The past 2 years of my life have been filled with transition. I graduated from college and got married. I've moved 3 times. I've had 3 different jobs with 2 different companies. Oh, and my wife and I are expecting a baby girl in March. Each time it seems like one thing becomes stable, something else starts to shift. As a result, when I look back at this time, it seems as though I've just been trying to weather the storm. You know, just trying to get by. It was so easy to look at all the transitional things in my life and say, "Just wait until all this is over. Once all of this is stable, then I can really focus on moving forward." There's just one problem with this mindset.
This isn't a storm.
This is life.
When I look at my life now, especially compared to what it's going to be in 2 months, it's as easy as it's gonna get for the foreseeable future. It's a sunny day on the calm seas. To think my life has been a storm is a joke. Actually, it's an excuse. I spend so much time trying to convince myself and the people around me that I'm busy, that I have a lot going on.
Why?
To lower the bar.
You see, if people think my life is crazy and chaotic, they expect less from me. "Oh yeah, I'm just really busy right now." That's why I didn't return that phone call. That's why I haven't cleaned out the gutters. That's why the budget isn't done this month. That's why I've been leading my family. That's why I haven't been pursuing my wife. That's why I haven't been loving God or loving my neighbors. You can see how lowered expectations on the small things bleed into the big things. And that's just what I want. It's much easier that way. If everyone expects very little from you, then you can get by on doing very little.
But I'm here to tell you, there is nothing to be gained from doing very little.
This life we have, it's beautiful. This life was purchased at a great price. We weren't meant to get by on the minimum. Each of us were created to be great, to do amazing things, to live a full life. And when you try to "weather" this life, to just get by doing as little as you possibly can, you're missing out. You're not making yourself look better. You're hurting yourself, selling yourself short, keeping yourself from reaching your full potential. Nobody wins when you lower the bar.
What we need is a shift in perspective. The New Year is a natural time to make resolutions, and this is one of mine. I will no longer "weather the storm." I understand things are consistently changing and they may seem crazy at times, but that is the life we live. Jesus says in John 10:10, "I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." I choose this life. Not the one full of excuses, of just getting by, of waiting for things to change. I choose life to the fullest. And from this, I expect a lot of hardship, a lot of joy, a lot of pain, and a ton of growth. Life to the fullest isn't easy, but it is worth it. And I encourage you to make the same choice. Choose to live fully my brothers and sisters.
