So...if you feel 'called' to do or achieve something in and for your life, what justifies putting it off? Examples:
- You feel you aren't giving adequate time to your family/kids, OR
- You don't see much opportunity for increasing your income in your current vocation and fear finances as you get older, OR
- Your mind is often consumed with a mission/ministry/service you know you could/should provide, OR
- You know that in your current life you are slowly becoming more numb and discouraged and despairing (depressed?) due to negative circumstances or purposelessness, OR
- You have no time to have balance and health in your life, etc…
- Your personal confidence and belief is just...shot.
If the word 'called' doesn't resonate, then replace it with whatever word works for you, such as 'burdened' or 'impassioned.' The point being that every morning and all day, there is a cloud over your life that the present circumstances are not OK. They can't go on forever. You're not content.
And let me make the point that there are MANY, MANY people leading inconsequential lives who do NOT feel much pain as a result. They haven't, and maybe never will be, awakened to more. They'll never serve others or impact another person. They'll just exist, like packing peanuts (filler) in a gift box. You aren't them, for better or worse.
If you aren't actively doing something to change things however, why? Seriously. What is honestly a reasonable justification to put things off? What goes through your head? I'll do it when…
- Kids are older,
- Job is more secure,
- I have enough money set aside or get out of debt,
- Just till things calm down some,
What else, or what do you think about putting off and delaying important things?
Read more further down below:
I posted this discussion on Facebook and talked over the comments in the Free Agent Underground Show. You can read some really inciteful comments here:
And listen to the show here:
Free Agent Underground Show - "What justifies waiting?"
More Free Agent Underground podcasts
In the show I shared about how Dave Ramsey built his business while still working out of debt. Dan Miller did the same with 48 Days. If those guys had waited till they had all their ducks in a row, we wouldn't have all benefited from what they felt convicted to do.
My story is very much the same. I'm just nearing the end of the hole I dug for myself with past business and financial failures. I'm grateful I didn't wait, as my kids are getting older fast and the lifestyle that I felt convicted to provide for them...is now or never.
Is this a call to throw caution to the wind, not count the costs, risk everything and go after your dreams?
NO.
Have caution. Count the costs. Seek counsel. Repeat.
But going after what you you truly believe is best WILL have risks. It WILL be overwhelming. It WILL take much sacrifice. You WILL work harder than every before. The only way to avoid those realities is to do...nothing. Try to stay safe and under the radar.
Do you really think life will subside and the time will ever be right?
There is a saying that says best things come to those who wait, but I think people misunderstand that statement. It doesn’t mean sitting idle… It means being consistent and enduring the long haul of that consistency while you grow impatient of the suffering. We were not meant to wait; we were meant to paint. And it’s only in jumping out there, and making something where we see the light that our life needs to be heading. The one’s who sit idle, will hear nothing, see nothing, do nothing, nor be nothing. I aim to get to heaven very, VERY exhausted… May God see me as a plane crash landing through the pearly gates sideways with my wings on fire, so he knows that I gave life and my dreams my all.
Posted by: Rob Clinton | May 18, 2011 at 07:44 PM
I like you and your blog, Kevin. Very much. This post is especially timely.
You said that going after what you believe will, by its very nature, require risk. I doubt anyone would disagree with that. It's funny, though, that when I'm taking said risks on my God-fueled life journey, so many people pooh pooh those risks.
Since launching TheNonConformistFamily.com, Sarah (my wildly hot wife) and I have definitely been facing risk head on. We're risking alienation from family or friends who don't approve of our life-style. We're risking a whole lot of flack from people who prefer we don't talk about what we believe. We're risking stern talks from well-meaning observers who say we're not living a life of faith.
The funny thing is, though, I believe that a life of faith is one where you don't know the answers, but you move ahead anyway, because you believe it's the right thing.
Thanks, Kevin. This is incredibly encouraging for us!
Sincerely
-Josh
@nonconformistpa
www.thenonconformistfamily.com
Posted by: Joshua Gordon | May 19, 2011 at 12:10 PM