Slow Down - You Will Climb Higher and Better

I've watched my share of great climbers (I'm not one of them). And I'm always amazed by their patience, deliberation and pauses to ponder their next move. Unless they are in a competition for time, they rarely rush. They know that great climbing is not a race, it's a journey. It's not a competition but a conquering. Getting to the summit must not be hurried.

And yet so much of our culture models and requires hurry. I was driving home from lunch with my wife today and behind me a woman in her SUV was clearly frustrated and appeared angry that she could not make me go faster. I couldn't have if I wanted to but that didn't matter to her.

I then needed to change lanes and watched her place her bumper inches behind the next car. She would jerk forward hoping to go on and then slam on her brakes when the car in front of her had to stop again. She was a mess . . . and in a hurry. I don't think she was having fun.

Yes, there are times to hurry - to the hospital, when late for work or to help a friend in need perhaps. But most of the time hurry can be at worst disastrous and at best distracting. Disastrous when we make a horrible mistake and the result is unnecessary catastrophy. Distracting when our constant harried pace through life or a climb causes us to miss some of the views, the moments, the experiences that are what life is really about.

We can hurry through the early days of marriage, the young or even teen years of our kids. We can hurry through each day and miss special moments hearing the stories of people all around us or seeing special moments of life. We can hurry through our job and not enjoy the simple accomplishment of success or a project well done.

Who of us hasn't said I wish I would have ____________ when I was ___________?   I wonder if we would have less of those wishes if we'd only hurried less.

Some suggestions?  Do some intentional slowing down. Drive slower, eat slower, talk less, remove a few unnecessary things from your schedule. Get rid of the thinking that you're have to live up to some sort of potential.  Guess what?  You never will so stop trying.

Drop your entitlement thinking.  We all believe that we're entitled to that place on the road, that next step up the corporate ladder, that activity or school for our kids.  It's alright to do your best to get for you or your family a certain benefit but when we starting demanding those benefits we start hurrying more and often there is a price to pay.

Give yourself more time.  Whether it's a real mountain or a life mountain or just a daily acitivity purposely plan more hours or minutes to do it, not less. As one writer calls it add margin to your life.  Even God took time to rest, to slow down.  If He can, we can too.

Very few great things are easy or quick. Spend your time this week, this month, this year doing more great things with your life . . . but you will have to slow down.

Sometimes Climbers Of All Kinds Seek the Wrong Goals

I'm currently reading Ed Viestur's book on Annapurna called The Will to Climb. And much of the book explains the history of the many expeditions and brave climbers who took on this incredibly hard mountain. In the middle of it all were those like Ed who at least entertained the goal of climbing all fourteen peaks above 8,000 meters.

The leader of that pack was one of the world's most revered climbers Reinhold Messner, the first in the world to climb them all (Ed Viesturs was the first American and he also did it without supplemental oxygen). However, it's important to note that closing the loop or climbing them all was only a secondary goal for Messner. His primary goal was one all of us who climb granite or even life's mountains would be wise to keep in mind.

Messner writes, "Climbing increasingly harder routes, setting myself new targets, was of far greater importance to me."

It's easy for us to become enamored with our own records or accomplishments and miss reaching the more important, though perhaps less noticed, goals in life. We want to be better than someone else, overcome our struggle faster or make some sort of name for ourself when there are far more important things.

Like what? Perhaps just doing the next thing, maybe reaching a place just farther down the trail than last time or getting to a new personal record of some sort. Some of us are possibly stuck because we're failing over and over again at some goal or target that really isn't that important. What we may need to do is find a new dream or at least one different from everyone else and go for it whatever that means.

Maybe God has some unique goal and plan designed just for us that we're missing because we're obsessed with climbing the wrong mountain or overcoming in ways that just aren't possible right now.

Try praying for and looking for some other goal more within your reach and purvue. No, don't settle for less, just something else. Chances are it will still be some big mountain that you'll need every resource including God to reach. But my hunch is that once you go for that one you'll know you're now on the trail you should have been on all along.

Finding True Riches in the Least Likely Places

I read recently that Mark Zuckerburg, founder of Facebook, only wears T-shirts and jeans most of the time. And I suppose when you're that successful you can wear whatever you want.  Nonetheless, it's kind of interesting that this billionaire goes around looking like some average college student. You would never know how rich he is by his clothing choices.

But more importantly I wonder if our children, especially here in America, know how rich they really are.  Sure, we may not have millions or billions in our bank accounts or stocks, but we truly are wealthy in so many ways. And it's vital that we remind one another at home of that.

For example, we're rich financially in comparison to the majority of the world. We often spend on one pair of shoes what much of the world earns in a week, month or year. We spend billions in this country on things that many people don't even know exist nor would they think matters like massages, make-up, sports memberships and television.

Secondly, we're rich because of our freedoms. Travel to many other foreign countries and you'll discover how monitored and regulated their worlds are. Many countries allow the police to stop you for no good reason or to keep you from saying anything negative about the government. Some places would never allow a church to be built or even meet.

Third, we're rich because of our opportunities. Yes, we're struggling a bit on the economic front but there are still myriad ways for people to succeed, expand their knowledge and live out a dream here.

Fourth, we're rich because of our faith in God.  Too many people have no purpose, meaning or hope in this life. Remind your kids often that God is a God of hope who placed us on this earth to do something that matters and makes a difference.

So whether you consider yourself wealthy or not, have the house or other possessions you've wanted, you really are rich. So think and live like it - even if you only wear T-shirts.

