Take a Flying Leap!

Resolutions?

As a new year approaches, it is customary to consider our goals for the future. Many people engage in the ritual of setting New Years Resolutions. Notice I didn't say keeping resolutions, but many people find it very important to set them. This often leads people to the conclusion that setting goals is a waste of time. There are countless books and articles written on setting goals, so for the purposes of this post, I want to consider what is required for making those changes we want in our lives.

Might As Well Jump!

If you just finished the chorus of the Van Halen song from the 80's then you've dated yourself, but really, why not jump? Too often we stand by watching life pass us by wishing we could take part. So why don't more of us take the risk to jump in, to take a chance on something crazy, change our lives? FEAR has been called false evidence appearing real, but is it really false? What if I make the commitment to lose that weight and I fail? What if I go for that promotion and don't get the job? What if I try to get that business off the ground and it flops? What if, what if, what if...

Here is the answer to all of those doubting questions... if the only consequence you will face is the uncomfortable feeling of not succeeding, what have you really lost? You already have the excess weight. You already don't have the promotion. You already don't have a successful business. What have you lost if you try. The real truth is that the only way to fail, is not to try at all.

Dyno-Might!!

I've never been rock climbing before. In fact I've never considered rock climbing before, but I recently heard about something that sounds RIDICULOUS. It's a crazy rock climbing move known as a dyno. A dyno is when a rock climber jumps up, sometimes several feet, in order to reach a hold that would other wise be out of reach. This is a very risky move, but it can be a quite effective way to move forward when a climber might otherwise be stuck.

Maybe that's what we need to consider, just take a risk and go for it!

Leap of Faith

With all of this in mind, I have decided to rename this blog going forward. What big thing have you always known you should attempt? Is there someone you have had a falling out with that you should resolve? Then in 2010 resolve to take that Leap of Faith!

So Much for Fairy Tales

"Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows." - Jesus
John 16:33a

Wow, really Jesus? Man what a downer!! I can just hear the thoughts of His disciples. Here was their leader, teacher, Rabi... heck He had even revealed Himself as Messiah by this point. The disciples must have been quite confused; here they are walking and talking with their Savior, and yet He tells them that they will have trials AND sorrows. More than that, they will have MANY trials and sorrows.

At the time when He uttered these words, Jesus was nearly finished with His Earthly ministry. The betrayal of Judas was upon Him and Jesus knew that the disciples were about to encounter the biggest trial of their lives. In fact in the previous verse, Christ tells them that they will be scattered, leaving Him alone.

In short order, Jesus' followers indeed find themselves in the midst of struggle and sorrow. Their hopes of Jesus establishing a new kingdom on Earth where they were to rule and reign must have seemed a fairy tale. "How could anything good come of this?" They must have questioned. It's apparent that they felt this way based upon their reactions; they ran, hid, scampered away like scared kittens.

But we have a luxury they didn't have, Christ's word written down. We need to take a minute to examine what Jesus said a little closer. While He certainly warned us that we would have trials and sorrows, it were His next words that we must hold onto in the midst of the struggles.

"But take heart, because I have overcome the world." - John 16:33b

So does your fairy tale seems more like a tragedy? Does your love song sound more like a bad country tune? Just remember dear friend, the last verse hasn't yet been written.

What Pushes Your Buttons?

Recently, on more than one occasion, I have read or heard that a person's true calling and passion in life can often be found in a subject that angers them. So it was quite fitting this past week when I found myself deeply upset as my beliefs were called into question. I found a passion flowing deep from within that I had not experienced for as long as I can remember.

In the ensuing couple of days, I have taken some time to reflect. I felt that some introspection may be called for to determine if my anger was derived from some insecurity in my belief system, or if I had simply responded passionately from a sense of righteous indignation. After all, in reviewing the event, I felt that my response may seem an overreaction given the circumstances. Had I simply "flown off the handle" because I was afraid that the accusation leveled against me had validity?

It has been this time of reflection that has lead me to conclude a couple of things.

1. While I believe that my convictions are founded in historical truth and biblical wisdom, I need to do deeper study and research into that which I believe as to be better able to defend it.

and

2. While I am called to speak the truth in love, I must make every effort to respond to similar challenges with a more mature dialogue.

With these two things in mind, I believe I can be a stronger yet more effective advocate of the principles of which I hold true. And who knows, maybe part of my life's mission was revealed in this situation as well.

Why Are We All Rushin'?

