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Xavier Mendoza • April 19, 2021

A bag of beans. Air in a tire. Ammo in a box. Paint in a can.

The ingredients in these containers do not develop into anything. Someone, or something, in a factory puts beans in a bag, and later, you get beans out of the bag. You put air in the tire and slowly over time, air leaks out. Ammunition in a box doesn’t do anything on its own, despite what some people think. Paint in a can….well, you get the idea.

In Matthew 25: 14-30, we’re offered The Parable of the Bags of Gold. To summarize, a man is planning to take a long journey. He gives three of his servants some bags of gold, to each a different amount. Five, two, and one bag to be exact. I’ll skip to the third servant who takes his one bag of gold, digs a hole in the ground, and buries it out of fear of his master. What a safe thing to do. Simple. Comfortable. Dig a hole, stuff the bag in it, and it’s safe until his master returns. Sound familiar?

The other two servants took their bags of gold and did something with them. We don’t know exactly what, but that’s not the point. The point is they were allowed to make something more out of what they’ve been given. They know their master is going to expect something more than simply returning what he gave them.

Back to the green beans, air, ammo, and paint. 

These things don’t develop into anything on their own. With intentionality though, they are used to make something or do something great. With planning and action, they have a future. A bag of beans in the hands of a chef becomes baked beans (with bacon, of course). Air in a tire helps get you to your destination. Ammo when in the gun and the hands of a skilled marksman, becomes a great competition. Paint in the hands of an artist becomes a masterpiece.  

In everything we do, we must be intentional. We must take action and use the gifts and the tools God has given us to live a fulfilling life.

At True North Man, we talk a lot about purpose; defined as “the reason for which something is done”. This implies and requires action.

Someday God will ask us what we’ve done with the life He gave us…. what will your answer be?

– Paul Beam

Alignment

By Paul B • March 29, 2025
Rise with Purpose, Live Honorably, Lead Courageously, Love Unconditionally

Acquisition & Action

By Paul B • March 25, 2025
Acquisition & Action: Discovering the Power of Intentional Inaction

3 Step Vision Casting

By Paul B • March 23, 2025
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𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐔𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠…. 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥 𝐘𝐎𝐔

By Paul B • March 23, 2025
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SIlence the Noise

By Paul B • March 23, 2025
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Owning Peace

By Paul B • March 23, 2025
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Identity Crisis

By Paul B • March 23, 2025
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Who Am I

By Paul B • March 23, 2025
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A Period of Agony

By Paul B • March 13, 2025
Sit In It… Experience It… Learn From It Some days, sadness feels overwhelming, almost tangible, as if it’s trying to teach us something we’ve yet to learn. Today, I find myself in such a moment—sitting in sadness, letting it wash over me, tears coming unbidden. I don’t often linger here, but today, I feel compelled to sit with it for a moment. Why? I can’t quite pinpoint it. Perhaps it’s a deep longing to be better—better than I was, better than I am, better than I ever thought I could be. Or perhaps it’s the weight of realizing I haven’t always lived up to the man I’ve aspired to become. It’s easy to catalog the ways I could have been more: more kind, more patient, more compassionate, more present. I could have been more diligent, more understanding, more thoughtful. I could have loved more—deeper, better, and with more intention. The adversities of life have often distracted me, frustrated my purpose, and shifted my focus inward when I should have been outwardly focused on others. And yet, as much as regret can pull us into despair, perhaps sadness has its own purpose. Perhaps sadness invites us to pause, reflect, and grow. Sitting in sadness doesn’t have to mean wallowing in it. It can mean experiencing it, letting it teach us, and learning from it. Perhaps the tears and the ache remind me of what I do not want to be. They remind me of the kind of man I should be and the man I still desire to become. Sadness can become a teacher if we let it—a mirror that reflects not just the brokenness but also the possibilities. Maybe it’s here to show me that I can still be kind, compassionate, patient, and empathetic. That I can still learn to be more present, more thoughtful, and more loving. Maybe sadness is enabling me to see through the smoke, guiding me toward clarity and a deeper understanding of myself. As hard as it is, perhaps I’m meant to sit in this sadness for a moment. To let it shape me into someone who can better serve others, help them feel seen, and guide them toward joy, peace, and fulfillment. So today, I sit with it. I experience it. I learn from it. And when the sadness lifts, I’ll emerge as someone more thoughtful, more loving, and more attuned to the needs of others.  Because maybe that’s the purpose of sadness—to deepen our humanity, broaden our capacity for love, and remind us of the human we’re striving to become.

Be More Intentional

By Paul B • February 25, 2025
For the first 32 years of my life, I wandered aimlessly. Every road I took seemed to end in a dead end. I jumped from job to job, 👎🏼 Unsure of what I wanted. I surrounded myself with the wrong crowds, 👎🏼 Trying to fill a void. I chased shortcuts to success, 👎🏼 Without even knowing what success truly was. Man, I was a mess. The Good ✅ Through it all, I learned some hard lessons. I developed grit, fortitude, and determination. The Bad ❌ It took me 32 long years to start living in a way that was honorable, respectable, and positively progressive. I’m grateful for both—the lessons and the journey—but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t wish I’d figured it out sooner. I know there are other men out there who’ve felt—or are feeling—the same: Frustration, Heartache, Fatigue, Confusion, Defeat. If that’s you, hear me out. Over the past eight years, I’ve learned one powerful truth: Success, money, jobs, friends… none of it really matters until you’ve figured out one thing— 👉🏼 WHO YOU ARE. This was the missing ingredient for me for so many years. And I know it’s the missing ingredient for so many other men right now. Maybe it’s what you’re missing, too. Do not let this be the thing that continues to hold you back from the progress, fulfillment, and purpose you’re seeking. Here’s what I want to share with you: One of the frameworks that helped me uncover WHO I AM. It’s simple. But it’s not easy. It requires time, diligence, and a willingness to dig deep into your heart and existence. But it works. Use it. Don’t procrastinate. Don’t let another dead end stop you. Because here’s the truth: everything good, honorable, trustworthy, noble, and praiseworthy in life flows from one place—WHO YOU ARE at your core. The D.E.S.I.G.N. Framework: This framework is designed to help you identify your unique makeup: Drives: What excites you? What fires you up? Experiences: What unique experiences have shaped you into the man you are today? Spirituality: How do you best connect with God? Impact: What arena do you feel most compelled to influence or contribute to? Genius: What are the things you do repeatedly, successfully, and joyfully? Nature: What’s your personality? Are you more extroverted or introverted? Do you thrive in structure or spontaneity? This is simply a starting point. But starting is key. If you need help working through this or figuring out your next steps, don’t hesitate to reach out.  Your journey starts with YOU. Don’t wait any longer to uncover who that is.
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