2025-07-21: Gary Sheng & Jackson Sarter - Spiritual Journey & Faith in Tech

Participants

• Gary Sheng: Former Google engineer, currently focused on spiritual alignment and kingdom building
• Jackson Sarter: Licensed therapist, barbershop consultant, social worker, tech sales professional

Connection Context

Jackson reached out to Gary through Marcus (mutual Morehouse connection). Marcus had encouraged Jackson to connect, suggesting alignment in their spiritual journeys and shared experience as believers in tech.

Key Themes Discussed

Personal Introductions & Life Situations

Jackson opened by noting travel delays from Austin and asking about Gary's marital status. When Gary confirmed he's unmarried with no kids, Jackson quipped: "You're a billionaire... you just gotta worry about yourself, bro."

Jackson shared his family situation: married with a 13-year-old daughter with Down syndrome, describing her as having "a mind of a three year old with an attitude of a 13 year old." He works in tech sales (4+ years, longest-standing sales director) while seeking transition to senior strategy roles.

Jackson's Professional Background

Jackson detailed his extensive background in social economic development:

• Master's in Social Work from Washington University in St. Louis
• Created programs for Equifax focusing on financial education and workforce development
• The Barbershop Project: Initiative connecting barbershops to community economic development
• Experience in corporate social responsibility and venture capital consulting

Gary's Background & Activism

Gary shared his transition from Google Cloud engineer (4 years) to activism and spiritual focus:

• Worked with Shaun King on police brutality awareness (expressed current disillusionment with King)
• Claims his page raised awareness for Philando Castile case with "100 million views or something"
• Describes this period as beginning his "journey in faith" and questioning everything

Sobriety & Recovery Journeys

Jackson's Recovery: 9+ years sober, found God through Alcoholics Anonymous. Key quote: "I found God in the rooms, just by experience." He emphasized how AA helped him recognize he was "selfish... dishonest... self-seeking" before he even picked up a drink.

Gary's Sobriety: 6 years without alcohol, decided independently to stop. Currently transitioning away from psychedelics use.

Spiritual Theology & Biblical Interpretation

Jackson's Approach: Self-identifies as "metaphysical Christian" who believes "the Bible is sometimes taken too literally." Views biblical progression as "Old Testament... to New Testament was from lower consciousness to higher consciousness."

Key influence: "The Sermon on the Mount" by Emmett Fox - described as life-changing for understanding Christianity.

Gary's Approach: Recently reorienting life around "what will please God" - acknowledges this sounds "weird" to most people. Questions how people can "sell your soul to the devil" while believing in eternal consequences.

Challenges of Faith in Tech Industry

Both discussed difficulty maintaining spiritual focus in secular tech environment.

Jackson: "When you're in tech sales... sometimes at the last week of the month, my main focus is just selling to hit quota to keep my job." Notes barbershop industry parallels music industry culture with widespread substance use.

Gary: Observes "real, just love for money" as default in tech space. Believes "evil people control the world" and anticipates coming "God wave that's going to sweep the country."

Spiritual Partnership & Community

Jackson emphasized his spiritual accountability relationship with Marcus: "That's my accountability spiritual partner, my innovation spiritual partner... we're on the same page... as far as kingdom building."

Both expressed value of having fellow believers to discuss faith with. Jackson noted: "I don't get to have these conversations with other people."

Energy Protection & Relationship Boundaries

Jackson: "I go by energy, right?... but it's really the Holy Spirit." Practices boundary-setting: "If I don't have to be around people, especially people I don't like, I'm not going to."

Gary: Described "slowly like shifting my ship as if I'm a cruise ship" - changing life direction and "cutting people out" who don't align spiritually. "I'm not gonna reach out to this guy... I'm not gonna go out of my way to bring them into my world."

Fatherhood & Divine Reflection

Jackson powerfully described seeing God through his daughter with Down syndrome: "I see God when I look at her, bro... her smile brightens up my... I don't care what I'm going through. When I see her smile, it just melts my heart."

He connected this to childlike faith: "My daughter can shit on herself and walk with confidence and simultaneously. She knows that I'm gonna love her no matter what."

Views on Current Cultural Moment

Brief discussion of Diddy situation - Jackson knew someone who was Diddy's barber, expressing shock at revelations. Gary mentioned knowing someone "that was hired... to have sex" at Diddy parties.

Both see current times as spiritually significant transitional period requiring discernment.

Marriage & Life Timing

Jackson shared wisdom on marriage timing: Got married at 36-37, noting "I needed maturity to get married... Not all flowers bloom at the same time. Not everybody gets Christ at the same time."

Gary expressed intentionality about partner selection, noting difficulty of "living completely different realities" with non-believers versus those "that has fully bought it."

Family Spiritual Backgrounds

Jackson: Parents were believers, though he wasn't raised in church. Mother (deceased) introduced him to metaphysics. Father has "extreme faith." Going to church was initially "embarrassing because we only went for weddings and funerals."

Gary: "My parents are not there at all" regarding faith.

Key Philosophical Insights

On Spiritual Growth

Jackson: "That's the growing pains, bro... Me and Marcus are trying to live in 4D, 5D, but we still have to remain in 3D."

On Biblical Timelessness

Jackson: "The things that we look at now... this was written thousands of years ago and it still applies today... there's nothing different under the sun."

On Divine Love vs. Favor

Jackson: "God loves me no matter what. Now, can I be out of favor with God? Yeah... But he never stopped loving me." Used earthly father analogy to explain the distinction.

On Life Purpose

Gary's central question: "If you believe that there is a God... and that you are being basically judged for your actions on Earth... Why do you sell your soul to the devil?"

Connection Outcome

Both expressed appreciation for the spiritual dialogue and mutual understanding. Jackson noted the rarity of such conversations and their value in navigating faith within secular professional environments.

Tags

#spiritual-journey #faith-in-tech #recovery #AA #metaphysical-christianity #kingdom-building #marcus-connection #barbershop-consulting #sobriety #parenting #down-syndrome #energy-protection #biblical-interpretation