I'm not a guy who loves exercise. I see it mostly as a necessary evil. I don't want to be out of shape and have long term health effects of a sedentary lifestyle, so I force myself to exercise. If I could have a body like a Greek god and know I'd stay healthy with never moving around, I'd probably do it. My wife gets me to the gym a few times a week and I go begrudgingly, because I know in the long run, I'm going to be better off for it.
Why am I telling you this? Yesterday I bought a used bicycle for 60 dollars off of the Internet, and I'm really excited about it, which is odd to me. Seeing how I usually don't like exercise, the thought of buying a machine that is going to make me exercise more, would probably not be a good day, but this time it was.
Here's what's been going on with me and the Lord- he's been challenging me to spend more time with my kids doing stuff that doesn't include watching television or spending loads of money. Forgive me if you're already on this boat, I've been sitting at the shore watching.
For the longest time in my life I've been a guy who likes the PLR- the Path of Least Resistance. If there is an easier way to do something, that's the way I want to do it. I don't like to be inconvenienced, I don't like to wait, I don't want to walk when I can drive. Typically, its because of my lack of patience and my need for instant gratification, I admit that.
This doesn't work well in the world of spiritual development or parenting.
For some reason, the God of this universe has set up this system that we have a role to play. That we're challenged to interact with one another, and through that process learn more about God and each other. He develops us through our experiences.
Again, for an impatient guy, this isn't the greatest process.
Oh yea, the bike. So anyway, I've decided this year that our family is going to do some outside together stuff with bicycles, and here's the victory blog nugget for the day- if you've made a decision in your mind to do something, it means absolutely nothing if you haven't put any action towards the goal. Yesterday was step two in the goal of outside with the family- get a conveyance that is human powered. The first step was getting rid of cable TV.
I don't think I'm grandstanding here, I'm proving a point- goals are reached when you put action behind them. Talking isn't doing. Taking one step isn't the end its the start. Buying the bike wasn't the goal, time with the family is. I've still got a few more steps to achieve to get to it, but I'm progressing.
Hopefully you're encouraged with that today. Maybe there is something you're trying to change that you're struggling with. Here's my advice- take the first step to get to the next one and then go on to the next. Take it from this impatient guy who is often satisfied with the PLR and work towards a God inspired goal that will benefit yourself or your family. I think you'll be pleased.
Share a goal in the comments!
Be blessed
pastor matt
Last summer my sister in-law gave the kids a map with some small stickers and suggested they start marking down the fun places they visit. We decided to visit as many parks in our area that we could. By the end of the summer we saw over 30 parks. It was a great way to spend time together and explore some areas of the city we had never seen before. (Other than some gas and ice cream every now and then it was cheap too!) After doing this last summer, (like you) we realized we needed to spend a lot more time together as a family, rather than watch the world go by. The girls have a goal of another 30 parks this summer. Great blog Pastor Matt!
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