Go All In: Reflections on Faith, Purpose, and What Truly Matters
"Sometimes I sits and thinks, and sometimes I just sit."
I've met people who have turned being lazy into an art form. I'm not like that; I tend to push myself until I'm doing things that don't really matter. That's why I appreciate the quote above—it reminds me that it's important to slow down and let myself relax sometimes. People who are already good at being lazy probably don't need more downtime; they might need a push to get moving and accomplish something.
I know where to look when I want to figure out what really matters in life, what is real, and what happens after we die. We can't know for sure until it happens. If death is the end, that's one answer. If we keep on living in some way, that's a completely different answer.
What you believe about this only matters because it shapes how you live. Facts don't change based on what we believe—they exist whether we accept them or not. I might think death is the end, or that we come back as something else, or something entirely different. In the end, right after I die, I'll find out for sure.
If you believe the Bible is how God speaks to us, then it shapes what matters most. If you don't believe that, or you think the Bible is outdated, maybe you also doubt that God is real. But if God is wise enough to create everything, he can also find a way to communicate with us in a way that lasts for everyone, everywhere.
Now that we've laid out the options, how do we know if we're making the right choice? How do we decide if we should go all in and take a big risk? Here are three ideas to consider.
We can look at the scriptures to see if these things are true. If God's ways are beyond our understanding, then we turn to what he has shared with us to learn what really matters.
Spend some time in prayer and reflection to see how this fits into your life. The Bible is a complex book, and just because something is written there doesn't always mean we should follow it without thinking.
Go all in! Give it a try for a year, and if things don't improve, you can always adjust your approach.
My Understanding
Based on what I've learned from the Bible and from life, here are a few ideas to consider.
Most people know the Golden Rule, but I prefer the Platinum Rule: treat others the way they want to be treated. This shifts the focus from ourselves to the other person.
Not understanding something doesn't mean it's not true. There are things in the Bible that don't make sense to me, but I know I can't second-guess God. If I don't like how he does things, that only changes how I see it, not the reality itself.
We're given two main commandments: love God and love other people. If we focus on these, there's plenty of room to succeed, especially when we let God's guidance lead us instead of relying only on our own ideas.
People are naturally self-centered and selfish. It usually takes help from outside ourselves, like from God, to truly change how we act.
Confessions of a Fool
I've always wanted to go all in, but I never really have. I tend to stick to what's comfortable and avoid making waves. But don't spend your life just staying comfortable. Take a chance, jump in, make a splash, and don't be afraid to stand out. I promise you won't regret it.
Dance Every Day
Sing in the morning
Look for wonder
Take time to see the small.
Worship in song and dance
