Getting To The End To Truly Begin

We've most likely all seen the classic scenario played out on the big screen...

Person walks into the doctors office to get the results of their tests only to be given the life numbing news, they're dying and only have months to live. They realize just how precious life is and how they've lived their life not living their life and that late stage they decide they're going to finally 'live' life to the fullest. They're going to finally commit to fulfilling their purpose and make an impact on their world.

They pull focus on all of their talents and cause them to do the phenomenal.

Time's ticking and ultimately running out and with every moment that passed their effectiveness rises to the occasion. They do more, see more, touch more lives and generate a legacy that prior to their tragic news would never have happened.

What's their secret?

They simply, after having been catapulted into a reality check that would choke a horse, quickly came to the end of themselves and truly began living.

I don't know about you... but I'm not going to wait around for a catalyst like that to springboard me into living the life I am meant to live and touching the folks that I'm supposed to touch.

Life really is too short, so don't let impending doom be the reason you make a difference in someone else's life today -RIGHT NOW!!!

Treat everyday as if you've got a lot to finish, limited time and absolutely no room for ego to hinder you from accomplishing it.

12 Suggestions:

1. Get your life right before God
   
2. Discover your purpose/what you're truly here for
3. Become an anonymous giver
   
4. Learn to forgive and let go
5. Everyday contemplate minimum 10 unique things to be thankful for
   
6. Help out a charity
7. Become a Foster Parent
8. Become a mentor
9. Become a volunteer for a positive life transforming organization
   
10. Volunteer at a nursing home
11. Spend more time with your loved ones
    
12. Find something everyday to make a positive impact towards a life
    

Until next time...

All For One

I was told years ago that if all of the muscles in our body were moving in one direction at once that we would have the ability of lifting 25 tons. I wonder if that applies to everything in our lives moving towards one purpose, one vision, God's vision.

How would that draw on God's spirit to flow through us in that direction?

The bible tells us that a house divided will not stand; that a double-minded man is unstable in all his goings and to let him not think that he will get anything from God. It also tells us to let our eye be single.

There's the key to connecting to God...
keeping our eyes on Him...
committing our thoughts and works unto Him.

If we do that can our thoughts and works be contrary to His will ad His word?

I don't think it can. How about you?

Let's get back to the basics and find out what His word says His will is.

Let's read His Bible and line ourselves up with His word.

Until next time...

No Artificial Sweeteners Please

One day, many many years ago, I went to a restaurant and ordered my usual meal with my usual drink.

I hadn't noticed the slight change on the menu.

In accordance to their new policies for joining the "battle against obesity related diseases" they decided to convert their menu into low-carb, low-calorie items.

Translation...

Out with the real... In with the things that only "look" real.

Instead of using sugar they used one of the calorie-free artificial sweeteners.
Instead of using oil, they used a chemicalized, non-stick spray.
Instead of using cream and butter they used some homogenized oil and chemical product.
Instead of using real farm fresh eggs, they used an egg substitute full of artificial ingredients to make it look like egg.

The flavor was off, it didn't stick to my ribs and it left me wondering... "What just happened here?".

Let's just say it left a lot to be desired. I didn't know that in order for me to get the real thing I would have to request it. The default or standard had become the 'prop' food.

And...

to top it all off... they upped the price for the conversion!

WHAT A RIP!

It was the equivalent of my ordering a burger and fries, but being given a package of top ramen w/ a flavor packet and then being charged almost double.

Now I realize that for the many who've never tasted 'real' food this entry may seem a bit trite and even a pointless rant, but it does have a point...

I grew up with my grandparents growing their own produce. When it was dinnertime we went to the backyard and harvested whatever was on the menu for that day. The flavor was awesome and distinct. So much so that when we weren't spending time at our grandparents we didn't have a taste for produce... no 'real' flavor in the stuff we bought in the stores.

We live in a time of almost forced disposable convenience and faux realities. Things move so fast and cheap [not inexpensive but 'cheap'] that we've forgotten [and for some, never knew] what quality looks and feels like, so we discount it, easily discard it or just pass it by for lack of recognition.

We've been re-programmed this way and when real things come along we don't get it - we're too jacked up on the artificial.

Artificial food.
Artificial relationships.
Artificial beliefs.

Artificial LIVES.

Have we grown so accustomed to the facades that we don't care if it's real or not just so long as it "looks" real?

What is real?

I don't know about you... but I don't want anymore artificial sweeteners in my life.

I want what will sustain me; what will build me; what will organically grow - without the hype.

I want the real deal.

If you're on this same wavelength... then the next time you're presented with one of those clever counterfeits in your life, you'll stop for a beat and say...

"No artificial sweeteners please."

and move on.

What are the artificial sweeteners in your life?

Contemplations For Life: To be...

Contemplations For Life: To be...

To be...

When the term "To be" comes up... what exactly does that evoke?

For me, it brings up the essence of the-ever-weathering question, "What is the meaning of life?" and moving pictures of all of us like ants traveling back and forth on that trail of formic acid another ant laid. Day in and day out performing the same endless tasks without ever questioning the 'whys' behind the whats that we're involved in. We sheepishly eek out our existence hoping for a return on our innocently uninspired efforts.

Can we really expect to move into our destinies if we never venture off of the 'beaten' paths to explore and discover our unique purposes contributing to the bigger vision?

Or worse yet...

Do we not know that there is a bigger vision!?

Do we just believe that all we are here for is to go through life as the walking dead barely making it, barely surviving, just punching somebody's timeclock until the day we die?

It seems to me that we all-to-often get so caught up in the discouraging "realities" of the "what is" and the fears of the unknown that we miss the beauty of the "What should and could be's".

I know there's more to life.

I can't help but contemplate, "WHAT IF?..."

Let me hear your thoughts.

Jason Hodge - http://ContemplationsForLife.com series (c)2006