Today my wife and children start their roadtrip to NYC. My teaching series continues in Minnesota so I will be unable to go with them. I wish I was there, especially to handle the drive through the mountains of Pennsylvania. Sure I will think of them, call them, and pray for their safe arrival but I cannot let that overshadow my responsibilities in St. Paul. In New York my family will enjoying shopping, eating their favorite foods, and catching up with family. If I chose to I could spend my days thinking about everything that I might miss out on. That might turn out to be a bit depressing. It would also cause me to think less of the great people and places I’m being introduced to here.
Sometimes we can’t get past the narcisstic elements of social media. Everyone takes pictures or makes comments on the things that they’re doing. Sure some people are creating a false identity but that’s easy to forget. On my twitter timeline there are some people that I’m following who are doing some pretty amazing things. Taking trips, speaking engagements, video projects – you name it they are doing it and more. I could spend my days looking on the internet wishing to be like them or I could accept that fact that we are taking different roads in our lives. The more I try to be like someone else the more likely I’ll miss out on all the great sites along the road to where I’m going.
A friend shared with me how one of his college professors always told his class to “Stay in your lane”. One day I’ll get to the place where I’m doing bigger, better, and more. Until then I’m content to stay in my lane.
There is no other way to live a happy and utterly fulfilled life, than to live in your lane. No one can navigate the terrain of your lane like you can. Max Lucado calls it the sweet spot. The apostle Paul describes it as, learning to be content at whatever stage of life he finds himself in. Similarly, Paul prescribe the antidote for all who find temptation in not staying in their own lane in Phillipians 4:6-7: “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be mde known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts an dminds through Christ Jesus” (NKJV).
I totally agree. Contentment. The sweet spot. Love it!