Today we begin the second-to-last phase of the 60 Days of Dreaming challenge: Celebrate.
ENGAGING THOUGHT
ENGAGING THOUGHT
I have a friend who for his birthday one year took himself out for a fabulous steak-dinner to celebrate. Just himself. No one else was invited. It wasn't one of those milestone birthdays that mark a decade or anything else significant - so he didn't feel the need to make big deal of it. When he told me about it (after the fact) I started to give him a significant ribbing - but I couldn't really come up with a valid reason why he shouldn't have celebrated by himself, if that's what he wanted to do. Instead I gave him a hard time for denying me the opportunity of a great steak-dinner.
How are you when it comes to celebrating? Are you ready to throw a party at the drop-of-a-hat? Are you more the type to reserve celebrations for bigger causes? I don't think we need to be shy at all when it comes to celebrating our accomplishments. If we've worked hard and persevered, why not celebrate it?
In our culture we have no problem celebrating significant accomplishments or achievements - but why not celebrate the smaller accomplishments which make up the larger pursuit? I believe it does our hearts and morale a great deal of good to step back from a milestone (even if it's somewhat minor) and pat ourselves on the back - maybe even applaud our efforts thus far. Would it kill you to reward yourself for your hard work?
Point of fact, I'd contend that if you don't take time to celebrate your "wins" along the way you run the risk of burning-out of the pursuit altogether. Remember our goal: to discover, pursue, and live God's DREAM for our lives - not to struggle and suffer without reward. Celebrations along the way give us something to look forward to and to remember while in the midst of our next tough season of the DREAM-pursuit. And besides, any excuse for a great steak is legitimate, right?
How are you when it comes to celebrating? Are you ready to throw a party at the drop-of-a-hat? Are you more the type to reserve celebrations for bigger causes? I don't think we need to be shy at all when it comes to celebrating our accomplishments. If we've worked hard and persevered, why not celebrate it?
In our culture we have no problem celebrating significant accomplishments or achievements - but why not celebrate the smaller accomplishments which make up the larger pursuit? I believe it does our hearts and morale a great deal of good to step back from a milestone (even if it's somewhat minor) and pat ourselves on the back - maybe even applaud our efforts thus far. Would it kill you to reward yourself for your hard work?
Point of fact, I'd contend that if you don't take time to celebrate your "wins" along the way you run the risk of burning-out of the pursuit altogether. Remember our goal: to discover, pursue, and live God's DREAM for our lives - not to struggle and suffer without reward. Celebrations along the way give us something to look forward to and to remember while in the midst of our next tough season of the DREAM-pursuit. And besides, any excuse for a great steak is legitimate, right?
ACTION STEP
Today's ACTION STEP is entirely self-serving - but you deserve it, right?
Throw yourself a party to celebrate how far you've come in the pursuit of God's DREAM for your life. Make it as elaborate as you wish. It can be anything from a Facebook post (go ahead, USE ALL CAPS!), to a special lunch, to an elaborate 3-week long celebration complete with fireworks and circus-clowns. It's your party, make it as big or as small as you want.
Throw yourself a party to celebrate how far you've come in the pursuit of God's DREAM for your life. Make it as elaborate as you wish. It can be anything from a Facebook post (go ahead, USE ALL CAPS!), to a special lunch, to an elaborate 3-week long celebration complete with fireworks and circus-clowns. It's your party, make it as big or as small as you want.
Tomorrow we'll raise an "Ebenezer." Don't know what that means? You'll find out.
No comments:
Post a Comment