“We aren’t limited because we have limitations; we are limited because we haven’t embraced them.”

A thought by Erwin Raphael McManus, (2014-02-25) from his book, The Artisan Soul: Crafting Your Life into a Work of Art (p. 149). HarperCollins. Kindle Edition.

It is so easy at my stage of life to make the excuse of not doing something because of my limitation of being 66 going on 67. I have to fight that temptation over and over and that is why I find this thought so challenging.

The key is to embrace the limitation, to see the benefit of being 66 going on 67 as a great opportunity to continue to create who God wants me to be. He isn’t done and I shouldn’t be either.

As Erwin says, “Every creative endeavor becomes a realization of both how limited and how unlimited we are.” He continues, “What makes you a chef is what you do with those five flavors; what makes you a musician is what you do with those twelve notes; what makes you a painter is what you do with those three colors; what makes you an architect is what you do with those three shapes; what makes you an artist is what you do with the material you have been given with which to create.”

Please don’t use your limitations as excuses but embrace them as opportunities to create a life that God has given you.

He isn’t done with me. My age is an advantage from which to share and to enjoy because of the experience that I have had and the wisdom and maturity that i have gained up to this point. This time of my life is not to be wasted but to be used in a greater measure than I could ever imagine.

As Erwin says, “the life we live is not at all a reflection of the life we long for. We may not get to choose the canvas, but we can choose the painting.”

So are you using a limitation as an excuse or an opportunity?

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