The American dream. What does this phrase bring to mind? For some, it’s going to college, obtaining a job, and climbing the corporate ladder. For others, it means finding a spouse and having 3 children by age 30. These are the goals society says we must try to achieve, but how many actually seek God when considering these life options?
So many people, including Christians, find themselves living comfortably. They have jobs that pay well. Though many would say they are not passionate about their work merely doing it for the money. Someone once told me work wasn’t meant to be fun. But why would God want you to spend the majority of your time not finding joy in your work? Work is good, but so is joy. God created us to live life abundantly which includes finding joy in the everyday activities of life.
I recently read Donald Miller’s book “A Million Miles in a Thousand Years.” In his book, Don talks about the components of a good story. He then takes those elements and challenges his readers to seek out those same characteristics in their own lives. We love reading about protagonists who take risks and succeed, yet so many of us never take risks ourselves because we are afraid. Fear of failing. Fear of what others might think. Fear is something that seems so natural for us as humans to cling too, but is ultimately telling God that we do not trust him.
(Don also talks about his friend Bob Goff in his book. He uses his friend Bob as an example of a life lived well. Fortunately for us, Bob decided to write a book not too long ago about his life. After you finish this blog, I want you go out, buy his book, and read it cover to cover. It is called “Love Does.” What a great phrase to live by, don’t you think?)
In the book of Jeremiah, God says he has plans for each individual person. In Psalm 139, David talks of how God had all of our days planned out before we were even created. If God has all our days planned in advance, what should we fear? The answer is nothing. If you lived your life with no fear, what would you do differently? What would you go after? What could you achieve?
When I told people I was going on the Race, so many of my elders told me they wished they had done something like that when they were young. Many acted as if adventure and excitement were no longer attainable for them. I understand that the World Race is only available to those under the age of 35 and that it would be impossible to go on a trip like this if you were a parent, but so much more lies out there. My current adventure is completely different than what he is calling you to do.
Life gets more complicated as you get older. It is a fact of life, and I am sure no one understands that better than God. But we don’t have to succumb to the complications. We should welcome the challenges as just more adventures we get to tackle and not something to keep us from seeking out the passions the Lord has gifted to us.
I think our culture has suppressed the lives that God meant for each of us to live. Our focus has shifted on what is truly important. Is making a large salary a priority? Even if it means going to a job you hate when your passions lie elsewhere? Does it mean having many possessions when others around the world have literally nothing?
I think God wants you to throw out your American dream. Yes, you read correctly. I said throw it away. Examine your life to see if there are areas where you are not living to the fullest. What is God calling you to do that you have been ignoring? What if God is calling you to leave all that you know to love children on the other side of the world? Or maybe he’s calling you to feed those who are literally starving. Or maybe you do get somewhat of an “American dream” life, but the dream for you is that you downsize your house in order to free up more money to help others who are less fortunate.
Maybe you already have a job you love and your money already goes to noble causes. Maybe you should just sing more. Dance more. Laugh more. Maybe you should start viewing your life as the story God intended for it to be. A life full of joy, excitement, and whimsy. After all, who wouldn’t want that?
At the end of my life, I hope people will say that I lived a life of adventure never scared to take risks, but following God into the unknown wholeheartedly. I hope you want that too – not to be remembered as mundane, but chasing after what God has placed on your heart whether it makes sense at the time or not. To be remembered as someone who lived freely. To be remembered as an example for others. To be remembered as someone who was not scared to run after the greater things of life. After all, we follow a God who is “able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think” (Ephesians 3:20). So step out of the ordinary and begin living a story that is truly worth living.
