Robert C Green II .com

I read a very interesting article this morning by Gary North. It was called “The Top Layer of the Cake” (here). This article caught my eye for a number of reasons. The first of those reasons is that I am currently in the middle layer of the cake. I got promoted when my last living grandfather died in December 2007. Since I am now in the middle layer of the cake it would seem that I need to begin working on my legacy. The second reason is a bit more complex.

In May of 2007 I graduated with a Master’s Degree in Computer Science from Bowling Green State University. I was all set to head to Virginia Tech to finish my PhD, but that never happened because, well, I was totally burnt out from pushing so hard the last few years. So time passed, I went through couple of jobs and now work as a web developer at a full service communications firm. I’ve also become a Deacon in my church and have been given the post of Technical Director at the same church. I have a good girlfriend and great community but, truth be told, I am unhappy and this has recently come out in a number of ways. The most obvious of which has been my recent battle with anxiety and anxiety attacks. (It’s funny that God always knows exactly how to get your attention) A result of this has been my re-discovery of who I am and where I should be in order to fulfill God’s will in my life while satiating the desires that He has placed in my heart. In other words, it is time for me to pursue my legacy. The only legacy that I can imagine leaving behind is one that is built around the passions that Christ has placed in my life. Thus, in order to shape my legacy, I must know my passions. What are these passions?

The first of my passions is knowledge. I am a reader. I read ferociously and ravenously. I gather, sift, and sort knowledge constantly. I always attempt to move knowledge into wisdom. I believe in truth above all things and value truth above almost all things. I have no fear in exploring new ideas. I am not afraid to speak the truth when it hurts myself or others (I am trying to get a little more tactful at this ). I believe in knowledge and wisdom and I pursue them with passion.

The second of my passions is education. My passion for knowledge is expressed through sharing. I love nothing more than speaking and writing about what I know. I do not do this to force my opinion upon others. No, I do this in order to make people think. I do this in order to make people question me as well as their own beliefs. I am not afraid of being wrong. I welcome criticism. I want truth, I want it to be known, and I want it to be shared with others. I also believe that education is the single and most powerful means of setting people free or enslaving them. I think we see both of these things in our times. Some set people free through education and knowledge. Others enslave people through half truths and lies. This must stop.

The third of my passions is technology. Let’s be honest – computers are just cool. Programming is just fun. The best thing about technology is applying it to solve new problems in order to help people, further knowledge, and improve society. I will say that I work with technology everyday, but the business world allows little freedom for research and education. My job is sucking me dry. It brings me no pleasure. Work is simply using a cookie cutter approach to produce the same result over and over in order to make the people who pay me some money. This is not my cup of tea. Sadly, this is a passion that I will always have, but I also find it constantly waning in my life.

The fourth passion that I have is economics. Why? Economics effects our lives at every level. It is complicated, it is messy, but there is also a severe amount of truth in economics and these truths are not just simple truths. These truths give us insight into everyday life and how Christ intended this earth and its people to function and interact on a day to day basis. Sadly, this is an area where we have all been lied to for years. Thank you John Meynard Keynes for filling our minds with lies. I truly believe that real economics falls in the realm of Austrian economics and I believe that this type of economic thought must be taught in order to save our society and our world.

Now how do these four passions combine to define a legacy? My legacy will be simple and I believe it can be summed up in a small credo: To Seek, To Teach, To Lead. I will seek the truth always in all things I do. I will not settle for lies and I will not be content when truth does not win out. I will not be silenced but I will speak truth boldy and without fear wether it is in the classroom or in the street or in the workplace. I will always seek more truth and I will not be content to simply know something. I will seek understanding. I will seek to share what knowledge and wisdom that I have with others on any occassion that I can while using as much discretion and tact as is possible.

How does pursuing this legacy translate into real world action:

1. Taking some basic course in economics
2. Being politically active on a continuing basis
3. Continually writing on this blog in order to share ideas, teach others, and to generate debate
4. Attempting to educate church members in Economics
5. Going back to school to finish my PhD (Computer Science, Economics, or Both)
6. Teaching and Researching while in graduate school
7. Teaching and Researching in an University environment once I graduate

So hopefully I’ll keep my life centered on Jesus Christ and this list!

So there you have it: To Seek, To Teach, To Lead! (Petare, Erudire, Ducere!)