There are so many directions life can take a person, it's overwhelming to think about concentrating on one area. Even holding a few directions together becomes a task beyond what most can control. There must be an objective in life. What is the most important thing you can do or want to do? I think when we look into it more sincerely, we come to wondering what it is we should want to accomplish in life.
Accomplishment is a vital part in the human life. I truly believe that we all want to accomplish something, we want to be known for or at least remembered for something. I also think that because we are more than simply creatures on this planet, being the best ball player or best actor/actress is minor in what we seek. These are all part of the big picture, they don't really capture the whole drive a person has in life, the drive that tells us deep inside that there must be more to this life than simply living it. We want impact! We want to be a positive impact on our family, neighborhood or community or more! Even as we look to the last elections, I want to hope that those elected have more in mind than simply being elected. I hope that they want to be known and remembered as a person who has made life better for others. Accomplishment seems only possible though if there is a focus in life, a concentration of energy and effort. Where do we focus our effort to impact those in our area of influence, those with whom we have contact? I think even being a pastor is only part of the bigger picture just as being a chaplain in the Army is only part of the whole. There has to be more than simply running through the gates of the status quo for any given occupation or vocation. There has to be more to life than that!
While focus seems to give the idea of what I'm looking for in life, it still doesn't crystallize the idea I am looking for with life. Focus has the idea of direction and emphasis. This is good but only part. We need to include foundations and stability and consistency and solidness. When I think of focus I think of one direction at a certain point in the distance. Life has to be lived in a complete 360 degree circle from me to as far as eternity! I need to be ground zero, letting the waves of my intent ripple through all of my life. A driving force in life that impacts all my movements, all my energies, everything I am everyday!
Ok, so I guess this is where I get in trouble. I understand the expected answer to this issue is Jesus! I know that but, and please bear with me but Jesus is the short answer to a bigger question. Time to explain........
What do you think of when I say "Jesus"? I don't know what you think when I mention His name but I know what I think of.... I think of God in human form who walked this earth as the Word of the Father to humanity. Now maybe you see the challenge. Jesus means so many things to so many people from those who truly believe to those who just laugh at the idea. But really, I think Jesus is so much more than what I could ever try to write down, and probably so much less than some may want to write down.
I believe its the "motivation of Jesus" that's the key! By motivation I am trying to get everyone to think of what made Jesus get up every day and face the world He saw and those who walked in it! I'm speaking of the human side of Him.... the side of Him that offered the question to the Father, "If possible, please take this cup from me!" The side that arrived at the Temple and got angry at those profiting from the system....the side that cried when He heard His friend Lazarus was dead....the side that loved, laughed and felt all those things, those feelings, those challenges of life that we face every day! That, or those things are what make up life and are what we need to show every day! The emotion, compassion, empathy and love. The part of Jesus that made Him like us...His humanity!
There's that saying "No one cares how much you know until they know how much you care." And when it comes to caring for a person, it becomes an everything everyday situation. Our emphasis needs to continue to be on caring, and caring as completely as possible for those around us. I believe that's how Jesus lived and I believe that was His intent all along. He knew that unless people knew of His love they would never accept Him as God. That's seen through the Gospels. That's seen at the cross.
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