward a few years.

Amanda’s route has changed, and I am no longer with Chick-fil-A, but we have kept in touch, as she had become a good friend. What I love most about Amanda is her heart for people. It is genuine and magnetic. And it all stems from her faith in Jesus.

Recently, she shared this video. It is a perfect example of who she is and the love she has for those around her. I am reminded of the verse in Jude where it speaks of some having compassion – making a difference. Grab a few tissues and click the play button.

Amanda also began a non-profit organization called Hungry Heroes where she feeds hundreds of first responders, veterans, EMTs, police, fire, etc. -simply to bless and encourage them. You can check it out here: https://www.hungryheroesbbq.com/ Consider donating your time and/or money to help support these heroes!

Please share this post as I am sure this will move others as it did myself. Thank you, Amanda, for loving everybody, always, and for being an example of life touching life.

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Lessons from the road: Part 1

I am on the road quite a bit. The commute from my home in Fort Mill, SC to my place of work in Huntersville, NC averages out to be an hour’s drive each way. And though it can be long and tedious, I try to observe and learn from all that happens around me. It’s incredible how parallel lessons from the road and lessons from life can be. They also intersect.

About a month ago, I exited off I-77 in Charlotte to grab some lunch. My vehicle was positioned in the left lane of two lanes heading straight. As we approached a red light, we gained a left-hand turning lane. When the left-hand turning lane was granted a green arrow, those vehicles began to move. The one vehicle ahead of me in the straight lane, sensing forward motion from those to its left, proceeded on as well. One problem: our light had remained red.

Instantly, I noticed a gentleman on the opposite side of the road. He was in the same lane as I was in, but heading the other direction. He saw what had happened, and he wanted everyone to know he had seen it. His head was sticking out of his window like a giraffe stretching for feed through a fence. He was GLARING. Eyes locked in on the driver who set off through the red light.

We’ve all been there. Maybe we were daydreaming, checking emails, or tuning the radio. Our eyes were off the traffic lights, but our peripheral vision caught the vehicle to our left moving, so we moved. Sometimes we catch ourselves and slam on the brakes, other times it’s too late to stop and we simply go on through. It’s dangerous, but rarely intentional.

And it was in that moment that my lesson was revealed to me. How often in life do we make a mistake? Could be intentional. Could be a lack of common sense. Could be completely innocent and unintentional. We have all been there. And also present are those near us, across the way, sticking out their necks, glaring at us down their nose. Condemning. Judging.

I know I’ve been there in traffic and in life. I’ve run a red light in the same fashion. Deep in thought or in worship, maybe checking a text or call, and away I went – even though it wasn’t my time to go. I’ve accidentally cut people off in parking lots and when they lay on their horns, I sheepishly wave and mouth that I am sorry. I’ve also made mistakes in life, and whether innocent or not, I have been at the brutal end of the scrutiny and the glares.

So what’s the lesson I learned? I learned both sides of the coin that day. I learned to not judge hastily. To not let emotions ride high and to not condemn with ease. To assume the best in someone when it’s a situation where innocence could be in play, and to seek to help and not hate. But that’s not all.

I looked at the guy across the intersection and considered him as well. Could he be a hot-head, policing everyone’s moves and motives? Sure. But could he also have lost a family member in an accident caused by someone running a red light? Absolutely. And in that moment I was reminded yet again to give grace. To give the benefit of the doubt. To be slow to judge, but quick to forgive.

Are there times when judgement is warranted, yes. Are there times when discipline is required, of course. But as a general rule, in our normal day to day, let’s not allow the mistakes of others to fuel condemnation and formulate negative opinions. We have all made mistakes, and we will all make mistakes. If everyone is glaring and no one is caring, how is anyone ever helped? How is anyone ever encouraged?

May we all strive to love and lift up others even more in 2019! Have compassion. Make a difference. Happy New Year!

How about you? Have you ever been on either side of the coin? I would love to hear about it. Please feel free to comment.

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The End of an Incredible Journey… or is it?

