Previously I mentioned the process of growing in gratitude towards my garden as well as my life long affinity for rocks of all sorts. There are many things in life such as these, which at first seem unimportant or random or both. The way I met my husband was through a string of seemingly random decisions and circumstances ... Sitting down at lunch with strangers when my college roommate invited me to join her new friends ... one of them inviting anyone interested to attend a Young Life leadership meeting a few days later ... my future husband showing up there looking for a female leader in the town where I lived … and turning up again a week later at a church we were both attending alone and for the first time.
To be honest, I was dating a few of the guys at the frat house across the street from my dorm during that time as well. Eventually I realized that path left me feeling disconnected. None of the cute guys there cared about the same things I did. Why was I dating any of them? I spent hours walking at the nearby park considering what I really wanted: I wanted some true friends for one thing. And I wanted to grow and serve for another. And I wanted a relationship that was founded on like-minded purpose, faith, and commitment - as well as enjoyment. I was also in the marching band. It was a lot of fun, but in the end, I didn't make any lasting friends or lasting love there either. Yet when I stepped out of my comfort zone, at my roommate's invitation to sit with mostly strangers for lunch, an unseen ripple effect began. Through Young Life I eventually ended up developing several deeper friendships and finding the love of my life. Choices can have unexpected results.
Direction will always be key: Heading north from Ohio won't lead to the beaches of N. Carolina - everyone benefits from checking directions and making course corrections. The thing to consider is: What could potentially happen? Where could this path go? Think ahead: Will your future self benefit from the decision/action/courage/perseverance? I'm not encouraging leaping without looking if the risks are high or pointless. What I'm saying is, I have seen the cumulative effects of reaching outside of myself and of building upon the resources I've been given - my abilities and interests. So if reaching goals brings some life satisfaction, doesn't reaching out towards our interests and skills increase our courage and even enthusiasm? Later one may look back to see that all the stones of courage, hope, and effort have built a pathway leading ever higher to the next possibility - and the next.
Break dreams/goals up into possible priorities. For example, typically ideas that can bring in money come before dreams of a trip to Europe - though both are good goals. Break each one down. Which ones are viable for the present? Which ones are for the back burner at this time? Which one(s) is practical enough to begin working on now? What are the next 2-3 steps toward each? Are they within possibility? What will the very next step be? When can it go on the calendar to begin?
Dreams ought to be big enough to be worthy of passion and practice and persevering effort. Invest. Stay invested. Thomas Edison tried over 1000 (!) times before he the the lightbulb right - but, wow, didn't his life light up after that! ;) So. Don't. Quit.
Galations 6:9 (ESV) And let us not grow weary in doing good, for in due season will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
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