It’s everyday bro.
So often we as Suburban Americans get caught up in the monotonous ways of our everyday life. Sure, most of us contribute to society. But do we contribute to ourselves? We work, we go to school, we go to football games on Friday nights and we go out to eat on Sunday afternoons. But what are we really doing? Or, what are you doing? What am I doing? So many people want to play life safe; they want a cushy, air conditioned life where they can retire at 65. They view life as nothing more than a means to an end. Look- there is nothing inherently wrong with working in an office, raising a small family, and eating at the local Mexican restaurant twice a week. There is nothing inherently wrong with wanting to play life safe. But life isn’t meant to be played safe; life is meant to be an adventure. Life is meant to be a daily battle. I believe there is a reason the suicide rate is so high in the U.S. compared to third world countries- we simply do not live life as an adventure. In fact, our widespread ease of life due to technology has actually harmed us in some ways. We have everything we could ever want, yet nothing we could ever want. We are so in touch yet so distant with each other. We lack meaningful relationships and purpose in our lives. The passion for a purpose we had as children has slowly faded away, and we live our lives as nothing more than animals- just grazing through life with no sense of true direction.
So let’s change that. Let’s become men and women who bravely look life into the eye and face it with inherent risk. Let’s escape our comfort and safety, for it is when we are in the unknown that we are challenged and grow the most. Let us not reach our death bed wishing we had lived a purposeful life; let us live a purposeful life up to our death bed. All this comes with motivation. For me, it is the motivation given to me by Jesus Christ. I believe once someone experiences the love of Jesus, they are immediately given a passion for purpose. And I’m not just referring to the generic purpose of Christianity to evangelize and spread the gospel- I’m talking about the unique purpose and desire God has embedded within you and I. Jesus has motivated us to live a life of something higher than ourselves. Living for Jesus is not supposed to be mundane or boring, yet so many people make it that way. We were designed to live a life of meaning. Life is far more than our school, work, or even family. It is not the big moments that truly count, but the small moments leading up to the big ones. Living a purpose-driven life is an everyday commitment.
So many people fear a life of sweat, blood, and risk. But I say to embrace it. I am no macho man or alpha-male; however, I firmly believe that purpose comes through our darkest tribulations and sufferings. Where would David be if he never faced the giant? Where would America be if a few men didn’t stand up against a tyrannical government?
Look back at your childhood for a moment. What was your passion? Your desire? Your motivation? What did you dress up as for Halloween? Every single human being has a desire and passion for life planted deep within his soul, yet so many refuse to let it grow. So what is it? What fuels you? Yes, the love and strength of Jesus feeds those of us who are Christians. But what is the underlying passion He has given you? If you cannot identify a passion- if you cannot identify that desire burning within you- I’d encourage you to open up your Bible. Spend time alone with God. Let Him speak to you. Let Him unearth the passion buried within you. In the words of Thoreau,
“I went to the woods because I wanted to live deliberately…I wanted to live deep and suck out all the marrow of life. To put to rest all that was not life…And not, when I come to die, discover that I had not lived…”
It's Tough, Dude 