"Success to Significance"
Harvard Gulch Park—Denver, CO
WHERE: Harvard Gulch Park. Look for the bench east of the parking lot, down the hill and overlooking the golf course.
WHEN: Anytime, but the birds were super chirpy around 4:00pm
BLESSED SPOT: Go find the bench, stand or sit and read.
Find this bench, have a seat or stand nearby
“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”
—Matthew 11:28-30
“Success to Significance”
My friend Adrienne recommended the book “Half Time” by Bob Buford. I didn’t realize at the time how important the theme of the book would be to me now. The gist of the book is about moving from striving for success to achieving significance. Half time is a pause in our lives to contemplate what life has brought us so far, to examine our wins, our failures, the plays that worked and those that did not. To contemplate or come to the realization that what we have been striving for (success) is fleeting and doesn’t satisfy. That as we get older, or are faced with a crisis like this—it is time to change our perspective and our motivation.
C19 has forced us into “half time.” A unique time to stop, pause, and evaluate what is really important in our lives. To forgive ourselves, to forgive others, to leave behind regrets, to confess a stronghold, to celebrate a past victory, or to heal a past wound. A time to bind together with family and virtually with friends and neighbors. C19 has a way of boiling down and distilling life to the essentials. I am finding myself more resourceful, more careful with my possessions, more aware of the things that delight me, and more acutely in touch with my feelings. More willing to sit with my partner and talk about what really matters.
A friend posted this today on Facebook and I thought it was great..
“In the rush to return to normal, use this time to consider which parts are worth rushing back to.” —Dave Hollis
Today is my birthday and what I valued most was a video call with my roommates from college (we have known each other for 30 years). We laughed, bantered, recounted stories, and encouraged each other. I am holding dear these authentic and genuine moments. I am embracing the moments when the grief overtakes us and we just have to cry. Or the exhilaration when a verse seems to pop to life, or the breeze that feels especially refreshing, or the food we made was crazy good, or enjoying that one, two or three glasses of wine. The walks I am taking are bitter sweet, I have never been so grateful for that small freedom to walk around my neighborhood and so heartbroken for lives lost and the multitude of people suffering as I write this.
This is your divine appointment!
You were brought to this bench for a reason. I believe that God is having a divine appointment with you. I prayed for his presence to blanket this space, that it would vibrate with His power. If you are someone that is angry at God, doesn’t believe He is at the helm, is frustrated at the hypocritical Christians, and wants to scrape religion off your shoe—this is for you. If you are sitting here and realize you have a unique opportunity to move from seeking success to striving for significance—this is for you.
I am praying that God blows your mind and that he shows up and speaks to you in your language. I pray that what ever the messed up world has taught you about God will be stripped down to the truth. I pray that He he woos you. I don’t blame your anger or frustration and that you might not want to touch God with a 10-foot pole. But I think that God was made up by fallible humans. There is an ultimate truth out there, I pray it is revealed to you today as you sit on this bench. I pray that you are able to let go of the past, take the time to gather what is important and what is significant and choose those things to take with you. I am praying for amazing, deep, and heart felt connections with your children, with your parents, with friends, and with neighbors. I am praying you strive for significance and let fleeting success go.
“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” —Matthew 28-30
God even understood that religion sucked. What I love about this translation of the verses is that it is about you and God, not you and the church and God, or you and some christian leader and God, you and the hypocrite down the street…. Just you and God. “Get away with me and you’ll recover your life…keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” We have a God that truly understands our plight, our joy, our anger, our confusion, and our disbelief.
“Now that we know what we have—Jesus, this great High Priest with ready access to God—let’s not let it slip through our fingers. We don’t have a priest who is out of touch with our reality. He’s been through weakness and testing, experienced it all—all but the sin. So let’s walk right up to him and get what he is so ready to give. Take the mercy, accept the help.” — Hebrews 4:15-16
Have a different day today, one full of hope, one focused on significance.
This spot has been prayed for:
I have prayed that this space is alive with God’s spirit
I have prayed that today is the day that you see your future differently
I have prayed that today God looks different and the truth is revealed
I have prayed that you are energized to go forward seeking significance
I have prayed that you will have company with God today
I pray that the things that have burdened you will be made a little lighter today
Things you can do:
Write a comment, prayer, or request below
Make a list of what is most significant in your life—what you value most
Make a list of what you want to let go — so you can go forward in significance
In your own voice ask God to present Himself to you
Remember God is bigger than C-19 and this too will pass!
My Favorite Meme of the Day
