On occasion, I run across a person, a program, a website, a book, or a concept that really makes me stop and think. Something that is really profound. Something that I can get really excited about learning more about and even accomplishing - something incredible, something almost seemingly impossible to Do in my life.For example, around six years ago, I ran across the book Financial Peace by Dave Ramsey, and from that point forward, I will never think the same way about personal finances ever again. Dave's style of teaching, motivation, and humor has made such an impact on my life that I can never go back to the old patterns of thinking about or behaving with money.
A more recent example for me has been the book Crazy Love by Francis Chan. Every time I need to make a decision about living a life of generosity or selfishness, generosity now wins out every time. My mindset has been totally transformed by the concepts and written words of this "radical" pastor.
Last week, as I was reading a blog post by Tim Ferriss (another example of someone who has transformed my mindset on the topic of time management), I became aware of the Do Lectures. According to the Do Lectures website, their mission is:
The idea is a simple one.That people who Do things, can inspire the rest of us to go and Do things too.So each year, we invite a set of people down here to come and tell us what they Do.They can be small Do's or big Do's or just plain amazing extraordinary Do's. But when you listen to their stories, they just light a fire in your belly to go and Do your thing, your passion, the thing that sits in the back of your head each day, just waiting, and waiting for you to follow your heart.To go find your cause to fight for, your company to go start, your invention to invent, your book to write, your mountain to climb.The one thing that the Doers of the world Do, apart from Do amazing things, is to inspire the rest of us to go and Do amazing things.They are fire-starters.David Hieatt - Co-founder of the Do lectures
As I have watched many of these Do lecture videos over the last several days, I have felt a wave of inspiration to Do something bigger than I am right now. I will preface this statement that many of the Doers on this website have what seem selfish, or even altruistic reasons for doing what they have done. I don't want to demean or diminish anything that these people have done, because they have all done some awesome things. Even if some of these people have done some some massively self-centered activities (such as Alastair Humphreys taking 4 years to bike around the world), in the process of Doing something, they have all learned something about themselves as well as how to take on major challenges and become a stronger, better person as a result.
As a believer in Jesus Christ, though, I should ultimately be focused on accomplishing something for the Kingdom of God. The key is to start somewhere like the people at the Do Lectures. In Alastair Humphrey's lecture, he mentions that when he decided to bike around the world, his biggest accomplishment was not completing the 4 year journey. It was when he packed up his bike, got on, and left his home in England. He just got started down the road. He was now finally committed to his journey.
As believers, I think many of us know what we should be doing on a daily basis. We should be spending time in personal worship, so just start. Get up 10-15 minutes earlier in the day and just start. We know we should be giving back to the Lord of our finances. The next time the plate passes in your church, start somewhere. Give something. Anything. Just get moving on down the road. You'll figure out how to get to the ultimate destination if you will just get started.
Perhaps the Lord has planted a bigger mission in your mind. Here's an example. Maybe you feel called to mission work, but feel overwhelmed by the journey. Volunteer once a week at a downtown shelter helping others. Take a one week, short-term mission trip. Start somewhere. Learn more about God's mission for you. In the process, you will learn more about yourself and the person you need to become through God's grace.
God has equipped all of us to Do Something. Your journey in life is to figure what your "Do" is, and then go out and Do it!
So, have you figured out your "Do," and are you Doing It?
Good reminder to simply start some where. Often times looking at the vastness of the challenge ahead causes one to be discouraged. But all projects/journeys are compled by taken one step after another.
ReplyDeleteThats right. We all need some inspiration from time to time. After all Jesus takes the time to tell us all that we have "talents" and that we are not supposed to bury them in the dirt. We are to be a light on the hill. Sounds like these "Do Lectures" could be worth checking out. Thanks for posting about this..
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