A while back, I wrote about my little boy learning to crawl. Though he took a while to get moving in the right direction, the motivation to move came easily for him. Not so with my firstborn. She hated being on her belly and thus crawling was the last thing on her mind. It wasn’t until we visited a family member with a little dog that she was willing to to get moving. One look at that wagging tail and she was flat on her belly and pushing off in no time. We could have clapped our hands and smiled all day long, but the little animal her size was the push she needed.
Image by Busy Bev
I also need some extra motivation when it comes to mission. I can easily make it through days, weeks, and months with doing little for those outside of my first and second concentric circles. Though i want to believe that the Spirit within me will stir me up on my own and ‘I don’t need any assistance, thank you.’ That’s just not the case for me.
For me, I’ve found motivation in a few key places. This list is certainly not exhaustive, but it’s a start.
- Examples. For my daughter, she needed someone on her level to demonstrate moving forward. For me, I need to see people like me that are busy working for the good of others. Though personal study and reflection is helpful, there’s nothing more powerful than seeing someone happily serving others in a radical way to make me want to get my hands dirty. You know…Paul did this. He said, ‘Follow my example, as I follow Christ’s example.’ I need to find people worthy of following and hang out around them enough to fan the fire.
- Diligence and duty. Sometimes I just need to get busy doing something for others. I have so many good intentions..so many grace oriented ideas that cross my mind during the days. But, I get busy and before I know it, the opportunity has passed and my idea never bore fruit. I need to put these ideas at the top of my to do list for the day and eat that frog first thing.
- Company. I’m pretty sure the reason my son was so eager to crawl was the fact that he wanted to join his sister in the fun. I’m almost daily surprised by what one child will do when in the company of another. There’s something powerful about community. Too often, I never share my ideas of serving with others or I plan to do it all myself. If I would just invite a friend or two to join me, I’d not only have the accountability to follow through but also help and encouragement I need to make the intention a reality. There must be a reason that Jesus gathered 12 disciples and not just 1. I need to remember that He rarely called one away by Himself-they were at least two by two.
Image by Callieco
Here’s a little example:
My goal is to know my neighbors better. So…
- I can look for friends at church and even in my neighborhood who are doing a great (or even just a pretty good) job at engaging their neighbors
- I can set some goals and do a few small things to reach my neighbors…just small things like inviting one over for dessert or delivering a fresh loaf of bread next door
- I can tell a few of my nearby neighbors about my thoughts and goals and ask them to join me. Maybe we could even exchange some ideas and talk about ways to share the load together. And then, celebrate the small victories together.
What motivates you toward mission? How do you keep going or get yourself going in the first place?
Related posts:
- Where Everybody Knows Your Name I was recently talking with a friend about desiring permanence...
- Be My Valentine…Redeemed I can remember a Valentine’s Day when I was in...
- Going Together? Change Your ETA When my husband and I made the choice to get...
- Scripture Says That? As I’ve made a new commitment to read through Scripture...
- Celebrate Easter-Mourn This week we’re talking about Easter and unique ways to...
Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.
{ 1 comment… read it below or add one }
I agree – on level community pushing or encouraging me to get going is really helpful.
The other thought that’s been really shoving me lately, is this idea of eternal weight, or the idea of things bearing weight on eternity – that every investment toward eternity is worth the greatest amount – more than anything else momentary. And in some way, what we do does invest in eternity, either by removing ourselves from the story or by adding beauty to the future through what we choose to do today. This becomes even more evident when I think about Abraham – his life blessing generations upon generations upon generations. I am a small person – like one or two loaves only and maybe one fish – but God can multiply that to feed thousands, not because of me or who I am, but because and on account of him and who he is.
Anyway – That motivates me toward mission.
And the idea that I might waste my life only living for me and never touch anyone unless they were convenient or easy – shoved me. Also, this wise couple challenged the legitimacy of a faith that doesn’t bear fruit…
May God give us fruit and feed thousands with it! Thanks for this post – sorry for my long-windedness.
Lora’s last blog post..Worshipping Myself.