"It is not the easy or convenient live for which I search, but life lived to the edge of all that I can be." Credited to author and artist Mary Anne Radmacher, this quote has spoken to me for a number of years. In a time where easy and convenient is the goal for many I thought I wanted more. Confession time - when I received hard and inconvenient I have not always risen to the occasion as well as I could have.
In fact I will admit to you that I have been having quit a pity party over the last few weeks. Wallowing in this has involved too much Haagen Dazs ice cream and double stuff Oreos. Which (since I am in confession mode) in turn resulted in a 2.8 pound weight gain when I weighed in at Weight Watchers on Friday which in turn compounded the pity party.
The four month anniversary of my injury has come and gone and I am not even close to where I am supposed to be. Still on crutches with a whole lot of physical therapy still ahead of me I am at a crossroads. But I get to decide which way to go. So today I choose to dig deep and stay the course. To stop feeling sorry for myself. To feed my discouragement with prayer and God’s word instead of sugar and carbs. To reach out to friends instead of isolating myself. To focus on what I can do and not on what I cannot do.
What challenge are you facing today? A tough boss, hard marriage, broken friendship, difficult child, financial crisis, health issues, loss of direction or motivation? As you stand at your crossroad what direction will you choose? Are you going to choose the easy and convenient life or a life lived to the edge of all that you can be?
I would encourage you to seek out and memorize scripture that speaks to your current situation. I find biblehub.com to be an especially useful resource. Search for a word like “weakness” and then click on a verse to pull up commentary, cross references, similar verses and more. One of the verses that really speaks to me right now is 2 Corinthians 12:9 – But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
And last but not least choose to pray scripture (from Colossians 1:9-12). Precious Father – May I be filled with the knowledge of your will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding. May I walk in a manner that is worthy of you Lord. May I please you in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in my knowledge of you. May I be strengthened with all power, according to your glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience. And may I joyously give thanks to you. Amen.