DAY 55: "Erect a Memorial...Sort Of"

ENGAGING THOUGHT

There is one thing I've learned about people with tattoos: they love to talk about them.  I had a conversation with a young woman not long ago about her elaborate tattoos.  She had several of them, a few of which were highly detailed and intricate.   One in particular, a tree on her arm, she had gotten to commemorate a significant moment in her life.  It was interesting, actually.  She didn't seem interested in sharing what that moment was, so I didn't pry, but I thought it a bit ironic that she chose an incredibly public method for commemorating something she obviously wished to remain her own.  I can only imagine what would have caused her to get this permanently visible reminder as a memorial to some event.

Memorials can be significant and powerful when they are chosen with intent.  In the history of Israel there was a moment when the Israelites were once again being marauded by the neighboring Philistines.  The people of Israel asked the prophet Samuel to cry out to the Lord on their behalf, which he did, and they were given victory over their attackers.  The next verse is very interesting and significant for us as we celebrate our current progress in our DREAM-pursuit.

"Then Samuel took a stone and set it between Mizpah and Shem [two adjacent cities], and named it Ebenezer, saying, "Thus far the Lord has helped us."
                                                                                         - 1 Samuel 7.12 (NASB)

If you didn't catch the gist of that verse, Samuel erected a memorial to commemorate that the Lord had helped them get to that point of victory.  This stone memorial would serve as a visual reminder for generations to come of the Lord's favor and their progress forward in His DREAM for Israel.  How many times over the next centuries would a little child ask their father or mother what that stone with the goofy name was all about?  Each time the story would be recalled and passed on to a new generation.  How many times did someone waffling in their faith look over and see that stone - and be reminded that they were not alone and that the Lord, their God, had helped them before?

Let's state the facts: 1) you've started out on the pursuit of God's DREAM for your life; 2) you're making progress forward.  Why wouldn't you commemorate this in some way?  What symbol or memento might serve to remind you when the going gets tough in the next stage of your DREAM-pursuit?  I'm not suggesting an elaborate arm-tattoo, necessarily, but the right memorial-object, chosen to commemorate your progress, might make all the difference in the right moment later on. 

ACTION STEP

For today's ACTION STEP you get to create some sort of memorial in honor of your progress on God's DREAM for your life.  Remember, this memorial is for you and will serve as a reminder to you that you can successfully pursue the DREAM because you have already made progress. 

It doesn't have to be anything large or obtrusive; it needn't be anything expensive or elaborate.  I would suggest that it not have too practical of a purpose - you want it to have little role other than as a reminder.  Maybe you should follow Samuel's example: choose a rock and write "Ebenezer" on it, then place it on your desk or bathroom counter.  I guarantee you'll have plenty of occasions to explain the purpose and meaning behind it - which will serve as an effective reminder!  

Tomorrow we'll do what we should have done after all those birthdays growing up.