Comments on: Thought Provoking ? http://www.naker.us/WordPress/archives/2006/04/05/thought-provoking/ Well, at least my mother thinks they are . . . Fri, 30 Jul 2010 10:26:30 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=1.5.2 Comment on Thought Provoking ? by: Lowis http://www.naker.us/WordPress/archives/2006/04/05/thought-provoking/#comment-54 Sat, 15 Apr 2006 15:45:40 +0000 http://www.naker.us/WordPress/archives/2006/04/05/thought-provoking/#comment-54 Sometimes I honestly think it is better to successfully manage a normal life(or mediocre, if you prefer). We bring so much discontent into our lives and the lives of those we are closest to by having expectations and standards that we and others continually fail to meet. Lower your standards and you frankly lower your stress. The key to living the striving life is to balance the striving with graceful acceptance of the inevitable failings of yourself and others. That is no easy balancing act! Surely St. Paul strove for excellence and yet, in Philippians, he was also able to say that he had learned to be content in whatever circumstance. In chapter 4, he encouraged us to think on ANY encouragement, on whatever is lovely, good, pure... For far too many people, the striving for excellence and making a difference drive out all such thoughts. So, for the sake of one's peace of mind and the mental and emotional health of your families, if one cannot balance striving with acceptance, going for a less dramatic and more ordinary life just might yield extraordinary results in the long run. Sometimes I honestly think it is better to successfully manage a normal life(or mediocre, if you prefer). We bring so much discontent into our lives and the lives of those we are closest to by having expectations and standards that we and others continually fail to meet. Lower your standards and you frankly lower your stress.

The key to living the striving life is to balance the striving with graceful acceptance of the inevitable failings of yourself and others. That is no easy balancing act! Surely St. Paul strove for excellence and yet, in Philippians, he was also able to say that he had learned to be content in whatever circumstance. In chapter 4, he encouraged us to think on ANY encouragement, on whatever is lovely, good, pure… For far too many people, the striving for excellence and making a difference drive out all such thoughts.

So, for the sake of one’s peace of mind and the mental and emotional health of your families, if one cannot balance striving with acceptance, going for a less dramatic and more ordinary life just might yield extraordinary results in the long run.

]]> Comment on Thought Provoking ? by: Greg http://www.naker.us/WordPress/archives/2006/04/05/thought-provoking/#comment-53 Fri, 07 Apr 2006 15:37:29 +0000 http://www.naker.us/WordPress/archives/2006/04/05/thought-provoking/#comment-53 From an anonymous friend via email: "My answer is not an acceptable answer probably. I say strive to submit to God and let His Spirit work in your life. Recognize His grace in your life. Live trying to love Him and others and you won't be working alone so, you will please the important One which makes all the difference in this world and eternity. The right answer to what you ask is strive to make a difference--for right--in the world." From an anonymous friend via email:
“My answer is not an acceptable answer probably. I say strive to submit to God and let His Spirit work in your life. Recognize His grace in your life. Live trying to love Him and others and you won’t be working alone so, you will please the important One which makes all the difference in this world and eternity.
The right answer to what you ask is strive to make a difference–for right–in the world.”

]]> Comment on Thought Provoking ? by: AaronWatson http://www.naker.us/WordPress/archives/2006/04/05/thought-provoking/#comment-52 Thu, 06 Apr 2006 01:28:50 +0000 http://www.naker.us/WordPress/archives/2006/04/05/thought-provoking/#comment-52 As to the original question, one must strive to excel, and proceed to do so. Falling short of goals along the way should lead to wisdom, allowing a new path to goals. Mediocrity is not living, it is merely dying by degrees... As to the original question, one must strive to excel, and proceed to do so.

Falling short of goals along the way should lead to wisdom, allowing a new path to goals.

Mediocrity is not living, it is merely dying by degrees…

]]> Comment on Thought Provoking ? by: jreighley http://www.naker.us/WordPress/archives/2006/04/05/thought-provoking/#comment-51 Wed, 05 Apr 2006 22:49:30 +0000 http://www.naker.us/WordPress/archives/2006/04/05/thought-provoking/#comment-51 It is certainly best to live a life of faith and obedience. If you do this, your life will be extraordinary. Although it many not seem so from the perspective of the outside world. Our culture often defines greatness based on wealth, fame, power, or appearance. If we pursue these things too intently often we wind up compromising other aspects of our life. I believe that if we really want something, we are all capable of obtaining it. It is just a matter of what we have to sacrifice in order to obtain what we are chasing. Our character and our identity should not be sacrificed to obtain anything. When we do, we get what we are after but it doesn't feel like it is us who gets there. I think that much of the depression is cause by placing our hope in life's landmarks. When I graduate things will be great. When I get married things will be great. When I get a good job, things will be great. When I have kids, things will be great. When I get a promotion, things will be great. Once my kids move out, things will be great. Once I get out of this marriage, things will be great. Once I get re-married, things will be great. Once I retire, things will be great. The truth is that once we reach these landmarks, we are still us, and things are not much different. After each stage, there is a letdown as our false hope is exposed. If we learn to rejoice in today, and be great every day, then we escape the cycle of hope in tommorow and start being great today. Remember John 13:12- 17 - <blockquote>12 When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. "Do you understand what I have done for you?" he asked them. 13 "You call me 'Teacher' and 'Lord,' and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet. 15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. 16 I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.</blockquote> Sometimes greatness is defined backwards from what everyone thinks! It is certainly best to live a life of faith and obedience. If you do this, your life will be extraordinary. Although it many not seem so from the perspective of the outside world.

Our culture often defines greatness based on wealth, fame, power, or appearance. If we pursue these things too intently often we wind up compromising other aspects of our life.

I believe that if we really want something, we are all capable of obtaining it. It is just a matter of what we have to sacrifice in order to obtain what we are chasing.

Our character and our identity should not be sacrificed to obtain anything. When we do, we get what we are after but it doesn’t feel like it is us who gets there.

I think that much of the depression is cause by placing our hope in life’s landmarks. When I graduate things will be great. When I get married things will be great. When I get a good job, things will be great. When I have kids, things will be great. When I get a promotion, things will be great. Once my kids move out, things will be great. Once I get out of this marriage, things will be great. Once I get re-married, things will be great. Once I retire, things will be great. The truth is that once we reach these landmarks, we are still us, and things are not much different. After each stage, there is a letdown as our false hope is exposed.

If we learn to rejoice in today, and be great every day, then we escape the cycle of hope in tommorow and start being great today.

Remember John 13:12- 17 -

12 When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. 13 “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. 15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. 16 I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.

Sometimes greatness is defined backwards from what everyone thinks!

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