I volunteer for Habitat for Humanity on the weekends. I may not enjoy painting my own house, but I like doing it for others.
What words would you use to describe a short-term mission trip? Perhaps not fun, but worthwhile? Difficult? Significant? Memorable? Exciting?
Adventure
The word adventure sums it up for me. We team up and face challenges, overcome them, and come out the other side having achieved a memorable goal. We rescue people. Maybe someone even gets the girl.
Why do we compartmentalize life? Painting is a chore, but Habitat for Humanity is fun. Preparing a lesson is boring, but a short-term mission trip is a thrill. Playing with the kids is tiresome, but soccer is real football.
It's tempting to grind through life waiting for the next great thing. Besides being tedious, the problem with this is that life today may be a preparation for that great thing, but you're not enjoying it.
Some of us may even find that life itself is that great thing, that it was right in front of us all along, and that we can change the world right where we are.
Whistle While You Wait
Time produces compound growth, both for money and for wisdom. If you save money and wait long enough, you'll eventually be able to fund a great adventure.
In the meantime, think about what makes adventures fun. What can you do to make painting the living room more like Habitat for Humanity? Maybe you can bring in a big group, serve them lunch, and let them debate philosophy while splashing paint on each other.
How can playing with your kids become more like a soccer game for you, not just for them?
What if life is the adventure?
1 comments:
This is how we feel. If we can manage to get the point where we really believe God is out for our good (which seems to come from much suffering and disappointment), life seems to have more promise in the here and now.
Ironically, the more I am able to "be here" and engage and enjoy my current life, the more excited and confident I am about our future plans.
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