Tuesday, July 24, 2012

One Decision


I sat alone in a room soon to be filled with a few hundred screaming, giggling, and overjoyed high school students. Coming with a friend up into the mountains during vacation, memories flood of the past years of directing similar events, hoping the quiet empty room I now sit in, I will drown out the noise shattering inside of me.

Perfection.

It’s required. Without it, you’re not first; and if you’re not first you’re last.  I’ve relived, remembered, redone, tried to remove, and with every repeating memory, replenished the judgment and shame on myself. A single mistake, regardless of its significance, can cause a train wreck of internal disorder.

Growing up, trouble seemed to always be at my door. Fun was the driving force behind every action, thought, hour, or day without concern for rules or discipline.  Nevertheless, if punishment were to come, it couldn’t come quick enough. Once discipline made its mark, I could move to once again look to become the best, to achieve perfection, hoping next time, I wouldn’t spoil His plan for my life again.  His plan is perfect, and to stay on His plan, I must remain perfect as if my life is a board-game, only the perfect role will land me on the intended space.

Easy to read, hear, think, ever difficult to truly know; that regardless of my mistakes, I am deeply loved. Regardless of my continual failed pursuit of perfection. I am deeply loved. Regardless of the consequences, the brokenness I create, I am deeply loved.  Regardless of how I view me, I am forever deeply loved.

Regardless, I still don’t believe it.

I always come back to a time, sitting on bench with a close friend. Explaining to him my impending life decision, he stopped my rambling and gave am unforgettable slap on the wrist:

Who do you think you are? Why do you think you are so big? Do you really think that you are powerful enough to mess up God’s plan for your life in one decision? Mistake or correct, pursue Him, His plan is bigger than you.”

I want to believe it.

 I will.

1 comment:

Anthony said...

Fantastic. Listening and reading to what you have to say shows who you truly are as an individual. It is apparent that your direction in life is set in the right path, leading a life that would make Him proud. All of your blogs that I have read through are inspirational. Art is the most intense mode of individualism that the world has ever known, and you exhibit just that. Your words paint a canvas of your life, and portray your deepest thoughts and emotions. It takes courage to grow up and turn out to be who you really are, and it is never too late to be who you might have been. In life, the true measure of an individual is how he treats a person who can do him absolutely no good and the only journey is the journey within. Always follow your honest convictions, and stay strong.

Two of my favorite quotes would finish off this comment perfectly.

"Here is the test to find whether your mission on Earth is finished: if you’re alive, it isn’t."
- Richard Bach

&

"You are your own scriptwriter and the play is never finished, no matter what your age or position in life."
- Dennis Waitley