When I was in college, there were a couple of sports I enjoyed, but that I was new to. I wanted to get better at both of them. A guy on the college’s faculty was heavily into both of the activities I was interested in, and so I started talking with him about getting better at cross-country skiing and whitewater kayaking. This man had a special gift; he was both an encourager and he had the ability to see people not as who they are, but as what they could be. After walking away from a conversation with him, you just felt…empowered. After learning from him and practicing with him, I was able to go off ski jumps on cross-country skis and was able to paddle a kayak over waterfalls, things I wouldn’t have seen myself doing when I first started.
This guy was an exhorter. By his encouragement, he enabled me to get closer to reaching my full potential in a couple of areas of my life. He was a crucial part of developing my talents in these areas, but that was only part of it. In order to pursue these experiences, I had to agree to step out of my comfort zone and proceed into the unknown.
If you’re a Christian, you and I have both been called to a life of adventure and excitement. Jesus said “I have come that they may have life, and have it abundantly” (John 10:10b), but too often we place limits on just how far we are willing to follow Him. Going to church is great, and throwing something in the offering plate is nice, but that’s not what I’m talking about. You’ve probably felt it before…an unexplainable “nudge” to do something that makes no sense to a rational thinker. It could be anything…feeling like you’re supposed to walk up to someone you’ve never met and give them whatever cash you have in your wallet…picking up an extra meal at a fast food place not knowing why, only to give it to someone who desperately needs it on the way home…or things that get even crazier than that.
It’s easy to try to stomp these notions down or ignore them, but it’s not always easy to succeed. What we don’t realize is that this is God inviting us to be a part of His adventure! He doesn’t need us; He can work out His plan without you or I, but this nudge is Him tapping us on the shoulder and saying “I’m about to do something cool, want to come along?” Now, God is gracious, and isn’t going to force you out of a mundane life, but by refusing His invitation, we miss out. In our refusal, someone else may be missing out, too. The Church (big “C”) is God’s plan for saving the world. If the Church doesn’t live up to its potential, will it fulfill its mission?
This blog is my attempt to provide the same kind of exhortation and encouragement that the guy from college provided for me. I’m going to share a unique collection of experiences that should be entertaining, maybe interesting, but above all will hopefully help you accept the invitation the next time God extends a hand and says “want to come along?” I don’t know what’s going to happen, but if you become a regular reader, you’re probably going to experience that nudge. It’s up to you what you do with it, but I’d urge you to grab it and not let go! If you get a nudge to do something that seems impossible, remember that God sees you not as who you are, but as what you could be. If you’re called to do something that requires resources you don’t have yet, accept the invitation and trust that they’ll be there when you need them.
The inspiration for the name of this blog comes from the following quote:
“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.” –Teddy Roosevelt
Time is short. Stop limiting yourself; you were meant for more. Dare greatly…now.