Among family a few nights ago we were discussing the fact we all had some sort of “hang-up.” Sounds like a fight just waiting to happen, but it was actually very insightful for me. The observation and wisdom about my “hang-up” was: “You’re scared you won’t be significant in life.” BINGO! I was stunned at the laser-guided, pin-point accuracy. However, after thinking for a few days I have concluded we are all worried we “won’t be significant in life.”
Our modern dilemma is we have way too much to live with and not near enough to live for. No one is exempt at any age, although in our younger years we may not recognize it as such. This question of life’s purpose has been around, at the very least, since humankind was kicked out of the Garden of Eden. With our modern western world we have so many choices of opportunities we want to pick the one that gains us the most. Without significance or purpose we all begin to wither away.
It is not enough that any of us can just live, but rather we have to live for something. Somehow, God has placed it in our hearts that we want to live for something bigger than ourselves. Unfortunately, we taint that desire and think something bigger is just material achievement. We sell ourselves to find that happy place and yet all the while we are unhappy. Walker Percy, an American author, wrote, “You can get all A’s and still flunk life.”
Am I worried I won’t be significant? You bet I am. I desire to understand what God wants for me and what my role is in affecting everything around me. I want to live life to the fullest possible extent and yet not waste a breath on anything not worth while. I want to spend every possible moment with my wife and daughter. I want to have meaningful relationships with friends and family. I want to turn the world towards Jesus Christ through everyday living. I want to live and leave a legacy that prompts other people to do the same.
Where do you find your significance? Are you even looking?
Moving mountains – albeit, one rock at a time,
Pastor Matt
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Tools
I took a break from this blog for about 6 weeks but it is time to get back in the routine of life. Just a few weeks ago I was at my dad's house and he gave me the gift of an entire set of tools. Of course they were Craftsman. Why buy anything else? I have many tools already, but as far as wrenches, sockets, and nut-drivers go I could now be a "walk-on" to an Indy car pit crew. Top it off with the fact they are from my dad! I am almost ready to break something or go buy something that needs major assembly just to be able to use my stuff.
As I was putting everything away I said to my daughter that I had all the tools to handle anything. Of course in my head I was thinking I really needed more; like a Craftsman Professional 8 in. Bench Grinder, Variable Speed of course because you just never know when you're going to need it...just kidding. My real thought to myself was, "Do I really have all the tools I need to get through life?" I decided I did because I have the salvation of Jesus Christ, the love of God the Father and the working presence of the Holy Spirit in my life. I have God's Holy Word, inclusive of instructions for every event in life and even in death. But with my faith, like a huge bench grinder, do I really know what I am doing with it or how to use it for all it is worth?
Then I found a very old handheld tool kit with a mini-socket set inside that my dad gave me years ago that was his dad's. It hit me: tools passed from one generation to the next. Suddenly I thought about the things my mom taught me growing up about faith and how to treat people. Then how my dad always told me to do my best if I was going to do anything at all. I thought about lessons learned from a very loving sister and a brother who worked really hard and learned from the life of hard-knocks. I thought about what I learned from my grandparents, cousins, aunts and uncles, friends, teachers, co-workers, employers, people in the community and even strangers. I thought about my wife and daughter changing my life. I thought about faith practices handed down to me, successes and failures and the lessons learned through it all.
That's how Jesus still teaches us. Faith directly from him, yes; but also faith handed down from generation to generation, from peer to peer, friend to friend, and even stranger to stranger.
So the anser is: Yes, I do have all the tools I need. The question is do I know where I stored them and do I know how to use them? How about you?
Moving Mountains - albeit, one rock at a time,
Pastor Matt
As I was putting everything away I said to my daughter that I had all the tools to handle anything. Of course in my head I was thinking I really needed more; like a Craftsman Professional 8 in. Bench Grinder, Variable Speed of course because you just never know when you're going to need it...just kidding. My real thought to myself was, "Do I really have all the tools I need to get through life?" I decided I did because I have the salvation of Jesus Christ, the love of God the Father and the working presence of the Holy Spirit in my life. I have God's Holy Word, inclusive of instructions for every event in life and even in death. But with my faith, like a huge bench grinder, do I really know what I am doing with it or how to use it for all it is worth?
Then I found a very old handheld tool kit with a mini-socket set inside that my dad gave me years ago that was his dad's. It hit me: tools passed from one generation to the next. Suddenly I thought about the things my mom taught me growing up about faith and how to treat people. Then how my dad always told me to do my best if I was going to do anything at all. I thought about lessons learned from a very loving sister and a brother who worked really hard and learned from the life of hard-knocks. I thought about what I learned from my grandparents, cousins, aunts and uncles, friends, teachers, co-workers, employers, people in the community and even strangers. I thought about my wife and daughter changing my life. I thought about faith practices handed down to me, successes and failures and the lessons learned through it all.
That's how Jesus still teaches us. Faith directly from him, yes; but also faith handed down from generation to generation, from peer to peer, friend to friend, and even stranger to stranger.
So the anser is: Yes, I do have all the tools I need. The question is do I know where I stored them and do I know how to use them? How about you?
Moving Mountains - albeit, one rock at a time,
Pastor Matt
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