One of the reasons I can get so frustrated with us as humans is that we seem to so easily fall into complacency. If we can take a pill, drive through for food, watch TV or even just read a scripture….than there is no need to reach for more. We settle into lives that require as little of us as possible while protecting our balanced solitude. In private we dream of more but quickly silence any urges to step out and actually “do” something. In our day to day life, we live vicariously through others, riding on the coattails of their experiences. Even our devotion to God can come down to reading someone else’s but to take the time to experience Him for ourselves, too much effort? Nike had it right! It is time to… “JUST DO IT!” Take a risk, shake up your life, and do something out of your norm. Live! Risk exposure to the world; what do you have to lose but your fear? I remember when I was young in my walk with God several of us would get together at a lake on a friends property. He had a very high tower in the middle of the lake with a diving board. Everyone would have so much fun climbing to the top and jumping, but not me. I was afraid of heights. I justified my inactivity with my desire to just relax and enjoy the sun. I spent most of the day watching the others enjoy themselves. Inside, I was so tired of sitting back and watching others, I wanted to join in. But my fear of heights held me back. Eventually, I went to a trusted friend and asked her to do me a favor. “If I am willing, will you go up the ladder just in front of me and when I get to the top, take my hand and don’t give me a chance to think, just take off to the end and jump….I will have to follow.” She agreed, and we jumped! It was exhilarating! And I am still alive! God breathed life into me not to sit and wait for the day I take my last breath, but to LIVE! To reach out and embrace every aspect of His creation with wonderment and awe. I no more want to live my life through others than I want others living their life through me. On that day that I stand before my maker I want to hear Him say, “Well done good and faithful servant. I know your heart and it was ON FIRE!” So we must ask ourselves, “Are we on fire for life, or have we settled for existance...riding out the years?” Maybe, it is time to shake things up in your life? What do you say, is there a ‘HIGH DIVE’ in your life? If so, it is time to take someone’s hand, and JUMP!
"To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God's creation. I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm--neither hot nor cold--I am about to spit you out of my mouth. You say, 'I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.' But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see. (Rev 3:14-18)