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“The Tragedy of the Unopened Gift” by Gregg Levoy

“To sinful patterns of behavior that never get confronted and changed,
abilities and gifts that never get cultivated and deployed-
until weeks become months
and months turn into years,
and one day you’re looking back on a life of
deep, intimate, gut-wrenchingly honest conversations you never had;
great bold prayers you never prayed,
exhilarating risks you never took,
sacrificial gifts you never offered,
lives you never touched,
and you’re sitting in a recliner with a shriveled soul,
and forgotten dreams, and you realize there was a world of desperate need,
and a great God calling you to be part of something bigger than yourself –
you see the person you could have become but did not;
You never followed your calling.
You never got out of the boat.”

Great opportunities await us regardless of age or stage of life. What will we choose? Will we fall back into patterns of mediocre living or will we propel forward with new habits? Will we resist the current of constant distraction or will we learn the joy of singular attention and focused presence? Will we make room for God or continue to be controlled by the whims of the moment and the exhaustion of the night before?

Live boldly! Risk developing deep relationships. Break out of the old ways that are holding you back. Dive into the calling and mission God has for your life. Face the broken places within you and courageously seek healing. Believe that God loves you passionately and desires your trust and affection. Cast aside the voices telling you that your dreams will never happen and hear the voice of the One who made you for a grand purpose. Decide now that you want real life, not the counterfeit insanity masking itself as success. Take time now and write down what will be different, starting today. By your actions and choices, become the person you know you were meant to be.

Bold living may be scary. It may be difficult. It will likely include failures along the way. Don’t be deterred. Get up and keep going. The only failure is not trying. Live boldly!

 

Join the discussion 9 Comments

  • Fred Larmore says:

    Amen. We all have dreams unlived. We’ve all focused on the immediate rather than the significant at some point in our lives. No time like the present to get out of the boat and see where God’s current will take someone.

  • Justin Bieber says:

    I like this post a lot!

  • John Dozier says:

    Amen. And Amen. “And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all.” (1 Thessalonians 5:14 )

  • So inspirational! Thank you Tommy!

  • Mom (Stella) Thompson says:

    I like what you say. Wish I had given it more thought years ago. At this stage of my life just getting o ut of bed is bold, cooking supper is bold, going to the grocery store is bold, so is driving a car. Bold takes on a whole new meaning but I do like to think about the little things I do do as
    bold. It is a word of strength (I can, I will). It is a word of love for those you love not to cause worry. When your energy leaves you it is the easy way out to let somebody take care of you. I like the word. I like “the only failure is not trying”. Good message.

    Hope your trip is everything you hoped. Praying for yo u daily. Stay safe. All fine here. xoxoMom

  • Jaime Markham says:

    I have a “my intent” bracelet that says “be bold” on it that I wear. I found that I would write these words in pen on my wrist before a presentation or hard conversation as a reminder to be bold and it really helped. Love this message

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