About 4 years ago I attempted to be artsy.
I got the canvas.
I purchased the paint and the brushes.
I even had a concept…
I wanted to paint the word BLESSED at the bottom of the canvas and then somehow transform the 'D' to create a tree. The tree would be made up of scriptures (specifically Matthew 5, the Beatitudes). It sounded great in my head, but that sound did not travel well to my hands or to the brush. I got as far as the word ‘Blessed’ and then accepted my defeat and went with a plan B.
I began to simply write scriptures or quotes that encouraged me. Whenever I read or heard something… I wrote it on the canvas. It is currently hanging on my wall and not a day goes by that I am not reminded that I am blessed. Today specifically, I re-read a quote I wrote up there at least 3 years ago. It is from Mark Batterson, author of Wild Goose Chase. Mark said,
“Stop living as though the purpose of life is to arrive safely at death.”
I remember the night I read this for the first time and it still has the same effect on me today.
As a kid I never liked the idea of just going to school day in and day out in order to get a tolerable job for the rest of my life simply to make money to eat and sustain life. It seemed so unappealing, so mundane, so NOT FOR ME.
If our ultimate purpose in life is to live as Jesus lived and become more and more like Him… then let’s examine the model He set out for us. I won’t go into story after story of the radical, selfless, revolutionary life Jesus lived, you can read the Bible for yourself 
but I will challenge you to take a look at your life and be honest with the question, are you simply living in order to arrive safely at death or are you pursuing the brilliant life God has created you for. Anne Dillard said, “How we live our day to day is how we live our lives”. I am in no way saying, "Hurry! sign up for the World Race, they are still taking applications!" That is what I feel God calling ME to, but what adventure lies ahead of you?
Now is the time to change it up, live the extraordinarily life you were called to, stop playing it safe and task a risk. Figure out what makes you feel alive and do it! What do you dream about? What gifts has God given you that are lying dormant? Go back to school, switch directions, move to another country, try it, apply for it, get up and do it!
We are young enough to believe that anything is possible and we are old enough to make that belief a reality.
GO.
