So my family and I just spent ten days on a trip South. We boated and played in the ocean, saw friends from home and friends who have so beautifully stood the test of time. I am most thankful. We enjoyed the water, sunshine, and all the treats that come from such an extended time away.
One of our favorite activities, renting a boat for a week, was taking the boat out, finding some small uninhabited island, carefully docking the boat, and then exploring the area together. Some of the animals and nature we saw were beautiful and intriguing. En route to one island one day, a trio of dolphins decided to playfully escort us along the way. There’s just something about being that close to those animals for that long that is special and sweet — again putting life in perspective.
Putting life in perspective, no less, ’tis time to go home. A week of leisure is a wonderful thing, but that week of rest, reflection, frolic, and fun prepares me for going home.
There are disciplines embraced at home that for lack of better ways to put it, make me good.
Now don’t let me sound as if I am any better than I am, nor that I can perform or work my way into any good or heavenly entrance. The bottom line is that there exist disciplines embedded into my daily routine that help me be healthy, happy, and hopefully, a positive contribution to the lives of those around me.
Years ago, I read a great book by author John Ortberg. He talked about developing disciplines “for ordinary people,” which sounded like an achievable accomplishment for this semi-humble, striving blogger. But what caught my attention was that such was only the sub-title. First he identified his set of disciplines as “The Life You’ve Always Wanted.”
(Let me be clear… if all it takes is buying some $15 book to get what I’ve always wanted, then that’s a price I’m willing to pay.)
Ortberg eliminates the potentially accompanying stress almost immediately, saying that as with the marathon runner, “the secret to winning the race lies not in trying harder, but in training consistently and training with spiritual disciplines.
The disciplines are neither taskmasters nor an end in themselves. Rather they are exercises that build strength and endurance for the road of growth.”
Who would not want such a road to growth?
Why else would everyone crave those stinkin’ 26.2 stickers on their bumper?
(Ok, ok, so the word “stinkin’” is only included because I’m jealous… and have come no where close to 26.2 yet…)
But it’s not a marathon. It’s not a singular race.
It’s not one race… succeed or fail.
The “life you’ve always wanted,” so-to-speak, as identified by Ortberg, is one paved with humor and humility. It’s encouraging and challenging all at the same time. It’s not always easy… but it is always worthwhile.
It allows us to live a deeper, more spiritual, connecting-with-others life, right where we are.
As Ortberg says, it’s “a life on the edge that fills an ordinary world with new meaning, hope, change, and joy.”
I’ll take that… new meaning, hope, change, and joy… I’ll take zealously pursuing what that actually is.
I’ll take the dolphins’ escort, too… all putting life into perspective.
Respectfully…
AR