Let's start this newsletter a little different. Let's
get interactive! :)
This will only take a minute so please play along...
Pull out a sheet of paper and on the left hand side write
"The Most Important Things in My Life." Now, on the right hand
side of the page write "What I Wish For."
Underneath that left column, make a list of the three most
important things in your life. These would be the top three
things that you value, that motivate you, that inspire you...
that drive you to live life each and every day.
Next, underneath the right hand column, write down the top
three things you would wish for if you had three wishes. These
could be anything (expect for more wishes). Don't spend too
much time thinking on this one, just write the first three
things down that pop into your head. Be 100% honest with
yourself and jot down what you would wish for if you could
have any three wishes granted right now.
Make your lists first! Don't be sneaky and try to read
on until you have your two lists complete...
Now take moment to look at your two lists.
I would be willing to bet that a majority of the things you
listed as most important to you were relational in nature...
such as God, family, friends, etc. I would also be willing to
guess that the items you listed as your wishes were more
physical or material in nature... such as a new house, better
job, more money, etc.
Am I right? If so, do you find that odd? Look over your
lists again. Shouldn't what you wish for be a little closer
match of what you consider to be most important in your life?
Now don't get me wrong, some of you probably have some pretty
noble and downright admirable wish lists, such as world peace
or finding a cure for AIDS but my guess is that the vast
majority of us have a wish list that is fairly self serving
with at least 2 of your 3 wishes being for something
financially/personally motivated versus something relationally
motivated as found in our "most important" list.
I could be right or I could be wrong, it's just a theory I
have. For the sake of the illustration, I liken the WISH list
to the things we think about often. Maybe our short-term
goals, our daily desires or our conscious thoughts.
The things we view as important, well, lets just say these
are more liken to the overall big scheme of things that we
know in our soul should be our life's direction. Just think
about it... let someone ask you what you value most and you
will almost automatically answer "God, family, friends." We
know that is how it really should be but the point of
this little exercise is to demonstrate that often "how it
should be" is really not "how it is." If we hold certain
things in the highest importance and value then our conscious
thoughts should always be connected to them in one way or
another.
If God or family is something we say is most important to
us then why is it that most of us really don't take time out
of each day for prayer? Why is it that so many of us are
working 50-60 hour weeks to be able to afford extras like a
$70+ a month cable bill or multi-trip addiction to the $4
double latte at Starbucks versus being okay with having a
little less "material" but more quality time with our
families, our kids and those we love. Why is it that we seem
almost conditioned by our WISH list to put self inflicted
burdens and financial obligations onto our lives that cause
many of us to loose focus of what we value most?
Why do I think this is true? This imbalance of what we wish
for versus what we consider important... Spend some time with
an elderly person and ask them what they would do over again
in their life if they could. For most, the answer is
overwhelmingly that they would spend more time with those they
love (the most important) rather than being so caught up in
accomplishments and things (the wishes).
If your wish list doesn't bear a closer resemblance to what
you value most then you are probably feeling disconnected.
Disconnected from yourself, from God, and from your purpose.
If this sounds like you then your current wish list might
bring you the occasional burst of satisfaction when an item or
two is achieved or attained but the real truth is it continues
to be an empty pursuit until you can redirect your conscious
desires to that of what you value most in your life. Things
and gadgets, promotions and raises, big houses and cars, etc.
are healthy when they are in balance. When the "stuff" or the
"wish list" becomes more important in our daily choices than
the things we value most... then there is a problem.
As the old saying goes... "Be careful for what you wish
for, you just might get it." My question to you is will you
get a life filled with purpose? A life of love and
relationships with others? Or... will you get a life of empty
wishes? A life of things you love but a life of things
that can't love you back. A life spent trying to impress
others so much that you loose who you are in the process.
Spend some time to reflect on your wish list and begin to
choose to wish on things that help you create a life of
purpose, passion and significance. Let your wishes grant you
strengthened relationship with those you value most.
Your friend in kindness,
-Daniel
