Change Everything But Me
As people – we’re addicted to comfort. Even as I’ve encountered other cultures and socio-economic classes around the world, I think this is universally true. But the difference between the first world and the third world is that most of us in the first world have the financial means to do what – in our own minds – we think will make us comfortable.
Rarely does our pursuit of comfort make itself clearly visible. Rather, it disguises itself in more seemingly altruistic disguises – the pursuit of a passion, the establishment of a friendship or perhaps the opportunity to experience something new. Now, obviously, these things are not inherently evil, and so there is often a genuineness in them. The danger comes when they are the shroud of an attempt at comfort.
I have a friend who’s a lot like me and you. She’s wants to accomplish things, but she wants to do it with as little work as possible. The result : laziness. When things weren’t panning out for her writing career here in Orlando, she began to complain.
“Orlando’s just not a creative enough environment for me. I need to be around people that can inspire me to write,” she said. Months later, she moved to Los Angeles. Two years later, she’s still not writing. She’s still unhappy. The only thing that has changed is that she lives in a different city.
It’s a classic case of the “if only” syndrome. The musician knowing they could write a hit record “if only I had that guitar.” Or the filmmaker knowing they could create that Academy Award winning film “if only I lived in LA.” Or the husband who thinks he could be a better one “if only we didn’t have such financial troubles.”
“If only I had…”
“If only I lived in…”
“If only I could…”
“If only he or she had done…”
“If only I knew…”
Bottom line : In our pursuit of comfort, we try to change everything but ourselves to achieve it.
I think that’s why a lot of the people I’ve heard say these things or begin to live them out have simultaneously turned away from God. It’s much easier to blame everything else, but all the while, God is saying, “what needs to change is your heart, your life, your actions.”
The truth is that what we’re really looking for isn’t comfort. That’s why there are so many unhappy millionaires and executives and rock stars and professors. They’ve reached the pinnacle of their field, and still haven’t resolved that unsettled pursuit of comfort.
What we’re looking for is peace, and peace comes from one place – going to bed each night knowing that we’ve spent the day living out God’s dreams for our lives.
So, today, if you find yourself restless, root out the “if onlys” in your life. Take responsibility. And begin living the life you were made to live.
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Reminds me of something my mom says: If you are unhappy where you are, you can run away, but you’ll just take the problem with you… (she’s a life coach)
I’ve watched people move, but the new city turns out not to be a green pasture either…
Some people do find contentedness in a new place, but they are usually people who were already at home with themselves to start with…
I’m working at being content where I am and in my own skin…and stop putting things off… But for me, it’s such a long process… I won’t wake up tomorrow and feel better about everything… but each conversation with God helps to change emotions & thinking just a bit… It’s a lot of work.
As a youth leader, I think I see this more with high schoolers. I suppose it's the Y generation (WHY, as I refer to it) and their lack of zeal to do anything. Granted, most of them do not have the push coming from home, so I'm glad they have leaders to turn to, and it also may have to do with their motivation level not being at its peak just yet. I was just talking with a kid the other day about how he is more motivated to play XBOX than do his homework or go to school. He looked at me with such a blank face, and gave me a "So…" look. It was disturbing. From there, I felt like encouragement was needed most.
I think it is at this time in life that motivation to be the change we are called to be is either revved up or it comes to a slow putter. Personally, I'm glad God has placed me as a youth leader now to help start the revving, but in the end, you're right – it comes down to us, and shaping our hearts for what God desires. Ultimately, that is where the motivation kicks in.
This is quite insightful to the pursuit of our "American Dream." i heard John Piper say once that we are called to "forsake the American Dream." I agree with him. It is a veil placed over our eyes that focuses so much on ourselves and then we become so infatuated by what we have.
Reminds me of something my mom says: If you are unhappy where you are, you can run away, but you’ll just take the problem with you… (she’s a life coach)
I’ve watched people move, but the new city turns out not to be a green pasture either…
Some people do find contentedness in a new place, but they are usually people who were already at home with themselves to start with…
I’m working at being content where I am and in my own skin…and stop putting things off… But for me, it’s such a long process… I won’t wake up tomorrow and feel better about everything… but each conversation with God helps to change emotions & thinking just a bit… It’s a lot of work.
i really needed to read this…you're speaking right to me…yikes. this is a tough thing to realize about yourself.
thanks for writing this.
Thanks for reading
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