Are you living life to the fullest?

This past week or so I have been blah.  It has not been an explainable blah, but blah nonetheless.  I guess there is a whole lot going on in my head and sorting it all out has been challenging.  


In speaking with a friend, I began to see that maybe this was God trying to tell me something.  Maybe these walls that i felt I was running into might be God's way of having me relook at things.  


So then, I workout this morning.  (It still amazes me sometimes how God works and puts all these pieces into my head so that things make sense.)  I programmed many songs into my mp3 player this morning so i put it on shuffle just to get a variety.  2 songs that came on went right along with everything in my head.  

Gloria - Watermark
I wish I could crash like the waves and turn like the autumn breeze - In effort to praise You
I wish I could smell like the forest, the fragrance lifting a mighty chorus - In effort to praise You
In effort to praise
But I'm such a limited creature - And my words can only paint so many pictures
But somewhere I think I read that I am treasured over all creation - So I know that I must try
I wish I could roll like the thunder, to leave the earth below in wonder - In effort to praise You
I wish I could fall like the summer rain and every drop would sing Your name - In effort to praise You
But I'm such a limited creature - And my words can only paint so many pictures
But somewhere I'm sure I read that I am treasured over all creation - So I know that I must try
Gloria, glory in the highest - Forever I will hide myself in Thee
Oh, gloria - Glory in the highest - Forever I will hide myself in Thee
Every breath that I breathe, every moment in my history - Is an effort to praise You
Glory in the highest - Forever I will hide myself in Thee
Oh, Gloria - Glory in excelsis Deo


So this song got me thinking.  I am a perfectionist in many ways.  In many ways, my ego really likes to take over and really likes to be in control.  What I find happens then, a lot of times, is that in an effort to live the life that I am supposed to be living -- I get stuck.  I don't want to fail.  I don't want to upset anyone.  I don't want that uncertainty that comes next.  I want control.  

Now with all this swimming around in my head, I really was pushing the eliptical trainer that much faster. This is when the next song came on.

All Creatures of our God and King (redone by David Crowder)
All creatures of our God and King - Lift up your voice and with us sing
Oh, praise Him Alleluia
Thou burning sun with golden beam - Thou silver moon with softer gleam
Oh, praise Him - Oh, praise Him
Alleluia Alleluia Alleluia



So what does it all mean?  
Many times in life we find ourselves searching.  We, perhaps, know what the next step of the day, the moment, the life is.  We know what we need to be doing.  For some reason though, we don't.  Perhaps it is fear, perhaps uncertainty.  But when we pause to look at the rest of creation doing what they need to be doing, being what that need to be being -- what do we find?  


Does a dog say, "Oh no, I might not dig this hole quite right -- so I guess I won't dig at all?"
Does a tree not go through the growing process because it is scared to get a little taller?


We are no different than the dog and the tree.  We have to take that next step of uncertainty.  We have to believe that because of God's unending love for us, that we can and will be all that we are supposed to be.  It ain't easy.  Life never is.  But it is so worth it to make those goals, to step away from the comfort zones and do whatever it is that God has put us on the earth to do - Praise and Glorify HIM.  


AMEN