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Monday, June 14, 2010

Stomping on bubblewrap to summit Everest

When I mentioned my fascination with Mt. Everest in my first post, I forgot I had a picture of my flag being raised on the summit.

Now as impressive as this may be, I also told you I don't lie anymore, so truth be told, my feet have never trod upon one inch of Nepalese soil. I'll give the knee replacement industry a little more time to come up with an affordable, painlessly installed, super supple, mountain trekking version first.

However, this photo brought to mind the issue of reaching goals (to say nothing about the ethics of photoshop journalism). I want to share with you the one question that has helped me clarify my mental muddle more than anything else: What is the important?

For people like me who want to learn everything, do everything, and go everywhere, the answer, of course, is EVERYTHING is important. All I have to do is go without sleep for another hundred years. But I don't have another hundred years, and everything is not equally important. The day I realized the value of understanding this, I changed the way I approached my goals.

Previously I was like a kid with a twenty-foot roll of bubblewrap. The satisfaction of each little explosion turned into a furious foot-stomping race to conquer and kill every puffy little pocket in sight. I knew a little about a lot of things, was seldom satisfied, and made decisions based on crisis rather than control.

I couldn't discern the difference in importance, nor accept the fact that I would never keep a clean house, renovate a house, read twenty books a week, write words of wisdom, see the kids, grandkids and friends (if there was any time for any), travel the world, and do something to earn enough money to do everything else!

Now, I get myself right with a cup of coffee and the Lord and ask What is the important for both my daily and my long-range goals. And I keep in mind the conclusion Solomon reached.

The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments because this applies to every person.--Ecclesiastes 12:13



 

1 comment:

  1. "Only one life, 'twill soon be past. Only what's done for Christ will last." You know I suffer from the same syndrome you do. Sometimes I find the solution for a week or so - maybe a month - and then I lose it and have to find it again.

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