Tag Archives: Passion

The world will be different…

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We are called to be world changers, not world chasers.

 

I was touched by the tribute to a dear lady who recently breathed her last on this earth:

 

“The world will forever be different without Mary;
Just as the world is different because of Mary.”

 

This obviously was a tribute that Mary lived. It must have been woven into the fabric of her daily life. The remarkable thing about such a tribute is that it isn’t earned by being perfect, nor by conquering every battle. Such a tribute doesn’t require monumental or earth-shaking accomplishments, at least not the type that make the headlines. I think two words might have summarized Mary’s world-changing life: purpose and passion.

 

I think others saw Mary as a world-changer because she saw her life as having purpose. She had an identity given to her by her Heavenly Father, an identity that must have served as an anchor of faith and hope, a light that shined even into the darkness of pain and sorrow, even when there were no satisfactory answers to the “Why?” questions. Her sense of purpose must have permeated not only her marriage and family, but her friendships and work. I think seeing oneself as having one singular and integrated life is essential to the character and purpose of a world-changer. Life is too big to be compartmentalized into segregated components (my home life, my work life, my spiritual life, etc).

 

I suspect others also saw Mary as a world-changer because of the passion with which she lived her life. She invested herself, pouring herself into the hearts of others. She seemed to me to be totally vested in fighting the fight of her life, giving everything she had to live each day given her and to live it well. At the same time, I suspect she also came to be passionate about the heavenly rest that was waiting for her. It seems world-changers are able to balance these two perspectives, humbly submitting themselves to live with one foot on earth and the other in heaven. True world-changers are less concerned about doing “great things” for God and more focused on doing small things with greatness.

 

Today is not just one more day you are facing. It is not just another humdrum routine. Be a world-changer. Live out your purpose with passion.

 

The world should be different without – and because of – you.

 

“The mouth speaks what the heart is full of.” Luke 6:45

 

 

Belief Trumps Attitude

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I am learning some important lessons in this journey. For example, as strength varies throughout the day and when appetite diminishes, I learn to eat my ice cream FIRST! 🙂

I have heard many folks say we have good spirits or a strong attitude in the face of this cancer. The simple truth is this:

“Our gospel came to you not simply with words, but with POWER, with the Holy Spirit, and with DEEP CONVICTION. The word of God is AT WORK in you who BELIEVE.” 1 Thessalonians 1:5,13

None of us get this right all the time. We all get distracted. (For example, getting up the courage to eat was sometimes a struggle for me during the chemo, as was forcing myself to walk at least a half mile on my weakest days.) But God’s Word promises there is real power available to those who believe it…power to live out our moment by moment lives according to what we believe.

I remember teaching a values clarification class on stress management years ago to a group of adults with mental illness. In the middle of the discussion, a young man raised his hand and asked, “So you are saying that whenever we act in ways that contradict our true beliefs, we will always experience stress?” Exactly!

Belief is an active word. It doesn’t just refer to an historical discovery of some principle. True belief drives us to present action despite what circumstances may present themselves. We choose to love in unlovable moments. We keep quiet when we are tempted to complain about someone. We reach out when we are inclined to withdraw. We believe even as doubts cross our mind.

When the Bible says ‘believe’ it actually means “Keep on believing.” We can’t simply rely on a past decision or experience. We have to keep believing in the midst of each circumstance, the great ones and the challenging ones. True belief reminds us of our passion and purpose and doesn’t let the storms of life distract us. True belief keeps us focused with eyes firmly fixed on our goal, so we can continue to press on toward the prize we seek.

Dealing with this Leukemia requires all the prayers that many of you are offering on behalf of Marcia and me. (It matters!) And it requires believing and acting on belief, in what is and always has been true, and always will be true.