Live Like You Were Dying

I spoke a couple of days ago at the funeral of a friend who passed away at 52. He obviously left his family and friends way too soon.  And of course we've all been reminded, sometimes inappropriately,  that life could end any moment, any day. The issue isn't really how old we are but how many days do we have left.

But this week I was reminded as I thought about my friend Don and heard the many comments about his life that people really can live with the eternal and important in view. Don certainly did. I only wish that I could hear the phrase "servant heart" at my funeral as many times as I heard it at his.

Don didn't have an easy life. Yes, he had a wonderful wife, great kids to cherish and numerous talents. But he also had enough rocky roads to keep him focused on his own stuff most of the time. But instead he was known for serving and helping others. In fact the day he died he was assisting a friend in the hot sun.

He lived like he was dying, so that when the day came, he would have a full life doing the things that mattered.

Some, however, would say that thinking this way is just morbid. Why ponder the fact that we might die early?  But the reality is that when we embrace the possibility our life could end today we start to actually live accomplishing the things that really matter and hopefully for a long time!

Where do you start? Well, there are unique trails we all can take but here are a few suggestions. Spend regular time with your kids. No, not just being a taxi driver or spectator, but enjoying something together, being spontaneous and doing things no one else does.

If you are married , do the same with your spouse. Don't abandon each other for eighteen or twenty years while kids are around.

Serve others. When we give of our time, talents and resources to someone else our life takes on new meaning and significance like never before.

So are you truly living or instead living like you are dying? The latter is the best!

Sometimes Getting Started Is The Hardest

I was flying recently and as we readied for take off I noticed the young girl across the center aisle with her coat over her face. The jet raced down the runway and took off beautifully. I love to fly so every trip is still pretty exciting for me.

However, within seconds of leveling off the woman's coat went back into her lap. I looked again her way and she just smiled. "Not real big on flying?" I asked. She responded, "Well, I don't mind the flight part I just don't like taking off."

That same feeling is true of many people facing a mountain in their personal world. They know they need to take some first or next steps but it's scary to get started. The take off is the worst part.

So what can you do if you're feeling a bit paralyzed or fearful about starting out?

First, remember that lots of people just like you have done this before and survived. Just as thousands fly on planes every day and arrived safely, so have people taken on mountains like yours.

Second, by starting out you don't have to take on the whole mountain. Climbing always takes place one step at a time. It's like dieting, exercise or any other new venture those first steps are the hardest and most important. Set out a short and realistic goal or plan out just the next thing you need to do and do it.

Third, get someone else to encourage and even walk with you.  On real mountains climbing alone is rarely wise. The same is true of life mountains. Find a friend who will at least help you make it to the trailhead and get going.

Finally, remember the goal. As we say about mountains the view from the top is worth it. Don't forget what it is you need to overcome, how much better life will be when you do make it and the impact your overcoming will have on others. Ask yourself what the cost will be if you DO NOT start.

Fear doesn't need to paralyze you. In fact, it has no right to do that. So overcome it. Go down the runway or head up the trail. Get started. Usually that's one of the hardest parts.

A New Year Begs For A Life Revolution

Recently my wife and I spent some time at my sister-in-law's home having enjoyed several days of family time. And I found myself thinking a lot about how blessed I've been to have first lived this many decades (don’t ask) and second to have the family I've enjoyed for so many years.

However, while some of my life’s journey was beyond my control, I'm also grateful that at various turns on my journey people have encouraged me to both evaluate where I've been and to regularly reconsider where I'm going. 

So during this New Year season I want to encourage you not just make some casual resolutions that you will probably forget about in a week or two. What if this year you thought about just one major new direction that you will take this year in your marriage, parenting, or life climb?

What if you said, "I'm not going to settle for this being just one more year of my life? Instead, I'm going to do something different, something more life-changing that will make a difference in the life of someone else and matter more for eternity."

Maybe it will involve the fulfillment of a personal dream. Dreams are often those things that would best use our skills and resources anyway while breathing new life into our everyday world. Perhaps you could serve others through giving your time and talents in the community, your church or city.

Maybe there is a local or foreign mission that needs your specific skill set and passion where hundreds, even thousands of people would be changed as a result. The possibilities are endless.

You see most of us tend to get into ruts that are comfortable in many ways but that have stymied our personal and family growth. It's hard to find a new way to look at life and your future when all you can see are the walls of the long bunker you've lived in for a long time.

Our marriages and families could discover new energy and excitement if we'll just take time to ponder how our direction might change and our purposes could be fulfilled.

That’s why I want to encourage you to consider a New Year’s revolution this year.

Where would you begin? Well, you might start by simply answering these questions:

What have I always wanted to do that I've never done before? You know, develop a Bucket List! Sometimes those goals can lead to creative and intriguing ideas that could literally turn your life around.

Second, what passions and talents do I have that could be used to help someone else?  Don’t limit yourself to the usual. There are places waiting for your specific skills all over the world or right at home. I just returned from my fourteenth trip to Russia where musicians, artists, technicians and leaders all got to share their skills for 11 days.

Third, has anything - a cause, need or person - been gnawing away at me lately and occupied a lot of my thinking? 

Some careful thinking, pondering and praying with a spouse, friend and even older children could help give you a whole new direction and turn your former resolutions into a life revolution.

Whatever you do, start somewhere! Don't let this next year just be another 365 days of the same. God made you and me to be difference makers so dare to be different. You won't regret your decision, I promise.