Most of you know by now that this past week brought the news that I will not be moving ahead in my journey to own/operate a Chick-fil-A. At least not now. This news did not devastate me, nor was I angry. I know the system and how it works, and I knew this going in almost 4 years ago. I simply was not competitive enough. Chick-fil-A has 50,000 individuals per year starting the process to become an owner/operator. I made it to step 5 of 7. The top 400 of 50,000 or so. And I am very humbled and grateful to have made it that far. I am in a tough spot at my age. Mid-thirties with a family makes it difficult to be a solid candidate for the Leadership Development Program (on the road living in hotels for about 2 years opening up/running Chick-fil-As around the country), and I am not in my 40’s or 50’s with a wealth of experience from past employment. On paper…. I don’t compete. And I completely understand that from corporate’s point of view.

The only frustrating part is that I don’t know where I fit in…. or how to become THAT competitive. I feel like I have done everything in my power to become prepared to operate a store, and who I am and the endless energy and passion I have for Chick-fil-A would go far beyond simply making a local business profitable. But I am not upset. I know God has a plan, and I know that it is a perfect plan for me and my family. Sometimes it is God’s timing, or sometimes it is a completely new plan – only time will tell.

I want to thank my wife first of all for everything. And by everything, I mean the sacrifices, large and small, that she has made over the past 4 years. She was my biggest cheerleader, and she was ALL IN just as much, if not more, than I was. She is incredibly strong with a heart of gold. She will make an amazing operator’s wife one day, if that is what God wills. I love her dearly and desperately wanted to reach my goal for her. Love you, sweetheart.

Thank you also to the many Operators, Grand Opening Supervisors, trainers, Corporate staff, friends, guests, family, etc who cheered me on since day 1. I never once had someone tell me that I would never make it as an operator, but rather hundreds, if not thousands, telling me to keep going…. that they would love to help me and serve with me one day.

Though I am at peace and trust God with corporate’s decision, guests of mine are crushed. I returned to work this past Friday, and guest after guest walked in shocked – I don’t know if they were more shocked at the decision or that I had a smile on my face. Many operators reached out to me. Some told me they cried, while others expressed that if they had to go through the process today, they would not even make it.

You know what all this tells me? That this journey was not in vain. The people I know now that have impacted me, and that I may have impacted…. I wouldn’t have met them 4 years ago. The massive amount of support and outpouring of love during this journey and after the news came last week has been humbling. I don’t deserve any of this…. but God, in His goodness and grace, allowed me precious time with individuals all across this country. These moments are priceless to me!

I love Chick-fil-A and I will always love Chick-fil-A. As of now, I am still serving at my local CFA as a director working 50-55 hours a week. And until God moves me, that is where I will be. Is the journey over? I honestly don’t think so. I try to force myself to lose the desire to own my own store… and then I clock in and do life with my team, and after hugs and high fives and accomplishing goals together…. I realize I can’t stop pursuing my dream. It’s what I do. It’s who I am.

Many have asked if I am upset or mad. Almost telling me with their eyes and tone of voice that it would be ok to say yes. But no. I am at peace. I am at peace knowing that God is good all the time. Never is He NOT good. And though people all around the chain know I would make a tremendous operator, the one person who could say no, did say no. And they did their job well. They have to make sure they choose the best fit for every opportunity. To play God and to judge their decision would be foolish. To trust God and wait on His will and timing is obedience. So I choose to obey. I choose to wait. I choose to continue to be full of joy. I choose to keep on serving faithfully.

I leave you with this story from this past Saturday.

A mom and her little girl were getting into line to order when I walked by them to grab something from outside. She stopped me and told me that she had used me as an example when teaching her kids a lesson that week. I recognized the mom, but didn’t know her personally. She went on to explain that her 9th grade boy was telling her how his friends in the same grade were out partying/drinking and making poor decisions. Her son then said that he doesn’t have to hang out with that crowd and wants to make wise decisions. I bent down and asked the little girl what the mom had said about me. The little girl looked up at me and said, “Mommy said that she wants me to marry someone like you one day”. I was shocked, as I had never spoken to them before. The mom then began to tear up and told me that she can tell simply by the way I serve people in the restaurant that I am someone that she wants her boys to look up to and her daughter to marry. It was all I could do not to get all emotional! WOW! Do I deserve those comments? No. Any good in me is by the grace of God alone. But God used that instance, just mere days after receiving a “no” answer, to keep that flame burning inside of me.

