Remain Fully Engaged | The Worshipper's Thought of the Day

A couple of Sundays ago, I heard the most interesting message on aging from GOD's perspective.  Even though this particular blog post isn't going to be about aging, I felt led to pull a little something from Pastor Sylvester Cole Dudley's message: remain fully engaged with life.  This statement stood out to me as I read through my journal.  It got me thinking about how lives once full of hope and promise become routine and hum-drum all because of an unwillingness to take risks.

You know, life happens.  We endure all manner of hardships, disappointments, setbacks and failures, even, throughout our existence.  These not so enjoyable moments teach some of life's most valuable lessons, and--whether or not we choose to admit it--we sometimes walk away from these experiences having learned the wrong thing.  And that would be to live more cautiously, take less risks.  There's nothing like a bruised ego or a broken heart to put the fire out of anyone's zest for life.  When life doesn't go as planned, we tend to retreat for the purpose of self-preservation.  However, what we fail to see in our self-preservationist mode is that when we avoid taking risks we are disengaging with life.  With each poor handling of life's unpleasantries, we become less and less engaged with life, thereby preventing our growth, development and maturity.

The best defense is a great offense.  Commit to remaining fully engaged with life.  Despite death, unemployment, property foreclosure, incarceration, addiction, sickness, depression, low self-esteem, bankruptcy, poverty, WHATEVER... Don't retreat.  Don't become reclusive.  Don't lose your desire to live. No matter what may be facing you at this moment, THIS TOO SHALL PASS.  So take those risks.  Be willing to try something new.  Don't be afraid to venture into the unknown.  Commit to seeing the hope of a better future BEYOND the present circumstances.

When we remain fully engaged with life, there is no challenge faced that's insurmountable.  Jesus told us that he was "the life" (in John 14:6).  The Greek word here is "zoe," which can be understood as "life real and genuine, a life active and vigorous, devoted to God, blessed."  Being fully engaged with Jesus is the highest form of living.  It's WITH Jesus that we're able to press through the unpleasantries towards purpose.