The biggest thing I keep taking away from this journey at this point is that there really is no formula to any of this. There's no formula to how my funds or any of the other racers funds are going to come, there's no formula to what a person's work day should look like or a method to how I should walk out these next three months of preparation. There's no formula to… life. Yeah, we've been given basic truths, but the reason we haven't been given directions is because THERE'S NO FORMULA. But it's like we want one, we think that there is. Maybe that's why the road map to education in the US exists: grammar school then high school then undergrad then your masters. Maybe that's why the corporate ladder exist and the american dream. Maybe that's why religion exists. We want a formula, we want directions, we want something to tell us "this is the way you do it, this is the right way, and this way will make you happy, successful, and fulfilled." But, here's the thing…. and you can probably guess what I'm gonna say…. yeah, there's no formula.
And here's the absolute, most amazing, beautiful truth about that, that means we are free. Free to make our own choices and faith life out for ourselves. To walk your life out by a formula, a method, is boxing yourself in. Boxing in your creativity, your strengths, your God-given talents and gifts, your passions, even just your freedom to be and relax and enjoy and savor your day. The fact that there is no formula is AWESOME! That means that every day holds the possibility of an adventure and something new or the gift of just breathing in the beauty of the green trees and blue sky around you. Now, I'm not talking free willy-nilly here, like life doesn't have responsibilities, it does. In our responsibilities lies purpose, and as humans we thrive on having purpose. But we have the choice, even if it's the choice to just ENJOY whatever it is we are doing.
When we box life into the idea that there's a right way to do it, that's when judgement and ridicule and usually injustice and sadness come in. We are all different, fearfully and wonderfully created by a God that has made over 100,000 species of trees in the world, who created the anteater, and who gave us colors. So why would He give us, whom He calls His greatest creation, a formula way of doing life, the most precious gift.
Even in our relationships with God, there's no formula to worship, there's no formula to what church should look like, there's no right denomination. GOD'S NOT THAT BORING! Look at children that come from the same two parents, they don't look just alike (unless they're identical twins) and most of the time they are polar opposites. So anything born of God is not going to be cookie-cutter the same either. Basic truth, be passionate and what comes from that will be right, whatever it looks like. Some folks passionate is charismatic and some is reverent. We are different, we look different, our journeys are different, our worship is different, and a lot of the time our worship will be different on different days.
I think once we get that, man, we'll enjoy life more and…. we'll love each other so much better. That kind of love is infectious, it draws people in; it makes them want to know what's in you. That's the source, that's the light. I read once that JOY is the energy of the Holy Spirit and that He's in a much better mood than we think He is. Yeah, I feel that. I'm learning to enJOY the truth that there's no formula to this. Yep, I'm falling in love with the fact that my box just got BLOWN UP!
Life Abundant.
~m
