The
Holidays were active at the Robinson’s this last year. Kids and
grandkids came and went from Thanksgiving until after New Year’s Day. We
treasured every moment, and welcomed every headlight. But we also rejoiced to
see the last tail light drive out of sight. In each case, the last thing we
said was, “Drive carefully. Have a safe trip.”
A safe trip is good. I want them to stay between the ditches. It’s winter; the holidays. Safety’s an
issue. But my friend and colleague, Arnold Nelson, reminded me one year in his
newsletter that life is not always about “playing it safe.” It’s skimpy
well-wishing to say, “Have a safe trip,” without including, “Have a great
time!” “Enjoy the drive!” Wishing for safety isn’t wishing for very much.
Truthfully, I hope none of us try too hard to have too safe a new year.
I hope we can try for more than that. Abundant living is found elsewhere.
Over the years I’ve read a lot of motivational books; and last week I
re-read the book of Proverbs. Proverbs is as timely as this morning’s
headlines.
There are 31 chapters in Proverbs—just right for reading one chapter a
day, at least in seven of the twelve months out of the year. Here’s a challenge
for you: read a chapter of Proverbs every day this year. Start today. Read
Proverbs 7 today, and each day read the chapter whose number is the same as the
day.
From various sources and resources over the years I’ve collected eight
milestones from Proverbs that can guide our journey into abundant living in
2015.
First:
Travel Light (12:25). An anxious heart weighs a
man down, but a kind word cheers him up. Excess
baggage slows you down. Don’t pack failures, disappointments, worries and
resentments from the past. Stop opening old sores and bad memories. Decide to
forgive. Travel light.
Second: have a plan, but live
one day at a time (6:6-11). Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be
wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions
in summer and gathers its food at harvest. How long will you lie there, you
sluggard? When will you get up from your sleep? A little sleep, a little
slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest—and poverty will come on you
like a bandit and scarcity like an armed man.
On this journey into the unknown we likely will encounter the
unexpected. Have a plan and live responsibly, but ready to improvise on the fly.
Be accountable, but welcome every serendipity.
Third:
Be
Generous (3:27-28). Do not withhold good from those who deserve it, when
it is in your power to act. Do not say
to your neighbor, "Come back later; I'll give it tomorrow"-- when you
now have it with you. A world reeling with greed, intolerance, bitterness,
prejudice, hunger, disease, and cold needs every drop of simple goodness in our
veins.
Fourth: Face Your Problems
with Faith and Courage, Rather Than Avoiding, Resenting or Fearing Them (4:25-26). “Let your eyes look straight ahead, fix your gaze
directly before you. Make level paths
for your feet and take only ways that are firm.” Remember:
because we are children of God, we are family. We don’t have to bear our
burdens or work alone.
Fifth: If You Can’t Change
Your Circumstance, Change Your Attitude (15:16-17). Better
a little with the fear of the LORD than great wealth with turmoil. Better a meal of vegetables where there is
love than a fattened calf with hatred. Sometimes
we may feel we could do better with life if we could start over, somewhere
else. Rather than a new environment, what we need is a new inner life. The
Serenity Prayer of Alcoholics Anonymous is helpful here: “God grant me the
serenity to accept the things I cannot change; the courage to change the things
I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.”
Sixth: the Secret of
Relaxation Is Essential To Health (17:1). “Better a dry
crust with peace and quiet than a house full of feasting, with strife.” Stress endangers both mental and physical health. Inner
quietness is a vital pathway to abundant living. Resources are abundant. A good
place to start is the website, renovare.org.
Seventh: Trust God (3:5). Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on
your own understanding… TRUST. There’s always risk in trusting:
a risk of being let down, being disappointed, betrayed. Trust is risky; not
safe. Trust anyway.
And
Eighth: “Go
For It! Go for The Abundant Life” Even If It Involves Some Risks (14:4). “Where there are no
oxen, the manger is clean; but from the strength of an ox comes an abundant
harvest.” I remember a poster with a picture of a
beautiful tall sailing ship in rough seas, under full sail. The caption said,
“A ship in harbor is safe; but that’s not what a ship is for.”
Don’t
adopt the philosophy of life that says, “You can’t fall out of bed if you sleep
on the floor.” I don’t advocate reckless or irresponsible risk-taking; but
always playing it safe will take the “abundant” out of “Abundant life”
Safe
is good; but it’s far shy of joyous or blessed or merry!
Attributed
variously to at least three different writers, there’s a quote I like so much
that I’ve put it in my Facebook profile: “Life is
not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty
and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside thoroughly used up,
totally worn out and loudly proclaiming, ‘Wow! What a ride!’”
That’s how I see it through the flawed glass that is my
world view.
Together
in the Walk,
Jim
No comments:
Post a Comment