Dear Friends -
I welcome you to this inaugural edition of my on-line blog. Over the coming months, I will be adding commentaries and blog posts on a series of subjects which, for many, may seem radical. I would like to begin by explaining my purpose in this new direction.
For many years, I lived my life for myself, my needs, my desires and what best suited and served me. I was, like many people self centered and primarily focused and concerned with what was best for me. Having experienced a catastrophic failure in my business, I received a wake up call on many levels. As a result of poor choices, lack of vision, and an inability to submit to the will of God in my life, I was confronted with man I did not like. The face looking back at me in the mirror was not honorable. My character and competency were clearly incongruent with one another. The time for change was upon me, and thanks to the grace and mercy of the Lord Jesus, I was awaked and given an opportunity to make a major course correction.
In late 2008 my life began to unravel and the process of change began. Almost 2 years have passed since that time, and many exciting changes have to happened. So much so, that I almost do not recognize it myself.
In late 2000, I launched a training company to offer leadership development conferences to public safety professionals on a national basis. Life has been exciting and although I enjoyed a limited amount of prosperity, looking back, I can now see that my life was not aligned with the perfect will of God. I was not walking consistent with the purpose of what I was designed for.
For many years I was unwilling to purge myself of the sins of my past. My "thinking" was to cloak myself in a new persona, and the mistakes I made would remain hidden, not realizing that being in the public eye would require that my character must be above reproach. I was unwilling to reveal my past in fear of what people would think of me. Sadly, my unwillingness to be authentic, created a negative paradigm and a quantum leap in the wrong direction.
Self awareness is a wonderful actualization, unfortunately, we cannot make a second first impression. With that said, rather than trying to compensate for past mistakes, I have chosen to live authentically. In doing so, I am writing my biography titled, "My Life - Gods Way"
Moving forward, I have made vastly different choices, and in doing so, I rest easy in knowing that the man I have become today, is the result of my willingness to submit to the will of Jesus. I express these aspects of who I am, not to impress people, but to impress upon anyone who takes the time to know me, that I do not see myself as better than anyone. I see myself as a man who sits at the feet of God willing to become all that he desires me to be.
I am cognizant that people who do not understand my faith, may suggest that i am using God as a crutch, or worse yet, suggest that my decision to pursue the path I have, is an attempt to manifest a a false impression of who I am. To those I say this, test me, prove me out, and allow yourself to know me for who I have become. In the end, what others may say or think of me, is of little consequence, as I am a child of Christ and a citizen of Heaven, I serve one Master, and to him I remain accountable for my life.
I hope that those who will be following my blogs on line at michaelpalazzo.net or here on FaceBook will become faithful readers of my work and posting.
For now,
Michael
