The "Why"

There is a lot going on in my life, just like I am sure there is a lot going on in yours. We are all busy people. I always am asking myself “How did I get so busy?”.

That is a good question. In today’s culture we sleep less, work longer, drive father, spend more, and in many ways have less. No I don’t mean that we have less stuff, because I can look in my own home and see that I don’t have less stuff. I have too much stuff. I am able to say this because after having five kids in the house and having them move out, I can now see all the stuff we don’t need any more.

We are in a world that the accumulation of more stuff somehow measures you. Now I wish I could fully say that I’m not caught up in the “stuff” and I don’t measure myself by what stuff I have. That would only be half true. With all the advertisements that we are hit with everyday it would be hard not to get a little caught up in the “stuff” race. So I try to watch myself very closely.

Example:

Lori and I were driving yesterday and I saw a Jeep, and for whatever reason I have felt like I wanted a Jeep. I even started to state how I needed a Jeep. You know for all the bad weather and all. As I shared this with Lori she could see right through it and ask me “Why?”. She is such a smart woman! She has watched me drive on average 1500 miles a week for the past 26 years without 4 wheel drive and never stating the “need” for a Jeep before.

That is such a good question. Why? Why do I want the things that I don’t have? It’s a fair question but not one that we ask ourselves too often. As I looked at my “why” I could see that it wasn’t a need but a want. That doesn’t mean that you can only have your needs and never a want. It just means that you need to be honest with yourself and know your own “why”.

As I sit here this morning I have remembered the first new car that I ever bought. It was a Jeep. I bought it right out of college and it was brand new off the dealer showroom. I was so excited to get this car and then I couldn’t wait until I could get rid of it! It turned out that I never really liked it and it just didn’t fit my needs. Maybe is still doesn’t. I don’t know why I have felt the desire to want another Jeep but I do know that I will make sure I know my “why” before I get another one.

Have a great day
PG

New Year

Well here it is, the New Year. I am the type of person that doesn’t put too much into the New Year traditions; for the most part I see it as another day on the calendar. Now there are those who put lots of time and energy into setting resolutions, and reviewing the year’s events. I am not saying that it’s a bad idea to do this it’s just never been me.

I try and look at each day on its own, not the entire year at one look. Now don’t get me wrong I’m not saying that you shouldn’t have a plan, not at all, I’m just saying try not to put too much pressure on yourself by looking back on an entire year and saying “what a mess” or “I didn’t get nearly as far as I thought I would”.

If a ship went out to sea and sailed toward a destination for 365 days before checking its course, it would be considered a disaster. I look at my life much in the same way, (not a disaster), but moving toward a destination, and it is important that I check my course daily. I want to make sure I haven’t gotten too far off course, that I have made good progress, and that the original destination is still the one I would like to end up at.

So you look at your life, and daily set and reset, if necessary, your course. Then you can share the same challenge on New Year’s Eve that I have….. trying to stay awake until midnight.

In His service
Pastor Gordon