That’s just the way it is…NOT

Romans 12:2: “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think.  Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” (NLT)

As I am nearing the end of writing my first book, I just finished my introduction which is a 12 page synopsis of my 52 years of breathing air.  In the introduction I share the challenges I’ve always had with “boundaries.”  I’ve always been one to not appreciate being told what to do…part of my A.D.D. problem.  I always got a thrill out of seeing how far I could go outside the “lines” and of course that behavior almost cost me everything many years ago. 

But after reflecting some more on the “lines” i.e. boundaries in our life I began to appreciate my nature of having the willingness to go outside the lines and search for more.  Don’t get me wrong, I believe in healthy boundaries, but I don’t buy into boundaries with no real meaning and worth. Many of us are raised based on generations of tradition and ways of thinking and doing things.  For example, I was German and “Germans drink beer.”  I think you see my point.

Last week, while in Paris, I had an opportunity to listen to Danny McDaniel, a very successful businessman, and Christian, speak on this topic and he shared with us how often we get caught up in “tradition” and never really seek and learn what truth is.

Because of my willingness to explore outside the boundaries and traditions of my life, I reached a point where I slowly, but surely found truth and created my own Biblically-based perspective on things.  Things like looks, height, weight, skin color, nationality, intelligence, occupation, political preference, wage class et al, no longer played a role in how I treated people.  What began to matter to me was whether or not I was doing my best to make a difference in the world.  Was I loving enough? Was I caring enough?  Was I giving enough?  Was I learning enough?  Was I teaching enough?  Was I leading enough? 

In a few weeks, Lori and I will be attending a Bruce Hornsby concert.  I’ve always loved his song, “The Way It Is.”  In the song he sings about people buying into the societal “lines” and traditions the world has created.  Over and over he says, “Thats just the way it is; Ohh….but don’t you believe them.”  His song says what I am talking about in this blog.  Society says that’s just the way it is, friends say that’s just the way it is, family says that’s just the way it is…but I agree with Bruce—–DON’T YOU BELIEVE IT!  Check out Bruce on You Tube –http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D1NAGhiVqdg

Blindly following traditions of the world, your country, your community, your friends and your family and accepting your life as “that’s just the way it is”  is a great way to never know how powerful dreams coming true can be.

Get out of yourself, get out of your comfort zone.  Challenge the “way it is.”  Make more of your life than those around you and those who preceeded you. 

God’s playing field for our life is so much broader and vast than society’s playing field.  Take a chance…go outside the lines and if you are like me, you will never go back, and your life will go from a life of trivial pursuits to a life of meaningful life-changing adventures.

…and the best place to find the truth is by reading and studying scripture from the Bible and hanging around others who’ve also found the truth and a new life–living outside the “lines.”

P.E.A.C.E.

jay@eaglelaunch.com