Have you ever known someone who you would consider “very successful?” I mean really know them? I have and because I think about everything, I have realized something about the people that I consider to be successful….they are generous! I’m … Continue reading
So going off my last post which ended with the question “How do we tie ourselves to things?” Remembering these “things” are only temporary and can be either materialistic or immaterial…
You’ve probably heard the expression: “Be careful about your possessions or your possessions will end up possessing you.” Well that is basically what we see happening all the time. Whenever we buy or use or rely on something to achieve happiness, imagine an invisible string shooting out from that “thing” and attaching itself to your soul. So that new car, house, relationship, job, watch, place, or whatever it is for you- it always does the same thing: it exerts a “claim” on you!
We grow up and by the time we’re teenagers we already have hundreds of these strings coming out of us- attaching us to all of those objects. And so we begin to live like a puppet. Our freedom to act in ways that align with our deepest beliefs are restricted to the point where there’s really not much freedom at all. What makes it worse is that we don’t realize it, we’re blinded by all the “things.” We are puppets that don’t even know we are puppets. Atleast Pinnochio knew he wanted to be a real boy!! Now, don’t mistake what I’m saying. Not all things are bad. Some strings are good, some even neccessary. Not all acquisitions are bad. “Things” can be good and there is a place for them in life. Like our health and careers, it’s not that these things aren’t important….It’s just that our priorities are screwed up! Instead of spending 75% of our time on what will really make us happy, and 25% on “things” we tend to do the exact opposite. Most of what we do is about obtaining money, homes, cars, clothes, wine, women, (or men), gadgets, etc.
All i’m trying to say here is that all these things are never going to make us happy, truly fulfilled. If you took all of those things away, you might see that you’re not really as “happy” as what you were aiming for. Nothing here on earth is going to give you lasting peace. It’s just a simple fact. If you base your happiness on anything that the world tells you is important then eventually you’re going to end up being miserable, no matter how good things seem at the moment. We need to forget about the world’s standard of happiness and remember God’s truth! I really like this quote from C.S. Lewis…this is what I’ll end with…
“If you aim for the earth, you will not get it. But if you aim for heaven, you’ll get Heaven and the earth thrown in, too!”
Blessings 🙂
Most people are asleep. We are born asleep, we live asleep, marry asleep, have children asleep, grow old asleep, and then die asleep. Most people today are not real, living human beings, they’re walking zombies. Or to make this personal…”We” … Continue reading
Has there ever been a time in your life where you felt as if you had “arrived?” You know, that moment people talk about working towards when all your hard work has finally paid off. When you’ve finally climbed to … Continue reading
“Although you travel to the ends of the earth: All joy and all suffering originates within your own heart.Thus, do not expect comfort to come to you from afar: True happiness will only prevail if quietly you till your own … Continue reading
Do any of you ever feel like you’re spinning your wheels and going nowhere? Have you ever had a dream so big you don’t even know how to describe it? Ever found yourself at a cross road with two good … Continue reading
Thoughts of the things we give Thanks to…. Continue reading
To forget or not to forget….[When?] is the question. I’ve witnessed the affects of old age on those around me….friends with family members and other loved ones who claimed the title of “Wise old man.” Individuals with rich histories; their … Continue reading
Look at what I found….Come and see! Continue reading
We are not called to live life for life’s sake. We’re called to be awake and alert because a despondent soldier on a dark battlefield could easily get himself slaughtered. I recently came across an excerpt from The Hobbit, and feel like sharing my thoughts on it.
Gandalf the wizard says to the hobbit, Bilbo Baggins: “I am looking for someone to share in an adventure that I am arranging, and it’s very difficult to find anyone.” The hobbit’s reply is “I should think so, in these parts! We are plain quiet folk and have no use for adventures.”
In the movie, the disgruntled Gandalf responds as such: “You’ve been sitting quietly for far too long. Tell me when did doilies and your mother’s dishes become so important to you? I remember a young hobbit who was always running off in search of elves in the woods, who would stay out late and not come home ’til after dark. A young hobbit who would have liked nothing better than to find out what was beyond the borders of the Shire. The world is not in your books and maps- it’s out there!”
I’ve realized we don’t have to literally snore to be sleepwalking. All we have to do is get distracted by “doilies and dishes.” There are droves of lost people beyond the borders of our Shires who need reaching. Adventure awaits us out there, and Jesus is looking the whole world over for people to share in it!
I don’t know if this resonates with you, or where you’re “at in life” currently, but if you’re game for a life worth living, grab your armor on the way out the door. I’ll meet ya on the battlefield.
