It's within the pages of a book that I find a force stronger than any drug I could imagine.
I can be anyone-a peasant struggling to keep her family feed with her meager earnings, or a mother doing the routine life , or a duchess who wears the jewels that catch the sunlight a million ways yet struggles to learn they don't define her, or an orphan going the disjointed disbelief of being alone.
I can be anywhere- a dirty shack cooking over an open fire, on a trail west in a wagon, revisiting the vineyards of Italy or retracing my steps through the Barcelona museums.
I can be anything- the linguistic lover, changing languages as easy as changing carbon dioxide to oxygen, or a doctor who fights the Spanish influenza pandemic, or the war nurse who stitches up one victim after the other or the leader of the stagecoach bandits stealing the wealthy victims jewels.
I can feel any emotion- anticipation, loss, love, heartache, joy, victory, peace, strength, reconciliation.
Once caught within its grasp, turning anyway becomes a matter of mind versus will. The mind keeps turning-imagining the next sequence of events; while the will demands you set the book aside for greater responsibilities-those of reality.
Some days I win, others I succumb. It isn't a matter of failure but rather a test of maturity. What do I value? Sleep? A walk down memory lane? Growing My relationship with God?
Sunday, April 14, 2013
Tuesday, April 2, 2013
Motivations
What's your motivation?
Arguably we like to claim pure motives, religious cause, social justice, or however we want to be seen by others. But what is that split second thought that slips through your mind when you don't want to do something, but convince yourself to? "Oo, I hope I get a pay raise." "Hmm I smell an overdue promotion, maybe this will help my boss to see it too." or "I'm a great leader, others need to realize it too."
When our motives are all self promotions, visions for one's life, and how to work my way to heaven, Frustration is inevitably the end result. Not to mention burnout, anger at God, disunity and offense.
What happens when you are working in a place with no raises, no promotions, and the only leadership opportunities means more serving; or working with that mentality?
This is a kingdom work: God's Kingdom.
He calls you and me to work without thought to self-originated goals and recognition, but in line with His plans and under His authority. In being a leader, whether spiritual or not, we are to lead by an example of service to others, without our own agenda clouding our thoughts. Christ was the perfect example of leading by serving, and not according to his agenda, but according to the agenda of the Father.
Proverbs 3:5-7a "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes."
Arguably we like to claim pure motives, religious cause, social justice, or however we want to be seen by others. But what is that split second thought that slips through your mind when you don't want to do something, but convince yourself to? "Oo, I hope I get a pay raise." "Hmm I smell an overdue promotion, maybe this will help my boss to see it too." or "I'm a great leader, others need to realize it too."
When our motives are all self promotions, visions for one's life, and how to work my way to heaven, Frustration is inevitably the end result. Not to mention burnout, anger at God, disunity and offense.
What happens when you are working in a place with no raises, no promotions, and the only leadership opportunities means more serving; or working with that mentality?
This is a kingdom work: God's Kingdom.
He calls you and me to work without thought to self-originated goals and recognition, but in line with His plans and under His authority. In being a leader, whether spiritual or not, we are to lead by an example of service to others, without our own agenda clouding our thoughts. Christ was the perfect example of leading by serving, and not according to his agenda, but according to the agenda of the Father.
Proverbs 3:5-7a "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes."
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)