Thursday, August 25, 2011

Don't Be Afraid to Take a Big Step

Big Step.


 Thomas Huxley many years ago said, "Do what you should do, when you should do it, whether you feel like it or not."

I thought I would take a break from my short story lessons this morning to share some thoughts with you.  Isn't life funny?  You think you have it all figured out and then God shakes the world just a little (for some of us, literally) and the game board is changed.  And we start all over.

The amazing thing that happens when we start over is that a lot of people don't get it.  You see, I like do-overs.  I like the idea of a fresh start, a chance to do it better this time, but an awful lot of people don't.  They're stuck in what their original plan was and they can't see anything else.  So they do it all over again, even if it wasn't good the first time.  

It doesn't matter that they weren't successful.  It doesn't matter that it caused great pain.  It doesn't even matter that it will hurt others.  All they can see is this one way, this one path and, pardon the phrase, come hell or high water that's what they will do.  No matter how many times they start over, they end up in the same place.  And they don't understand why.

"Do what you should do."  Why is that so hard?  As I watch the people around me, I am amazed that they are really at a loss as to what it is they should do.  Did no one ever teach them?  Did they miss those lessons?  And if these adults don't know, what chance do their children have of learning those lessons?

"When you should do it."  Mr. Huxley doesn't say whenever you get around to it.  He tells us to do it now, when it needs to be done.  He is saying that there is no gain in procrastination or postponing.  Imagine all the things we miss out on because we didn't do it when it should have been done.  Remember the story of the man who gets to heaven and finds the box with his name on it, with all the gifts God had for him that he never got simply because he didn't get around to asking for them?

"Whether you feel like it or not."  Now here's the really tough part.  There are an awful lot of people today who live by doing what "feels right or good."  If it doesn't feel good, then they won't do it.  After all, life's too short to do anything else, right?  Wrong! 

When you do what you should do, when you should do it, whether you feel like it or not, an amazing thing happens.  You feel good about yourself.  Other people feel good about you.  And...you find that you're ready for the next challenge, whatever it may be. 

So today I challenge you, do at least one thing:  "Do what you should do, when you should do it, whether you feel like it or not."


Big Step.

Don't be afraid to take a big step.  You can't cross a chasm in two small jumps.
David Lloyd George


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