John Luke Robertson - Young and Beardless: The Search for God, Purpose, and a Meaningful Life

Young and Beardless

2016 by John Luke Robertson.

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ISBN: 978-0-7180-8790-6

ISBN: 978-0-7180-8970-2 (eBook)

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data:

Names: Robertson, John Luke, author.

Title: Young and beardless : the search for God, purpose, and a meaningful life / John Luke Robertson, with Travis Thrasher.

Description: Nashville : Thomas Nelson, 2016. | Includes bibliographical references.

Identifiers: LCCN 2016005469 | ISBN 9780718087906 (pbk.)

Subjects: LCSH: Robertson, John Luke. | Christian biography--Louisiana. | Television personalities--Louisiana--Biography. | Duck dynasty (Television program)

Classification: LCC BR1725.R618 A3 2016 | DDC 277.3/083092--dc23 LC record available at http://lccn.loc.gov/2016005469

16 17 18 19 20 RRD 6 5 4 3 2 1

To my family, who stands by me through all my craziness and encourages me to reach for the stars. Each one of you has played a role in teaching me to love the Lord with all my heart and in inspiring me to live my dreams. Thank you.

CONTENTS

DAD: Willie Robertson

MOM: Korie Robertson

PAPAW PHIL: Phil Robertson (grandpa, Dads side)

MAMAW KAY: Kay Robertson (grandma, Dads side)

2-PAPA: John Howard (grandpa, Moms side)

2-MAMA: Chrys Howard (grandma, Moms side)

MAMAW JO: Jo Shackelford (great-grandma, Moms side)

PAPAW SHACK: Luther Shackelford (great-grandpa, Moms side)

PAPAW HOWARD: Alton Howard (great-grandpa, Moms side)

MAMAW HOWARD: Jean Howard (great-grandma, Moms side)

UNCLE SI: Si Robertson (great-uncle, Dads side)

AUNTS AND UNCLES: Lets just say I have sixteen who live on the same street as me. But thats not all of them! I have even more who live in other places.

SIBLINGS: three sisters (Rebecca, Sadie, and Bella) and two brothers (Will and Rowdy)

FIRST COUSINS: nineteen and counting

SECOND, THIRD, AND SO-ON COUSINS: too many to count

T he story Im about to tell you was first told to me by 2-Mama, my grandma on my moms side. I have no memory of it, but I trust her to tell me the truth. She says I was about eight years old and was in the car with her on the way to the grocery store. We had just pulled into the store parking lot when I announced that I had learned three things in life. Apparently, at eight I was quite the philosopher.

What have you learned? 2-Mama wanted to know.

I quickly replied, Ive learned that in life you have to work hard, play hard, and expect the unexpected.

2-Mama seemed very impressed, but I wasnt done with my philosophizing.

Do you know which one is the hardest? I went on to ask her.

She claims she was all ears by this point, eager to hear words of wisdom from an eight-year-old.

I proclaimed, The hardest one is expecting the unexpected.

2-Mama has told this story many times. And, I confess, at nineteen years old, as I write this book, Im amazed at how true those words still are.

Looking back on my nineteen years, I hope I have done what I was philosophizing about.

I think I have worked hardIve done well in school, spent my summers helping in mission work and summer camps, helped out in the family business, and even started a business of my own.

I know I have played hardlots of volleyball, card games, tennis matches, hunting trips, and random adventures in the woods.

But what about that last thing I said? Expecting the unexpected. I was definitely right about that point being the hardest one.

How can you expect what you dont expect to happen? It seems an impossible task. I think what I meant then, and what I understand now that Im older and much wiser (), is that surprises, opportunities, tragedies, and plot twists (good and bad) are going to happen in life. Its best to just know that up front... you should expect the unexpected.

I think my eight-year-old self was on to something, and I think it kind of sums up what Im hoping to explore in this book. For a little over a year now, Ive been on a very personal search to know more about God and what He has planned for my life. Its not that I didnt know God before I started this search; I did. But as you read, youll see why this past year was my wake up year. Ive come to understand that God loves to surprise us with the unexpected, and my life journey has been filled with unexpected events. I am honored that you are reading this book and are willing to be a part of my unexpected journeys, but more importantly, I want to challenge you to be alert and ready to expect the unexpected in your life too.

The title of my book is Young and Beardless for two very good reasons. I am young, and I am beardless. All that really means is Im still learning and growing and figuring out my lifes purpose. I guess I could grow a beard, but Im pretty sure it would be a little sparse and not very impressive at this point in my life. But the growth potential of my beard isnt important; the growth potential of my life is. Right now, my life might also be a little sparse and unimpressive, but the journey is just beginning. Gods not done with me yet.

I have to be honest: it would be easy for me to grow content and complacent with my life because I have been blessed with an amazing family who is quite accomplished and loves me just as I am. If I never accomplished one of my dreams, they will love me just the same. It saddens me that this isnt true for everyone. Having love and support from my family has been normal for me, but my wife, Mary Kate, warns, Never let normal become ungrateful. I will add onto that and say, Never let normal become uneventful.