As I take
small steps into embracing the greater context for my life, I find this way of
living more satisfying than demanding my way.
I have begun to act on this new awareness in small ways.
I have decided to make myself more available to my family and have already seen
impact. Sometimes it is simple things, like answering my brother’s call when he
was driving home from work. I was busy and assumed he just wanted to chat, but
I answered. He had had a rough day at work and really appreciated the
opportunity to vent. I took 15 minutes out of my day and was no worse for it. I
got to support him and still get my work done. Plus it was nice to hear his
voice.
It amazes
me what a struggle it is to make even the little sacrifices. What did I sacrifice?
I worked fifteen minutes later that evening, and I watched fifteen minutes less
TV or put off paying my credit card bill until the following evening or . . .
who knows what menial task or form of entertainment would have occupied that
time. Whatever it was, it is lost forever. So what? I can sacrifice personal amusement
for the satisfaction of being there for those I love, and I will still tend to
my responsibilities.
By making
time for my brother, I accomplished something of eternal value, even if it was
small. I want to prioritize the actions—often personal interactions—that will
echo in eternity. I can let temporal things take a back seat, be they
entertainment or responsibilities. Some are unimportant (like watching TV), and
others are important but secondary (like paying bills).
I am grateful
for this clearer vision of the Larger Story in which I have a part. I am hopeful
that I will have greater impact on the people in my life—or as we say in
Wellspring: greater impact on my domain—as I move forward with this awareness. My desire is to increasingly
express God’s love for those whom I imperfectly love. I want to live selflessly—aware
of the Larger Story—as He reveals new ways for me let go of personal comfort
and love others sacrificially.
Nice work, Brian! Oftentimes, the toughest part along this journey is to make time not only for family members and dear friends we love, but also for strangers, foreigners, and people we dislike. He has been there and now each of us is bearing the cross. Gladly we are not alone.
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