Why are we always in such a hurry? Can someone please answer that question for me? From as early as I can remember I have been in a hurry. In a hurry to get to that next milestone age. To get my homework done so I could go play basketball. To get my drivers license. To graduate. To get a place of my own. HURRY HURRY HURRY!! What's the rush?

I guess as many times as we may have read the story, we still don't get it. You know the one from our childhood; the Tortoise and the Hare. We hurry and jump and flit from this to that, never able to keep ourselves focused on one thing. That's all our friend the Tortoise did you know, just stuck with it. I know it's a silly nursery rhyme, but isn't there something we could learn here?

I have a friend who tells the story of a famously successful business man being interviewed for a magazine. When asked what he attributed to his success, he simply replied "I finish what I start." Of course the interviewer thought he was being funny, but he was simply stating a fact. He had finished what he started, and since he only started things that were worth his time, he was a success.

Let us all learn our lesson from the Tortoise, slow and steady wins the race!

Boring Stuff

I was struck by an interesting thought while watching a "movie" with my family this evening. I use the word movie loosely, because when Disney and Pixar put together an animated flick, it's never Gone with the Wind. But, hey when something resonates it resonates, right? So in the movie UP we find Carl, who from a very young age has his sights set on an adventure of the lifetime.

Now, I never like to spoil a movie for anyone who may have yet to see it, so I won't. But at one point, Carl's young friend Russell says "Sometimes, it's the boring stuff I remember the most." From this simple statement I began to wonder, have we forgotten how to enjoy the boring stuff? I wonder if in our big dreams for the future; our lofty goals and visions of grandeur... have we been waiting for the big opportunity in life while the boring stuff is happening all around us?

Now I may be the last one to the party here, but I know from my perspective, I am doing this all the time. I often feel like Carl, wishing for that big adventure of a lifetime, while a lifetime is passing me by. I think back on the simple pleasures of being a kid; kicking a can down the street, skipping a rock on a pond or riding a bike with no particular destination in mind. With the GO GO GO mentality we seem to face these days, I can't remember the last time I just enjoyed the boring stuff of life. I think that saddens me a little.

I'm not suggesting that we can just totally ignore our responsibilities and goof off for days or weeks on end. But I think we would do better to be on the look out for the small moments when we can get enjoyment out of the boring stuff. I don't want to get to the end of my life and realize that it went by while I was waiting for the big adventure. So, as a new year rapidly approaches, let us all make it a point to go out and try to get our share of the boring stuff of life. We may just find that adventure we were looking for... "there's a red one."

Words Count

Ever notice how relaxed our society has become with language? Of course you have; in this age of texting and instant messages, it seems not a day goes by without hearing someone (and often many someones) hacking up some grammar or using "LOL" in a conversation.

I don't mean to say that we need to speak in King James English, I just wonder if we take our words too casually at times. More importantly, do we take time to ponder the effects of our words on our lives and the lives of those around us? If we say we can't afford something, does that have an positive effect on our ability to afford it in the future? If someone calls them self an idiot in a moment of frustration, does their subconscious mind believe it?

The Bible talks quite a bit about the importance of speaking truth, but what does that mean exactly? If one is not happy with their current circumstances, should they talk constantly about the circumstances and how unhappy they are? This would seem to make sense, if we consider truth as the current condition. But where will this lead us? Will complaining on a consistent basis about our troubles ever lead us in the direction we desire to go?

Examining the earliest accounting of man writing history may give us some insight. In Genesis 1:3 we see that God said "Let there be light." More interestingly though is that in the previous verse, we see that the Earth was "covered in darkness." Obviously when God mentioned light, it was not the current condition at that time. So is the definition of truth as the current condition flawed? When we look at the lack of a desired condition in our lives, is that the truth? If we persist until the condition is realized was the earlier lack false? Can we speak ourselves to a desired outcome?

Certainly telling ourselves we can't quit smoking, or we aren't good at sales will determine that we won't attempt those things. So have we spoken ourselves into an undesired result by default? If so, why can we not reverse the process? What if we all began to determine the things we wanted to do, be and have were possible, and then began speaking as if they were?

Ramblings

Well, I have read that blogging is a good way to get creative juices flowing. So I thought I would give it a try, as I feel my life needs A LOT of creative juice right now.

I find that the more technology I have at my fingertips to make me more "productive", the less productive I seem to be. I wonder what would happen if a study were done taking a group of people accustomed to modern technology, and placed them back a century in the past. Living the way our grandparents or great grandparents did, when people worked the land from dawn to dusk and went to bed tired instead of just bored. It just seems we would find people feeling less restless about life.

Maybe we should all go out and try to get more LIVING out of our lives!