By Wayne Nisley

On Saturday evening, we attended Flavors of the Fire in Shipshewana—an outdoor event featuring 125 vendors grilling or preparing food for a crowd that could only be described as massive. The benefit supported Shriners Hospital and Hope House in Fort Wayne, and the vibe was both festive and generous. Each guest was given a plate and turned loose to sample anything they liked. Options ranged from filet mignon, ribeyes, and ribs to bacon-wrapped Oreos, sushi, walleye, and even alligator meat. I sampled several varieties of sushi, and man—it was good for the palate. We walked away full, not just physically, but with a sense of gratitude. It’s encouraging to see so many vendors and visitors rally for two worthy causes.

Looking ahead to July, I’ll be out of the office from the 7th to the 11th for a family camping trip. I do plan to check messages early in the morning, so feel free to leave a voicemail with any requests. I’ll also be taking another week off in August for a second camping trip. Sounds like a lot of camping, but our kids are at the perfect age (8-17) to soak up the memories—and we’re doing our best to make that happen while we can.

That thought ties in perfectly with something Todd Wilson wrote recently. His email really hit home, and I wanted to share it with you here:

Over the last week or so, I’ve been pondering my financial future. It started a couple of weeks ago when my wife and I were discussing how much we’d been spending lately. It just seems we’ve had lots of large, outgoing expenses. Honestly, there’s a little bit of panic when the small pile of loot you have stored dwindles… and suddenly you feel less secure and more stingy. I don’t like that feeling. I was pondering my financial situation and loading the trailer, when this phrase hit me … My peak spending potential.

Backstory – Years ago, I was talking to an old guy (who was younger than I am now) as he shared about his age and job… when he said energetically, “I’m at my peak earning potential.” He meant that he was not washed up, still making lots of money, saving it for the future, and would spend it later. But there was a flaw in his plan. When you save it all for later in life… you don't always care about spending it when you get there. You’re not always able to go on trips, build houses, or have as much fun because of your age/health. You often sit in front of the TV, alone and worried about whether you have enough.

Last week, I realized "I'm at my peak spending potential"… which means I’m at that place in life where I NEED to spend money… because later on I won’t care about having it. I need to spend it on family, memories, and others, NOW. I need to treat everyone to pizza as often as I can, splurge on a trip for the family, or buy that thing that we’ve been talking about for the last decade… because I’m at my peak spending potential. One day soon (you do the calculations), I won’t be able to eat pizza, go on a trip, or care about that 'thing' anymore. I need to spend it now.

Walt Wildman got it. He was an old guy back when I was a young pastor. He was sitting in my office when he told me, “Todd, spend it while you’re young… while you can enjoy it… because when you get older, you won’t care about enjoying it.” He was talking about peak spending potential!

Dad, I don’t know what your financial plan for the future is, but I can tell you with certainty—you’re at your Peak Spending Potential right now. So spend it!

That message hit home. Whether it’s camping with the kids, spontaneous trips, or just saying yes to small things, I want to invest in memories now. We’re not guaranteed the time, health, or energy later. So here’s to spending wisely—on the people and moments that really matter. See you down the road (unless I’m off camping with the kids).

Until next time.

Wayne Nisley, Editor