To you that have followed this journey…. thank you! You are appreciated far more than you will ever know. I truly hope this isn’t the end. I have insane faith that it is not. In fact, I  check my email throughout the day thinking that I will receive one saying that they have changed their minds and have a store for me. But if that day never comes, I thank God that He used CFA to bring you into my life. May God bless you. #JUSTTRUETT

 

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She needed someone.

Yesterday, I took the Chick-fil-A Cow over to a local elementary school around 2:00pm to greet parents and kids in the car line as they left to go home. Spirit Night for that school was later on in the day at our restaurant, and we were there to give hugs and high-fives as a reminder to parents to come out and support the local school.

We arrived a couple minutes ahead of schedule, and before the mass exodus of children, a lady pulled up curbside and walked towards the door, phone in hand. I overheard her saying these words as she passed me: “[desperation in her voice] My husband is in surgery, and I literally have no one here.” The voice on the other end [speakerphone] replied: “I know. I wish I were there.” To which the mom passing me says: “I wish you were here too.” She then disappeared inside the school.

The Cow and I began walking towards the other end of the parking lot to greet the bus line, just as she reappeared with her elementary-aged child. She situated her daughter in their vehicle and opened her door to leave. That’s when I seized the opportunity to make a difference.

“Hey! Did I hear you say your husband was in surgery?” She stopped, looked up and proceeded to tell me that he was indeed in surgery and that it’s been an awful day. I then told her that we were providing dinner for her family that evening. Anything she wanted. Nugget tray, wrap tray, fruit tray…. anything. I gave her my number and told her to text me with the order, along with where she needed it, and what time she needed it delivered.

As she stood there crying, I placed my arm around her and told her this is what we do. We look for opportunities to be there for people. To be a blessing. To make difference in people’s lives. She then then told me she is so very thankful for Godly people in her life. Interesting! She did not know I was a Christian. I reached out to her in a time of need, and I was wearing a Chick-fil-A uniform… but how interesting – equating what I did to Godliness.

That has a lot to do with why I want to be a Chick-fil-A owner/operator. We do what we do to the Glory of God. It’s in our Corporate Purpose. It’s in our DNA. This story is not to pat myself on the back. Not at all. Because I know, with confidence, that given that opportunity, anyone wearing a Chick-fil-A uniform would have reached out. It’s who we are. We are people lovers, and we desire to make a difference in our communities for God’s glory!

She did text me back that evening and asked if she could simply run by the store and order herself since it was close by to the pharmacy for her husband’s meds. That worked out even better because then those on staff at the store were given the heads up and were able to be involved with being a blessing to this family as well. What she probably will never know is how much of a blessing she was to us and our crew. It keeps us keeping on! #JustTruett  

 

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Encouragement. It does a soul good.

Chick-fil-A President and CEO, Dan Cathy, often asks groups this question: “How can you tell someone needs encouragement? They are breathing!” Everyone needs encouraging. That’s just how we all are wired. It provides that “oomph” to keep on keeping on.

I love encouraging people, and I have a keen awareness that people need it. Why? Because I need it. Yep. Even with my incredible energy and love of life… I need it. Especially in the middle of this journey that I am on.

Tonight, I received a facebook message from a Chick-fil-A operator in the northeast:

“I wanted to shoot you a quick note and share with you what an encouragement you are. I am thankful and inspired by your optimism, joy and passion. I don’t know too many guys that live life with your level of Christ-centered energy. So thanks. Even on the hard days.”

Wow! Little did he know that I am in the middle of the operator interview process, waiting for the next step to be scheduled. 2016 is up in the air for me and my family, but we serve a God who is in complete control, and a God who gives friends who encourage. Just at the right time.

 

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An incredible opportunity to minister!

June 12, 2013

A lady with 3 kids or so was hit from behind and her SUV flipped over on its side. Not to mention she is 26 weeks pregnant. This happened a mile from our CFA. We were able to run chicken minis and milk to the scene for the little kiddos while the ambulance took mom to the hospital to check on the baby inside. Happy to say all are doing well. Love that we can be there for our community!

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