I've been attending the "BOLD" program the past few weeks, and it's going well. I really like the group of people that are in my 'cohort'. Last night we talked about our successes and I had a really hard time thinking of what I consider a success. I'll try and write some of my thoughts on this.
Much of my life 'successes' are simply meeting a standard. Because I'm merely meeting a standard, I don't really think it's much of a success. Is not failing really such a success? The fact that I graduated with a decent GPA from highschool... I suppose it is a good thing, but success seems to be too strong a label. Probably because I'm not very achievement driven.
Which brings me to thinking (again) about just what driven am I? In the BOLD program, we've talked quite a bit about values and purpose. I've been trying to figure out my true values for quite a while now and am still not quite clear about it. Wealth certainly isn't much of a value in my mind. I'm not driven by it. I can think of a number of things that are negative things which I guide my life away from, which is sort-of driving. An example is 'being a burden to other people'. That's a negative thing which I try and steer clear of. Another is 'being the problem', which is similar to being a burden.
I realized that one of my most significant successes is that I've not fallen away from the faith. That might seem arrogant, or terrible, or however else you percieve it, but to me it's important because remaining in Christ has actually been a pretty hard thing in life. Probably the hardest for me. I don't take it lightly that I still call myself a follower of Christ because it's taken a lot of will-power and heavenly intervention to keep me where I am today. And it is something that I'm still almost daily challenged with.
There aren't really many other honest, warm-fuzzy successes that I can think of in my life. I really don't know how to gauge my life by these sorts of things. And I think that's alright.
3 comments:
I'l try this again.didn't work last night. Good thoughts about sucess. I think you have more sucesses than that ,like friendships for example. You are loyal and true to your friends. grandma.
I've been thinking about this post for several days now. It's a good post! I think there are two realms we live in, the seen and the unseen. Success looks different in each of these.
In the realm of the seen, we look for measurable success that reflects hard work, initiative, planning, organization, creativity, skill refinement, goal setting, teamwork, responsibility, follow through and so on. All these are good things. But in this realm, one can achieve and use these things for either a good or a bad end.
In the unseen realm, success looks like the character of Christ; learning to walk in love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, self-control, the willingness to return good for evil, to bless those who curse us, to do good to those who despitefully use us, to bear all things, hope all thing and endure all things, and to forgive what most would consider unforgivable. These things are not always affirmed in the seen realm, but are always blessed by God.
I think a man who seeks success in both realms would find satisfaction and make a mark. In fact, I think both are worth pursuing. I think you have spent a lot of time and effort on the unseen realm, and that is the realm which counts for ever, and is well worth the struggles. But developing concrete skills in the other sector is also character building and can make one for effective in life and for the glory of God--successful.
Whenever I get to hang out with you I feel encouraged and loved. I am meeting with a rare real person. And love is the only thing God asks for.
I wish I could be like you!
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