It came to me as if it was

a vision from the Lord. It is now crystal clear. . .I

know what year 2000 will look like. Are you ready for the

answer? It will look just like 1999. I know this upsets

many of you, but it is the truth. A lot of us are going

to be disappointed because we will wake up January 1st

facing the same old problems and issues we face

presently.

The past few years have

been prosperous ones for the United States. People making

millions, economic boom, great stock returns and good

times so the headlines make you believe. However, what

I'm seeing is different. To me it looks like many people

are searching-looking for meaning for their lives.

Ironically, it seems those

that are most desperate are those who seem the most well

off. They are the ones with healthy bank accounts, nice

homes, nice cars and good jobs. Many of them in order to

satisfy their search wreck their lives. Instead of peace,

they try to quench their thirst with drugs, alcohol,

leave their families and quit their jobs only to become

more miserable than ever before.

We cannot find peace

through material possessions. I recently attended one of

those success rallies here in Atlanta. One of the

speakers was Evander Hollyfield, the world's heavyweight

boxing champion. His talk was impressive, but what was

most impressive to me is what he told his introducer

behind the stage about happiness.

Happiness is elusive. The

night he won the world's heavy weight championship was

the pinnacle of his career. However, after the crowd went

home he wasn't happy. Some time later, he won another

fight and earned $21 million dollars. That didn't make

him happy either. It wasn't until he started a charity

and starting giving himself and his money away did he

become happy with his life. Money and wealth don't

satisfy.

1999 has been the toughest

year of my life. My mother passed away. My daughter was

caught in the crossfire at Heritage High School. My

oldest daughter left home for college. My father-in-law

spent months in the hospital and lost his leg. Even

through this, I still had hope and I knew "this too

will pass." As the Bible says, I have the

"peace that surpasses all understanding."

How do you find peace and

meaning in your life? When I was a small boy, I worried

day and night about the meaning of life. It seemed the

harder I looked the more elusive it became. I later

learned the meaning of life is not as important as to

what you do to give life meaning. How do you find peace

and purpose?

First you realize there is

a plan for your life-that you do have a purpose. My

father died when I was a young boy and I pretty much grew

up facing life without a father's influence. Fortunately,

I had a scoutmaster who took me under his wing. And when

I reached those rebellious years as a teenager, he kept

me going, gave me direction and was the one responsible

for helping me reach Eagle Scout. Prior to his death, I

told him how much

I appreciated what he did.

He helped give my life meaning and purpose.

Secondly, we are not alone

here on Earth. Regardless of your religious beliefs,

there is an ultimate source of power and hope. You must

accept that on faith. I believe in life after death so I

know that no matter what happens to me there is going to

be a better place in the hereafter.

The year 2000 will bring

great opportunities as well as great challenges. Maybe we

should dedicate the remainder of 1999 and ask ourselves

if our life is heading in the right direction. We then

can begin year 2000 in alignment with truth, true

meaning, purpose and happiness once more.

Free by e-mail/fax: If you

would like a free article on how to keep your business

and life on-course please fax us your name on your

letterhead or E-mail us with the words, "Keeping

On-Course" to 770-760-0581/[email protected].

Gregory P. Smith shows

businesses how to build productive and profitable work

environments that attract, keep and motivate their

workforce. He speaks at conferences and is the President

of a management consulting firm called Chart Your Course

International located in Conyers, Georgia. Phone him at

(770)860-9464 or send an email at [email protected] . More information and articles are

available at www.ChartCourse.com .