If you were to live full out to win the prize, to know that you finished well, what would that look like? For most of us, if we lived full out, our life would look pretty different.
I love this quote:
“Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming “Wow! What a Ride!”
– Hunter S. Thompson
Paul (from the Bible) says something similar as well:
Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.
– 1 Cor 9:24
Just before this verse Paul is taking about trying to win people over. This isn’t talking about physically running. It’s about how we are living. I believe the prize in this verse is our life legacy, our life’s work, or if you will, our “God work”.
If the prize for you, for example, is to change 500 inner-city kids. Instead of living in fear and anger, and having no hope, you want these kids to know their value, believe in possibilities, acquire skills, grow in emotional intelligence, and see hope. If you played full out, and just kept your focus on the kids and what they need for their transformation, you probably would find a way to make it happen.
But instead, we check our bank account. We check our calendar. We then check with our feelings, and it feels uncomfortable. We look at all the obstacles in the way. Then we decide to stick to our regular life even if it feels somewhat or even a whole lot empty. “I can’t do it,” we say.
In life, many of us aren’t playing to win. Instead we’re playing to not lose. We’re staying on the well trodden paths. We’re making sure we don’t fail. We’re making sure we won’t appear foolish and that we won’t be judged.
I understand the experience. I sometimes worry that I will be judged, that people will label me as a bozo, and they’ll ask me to not come around any more. My gut knots up, and I worry in the quiet moments that maybe I’ve crossed some unspoken line with someone. I get why you might want to play it safe – to play to not lose.
But playing it safe doesn’t get us where we want to go. A play-it-safe life doesn’t inspire, and it doesn’t fill our soul. How will you feel at the end of your life when you are evaluating and in your heart of hearts you would describe it as, “I played it safe.” Ouch!
I recommend this. Instead of focusing on all the problems and obstacles, keep your eyes on the prize.
What would this prize be for you? How do you want to be influencing people? What message do you want to share with the world? What are sensing God wants to do through you? Keep your eyes these.
