A thought by
Larry Osborne,
(2009-04-10) from his book, Spirituality for the Rest of Us: A Down-to-Earth Guide to Knowing God (p. 140). The
Crown Publishing Group. Kindle Edition. (Click on the title to go to
Amazon.com to buy the book.)
Larry
shares how he came to this conclusion.
He said, “At some point—I don't know exactly when—I just gave up. I
decided I'd had enough of trying to live up to the best of everyone and
everything. It was a smart move. Once I stepped back, I realized that most of
my motivation to emulate all the strengths and traits I admired in others
didn't come from listening to the voice of God. It came from trying to please
friends and mentors who all assumed that their calling must be my calling.”
We
do that don’t we?
He
goes on, “I was surprised by the new sense of freedom and renewed focus I
experienced once I no longer felt the need to match up to everyone else's best
practices of the Christian faith. I was finally free to focus on the unique passions and gifts God had given
me. Instead of constantly feeling inadequate about the areas where I didn't
match up, I started to notice and rejoice in all the areas where I did. I
became a better me, rather than just a poor copy of someone else.”
Oh
if we are could get to that point.
He
then says, “The fact is, God has given most of us passion and gifts for only a
few things. When we follow those passions and hone those gifts, we end up doing
exactly what we were made to do.”
He
then gives some more good advice. He
says, “Getting off the Best Practices Overload treadmill doesn't mean no longer
learning from others or ceasing to stretch myself spiritually. There'll always
be plenty of areas for growth and change. The mirror of Scripture, wise
counsel, and the prompting of the Holy Spirit will see to that. But these
God-inspired areas of growth and change will for the most part align with who
we are and what we have been called to do and become.
God
didn’t make junk when he created us. And
if we don’t accept that fact and strive to grow and align with who we are then
our family, friends and community will miss really miss out.
Let’s
live out who God has created us to become.
OK?
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