Make a careful exploration of who you are and the work you have been given, and then sink yourself into that. Don't be impressed with yourself. Don't compare yourself with others. Each of you must take responsibility for doing the creative best you can with your own life.
Be very sure now, you who have been trained to a self-sufficient maturity, that you enter into a generous common life with those who have trained you, sharing all the good things that you have and experience.
Don't be misled: No one makes a fool of God. What a person plants, he will harvest. The person who plants selfishness, ignoring the needs of others—ignoring God!—harvests a crop of weeds. All he'll have to show for his life is weeds! But the one who plants in response to God, letting God's Spirit do the growth work in him, harvests a crop of real life, eternal life.
So let's not allow ourselves to get fatigued doing good. At the right time we will harvest a good crop if we don't give up, or quit. Right now, therefore, every time we get the chance, let us work for the benefit of all, starting with the people closest to us in the community of faith.
Galatians 6: 4-10
Today I'm asking for your thoughts, your comments, and your help in understanding some of the things that are on my mind. I'm asking to borrow your eyes for a while. I'm going to write down a few of the things flying around in my head, and if you have something to say about them, please respond with an email or a comment. I promise to keep your thoughts confidential...I just want to know what other people see. OK...here it goes....
1. I think that when people say that they're afraid of change, what they really are is too lazy to change. Not intentionally mind you...just that they may be comfortable where they are, even if they are miserable. I'm not pointing fingers...I'll be the first one to admit that I have that problem a lot of the time. I'm unhappy, but its just easier to stay where I am and complain about it...chalk it up to fear...than to get off of my butt and do something about it. What do you think?
2. Life changes around us...whether we like it or not. Too many people...again, myself included...think that if they can "just do this or that" or " just make it to this or that point" then things will be OK. And they may be for the most part or the accomplishment of a goal. But when you think about who you are today compared to who you were 5, 10, 15 years ago, ask yourself...are you the same? Why not? Was there a pivotal moment that moved you forward or backward? Did you allow that moment to happen or were you too lazy to change? Did you wake up one morning and find that you had been left behind? Did you lose the friends that you needed losing? If not, then what's holding you back? (I do believe that as life changes around us, it's not only natural but healthy to lose people along the way. We may not see it or we may be afraid of it at the time...but I think that in order to become who we were called to be, it has to happen.)
3. What am I reaping...can you tell? Am I being too hard on myself or too easy? What's your opinion? And please don't pull any punches? I'm having a difficult time getting out of the way and letting life happen. I'm asking you to help and to hold me accountable. Paul spoke those words above to the church at Galatia. They are just as valid, if not more so today. I reap what I sow. It's a scary thought, but that doesn't make it any less true. So what do you see?
