ALIVE!!

This post is my first in many months and is dedicated to friends who inspire me in many ways to be ALIVE!

We all know that life itself is sacred by the level of meaning I seek goes beyond this fundamental truth. It delves into areas like friendship, love, family, community, and all the other 'ties that bind' us together as children of God. These 'ties' have always been something I sought more than all other gifts yet have found them to be elusive.

I WANT to feel. To grow, learn, and BE all that I can. As Thoreau put it the famous poem:

I went into the woods because I wanted to live deliberately. I wanted to live deep and suck out all the marrow of life...to put to rout all that was not life; and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived.

I am going into the deep woods of new relationships because I want to LIVE deliberately. I want the depth and - along with my future spouse - I want to "suck all the marrow of life."  So, if you enjoy yelling "YAWP" at a beautiful sunrise, splashing in puddles, watching Broadway productions and 4-wheeling in Southern Utah... I'm the guy you've been waiting for.


For me, LIFE is leading a group of boy scouts in a songfest, helping a teen find faith while gazing at a starfield, watching the sunrise from "Sunrise 'Point" at Bryce Canyon, sitting around campfire and speaking of God or sitting in the Celestial Room with someone I love. It almost always involves someone else but there have been a few precious moments on my own which I cherish beyond any of these for these were the times when, like the servant of Elisha, my "eyes were opened and [I] did see."

I know that only with freedom, purchased through the atonement and our faith in the same, that real LIFE is possible. It has glorious dimensions, and the quest to obtain more is what fires my soul to move forward. As Brother Joseph would say: "Shall we not go forward with so great a cause? Courage Brethren! And on, on to victory."

May the quest for true life - HIS life - inspire us all to take on whatever noble tasks are necessary to obtain "the greatest prize of all." I very much want to meet my future spouse, the greatest woman in the universe, and spend eternity creating life in the lives and hearts of others. It's what I dream of.  It's what the company I founded (samaritan.com) was created for and it's what I dream of every night. To give... more.

-Todd Matthew McMullin (aka Teancum)

Here's to the Future...

I'm a big believer in the future of humanity, the church, the company I co-own, our society as a whole and my own part in it. Our world has far too many cynics and pundits. I prefer action to talk and see many trends that are very exciting.

I had the blessing of being able to give the keynote address at the Oklahoma State Dept. of Human Services conference last month in Oklahoma City. In that presentation I shared a lot of the trends and changes that I see happening globally today, mostly surrounding youth volunteerism. You can read more about it by visiting my blog "New Generations in Volunteerism and Technology." The blog was created as a follow-up for the participants and is being emailed out to them next week because I just finished updating it finally.

As for my personal future I'm seeking "something truly wonderful." The mundane or typical simply will NOT do. I am a revolutionary at heart and seek to marry someone who isn't afraid of being an activist for her own causes (or mine) while also being a mother. Our world needs both, desperately. It's not beyond me to suggest summer vacations in Africa to serve the poor as a family. My daughter Shivonne has done fundraising for several charities there already and gets frustrated with folks who don't see how tragic the world's needs are.

The goal is to see the world for what it is but then dive in with the determination to CHANGE it. My company (see blog entry: "My Profession") is just the beginning and is only one catalyst. I know of many others that just require someone passionate to get behind them and fight for what is right. My favorite quote about the future is:

"Never doubt that a small group of committed people can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has." -Margaret Meade

So, I suppose this blog is an invitation to not only understand me but join me in working side-by-side for the future of our world.

Strengths and Weaknesses

I have plenty of both and get frustrated with people who say otherwise about themselves. If you have something you consider a strength then say so! If you have a weakness then my thinking is "Dang, welcome to the human race, let's make it in to a strength!"

I'm seeking someone who isn't intimidated by either my strengths or weaknesses and just wants to help me grow. I'm really a pretty simple person and like it that way.

Strengths:

- Empathy, understanding and concern for people.
- Most technologies
- Leadership (but NOT management)
- Vision
- Determination
- Positive attitude
- Crisis management
- Real faith (not the wishy-washy crap)
- "Low maintenance" personally. I can do a LOT on practically nothing.

Weaknesses:

- You definitely don't want to be around me when I'm sick. It's not pretty. I can get real cranky if it's bad but usually prefer just to retreat to the bed and read a book. Fortunately, I rarely get sick. :)

- If I'm trying to understand something I tend to ask a ton of probing questions, rapid fire, and I've noticed this really bugs people sometimes. It's just me trying to comprehend something but I need to slow down, have patience, and remember I'm learning from a human being not a computer. They haven't invented the computer that goes fast enough for me.

- I'm not the best cook, snowboarder, or waterskier... though I do try. :)   My outdoor preferences will always be hiking, biking and camping.