Slow and Steady Wins the Race

I love watching golf and I love watching Tiger Woods play. His mental prowess along with his never ending tenacity absolutely amazes me.

One thing I noticed about Tiger is that he rarely gets so far out in front of his opponents within the first, second or even third round of a tournament. In fact, many times he's lingering a few strokes off the lead going into the final round. But he remains slow and steady, simply playing good golf one stroke at a time.

That's what makes him the best. He doesn't have a need to be in the lead after the first, second or third round, his only need...is to be first when it counts.

As a church planter and Christ follower, I keep thinking how appropriate this attitude is to my own life. I often get ahead of myself, trying to get out in front of everything. But in the end, it's the slow and steady pace that ultimately wins the final hole at the end of the day.

I Have To Fix It

In almost every endeavor I'm involved in, I can easily spot what I think needs fixing. Having this gift is in some ways great and in other ways bad. Let me explain...

For months, I had a rattle on my motorcycle that about drove me to tears. Every time I rode it I was driven to the point of madness and every time I got off I went into fix it mode. For months I took things apart, tightened this screw and that bolt and still at the end of the day the rattle remained.

Then one day, I decided to just enjoy the ride and ignore the rattle. Wouldn't you know this was the day that I uncovered the problem and fixed it. Turns out it was a loose nut on one of my highway pegs. I was embarrassed, a little mad, but most of all disappointed in myself. All the countless hours trying to fix it stole the joy that riding brings.

For all those months that I was desperately trying to figure what the issue was, I actually made matters worse. In my desire to get it fixed, I weakened other parts of the bike, stripped out screw heads and threads and on more than one occassion almost lost control of the bike while trying to find the problem in the middle of riding (I know not smart).

I can't help but think how this "fix it" mentality has effected my life in other ways. How many opportunities I missed, relationships I weakened and victories I've sabotaged all because I find myself in "fix it" mode. We into the trap of thinking that things are broken because they don't sound, look, or feel like we think they should, so we go into fix it mode and end up weakening the integrity of life itself. If we just learn to move through life in a forward motion, while enjoying it along the way, we'll get so much further in all we do.

How about you? Are you trying to fix too much and missing out on life?

Don't Shortcut the Process

Dreams are something that all of us possess. They are hardwired into our DNA. Unfortunately, for many, they never get to their realization or fulfillment.

The reason? They don't give themselves to the process. You see, sandwiched between our dreams and their fulfillment is a process that we all have to go through, it's part of the journey, the road to success. It's at this point that many slam on the brakes and turn around because the process is the most difficult part. It's filled with hard work, set backs, disappointments, and takes a grueling desire that never quits.

There's a word for this...discipline.

Here in lies the problem. Discipline is not hardwired into our DNA, in fact, it's something we naturally resist. As a result, we look for easier roads and short cuts that tempt us with the lie of getting us there sooner and with less pain.

But shortcuts never work and ultimately we stay in the very place we are desperately trying to move past.

At the Connection Point, we've been looking at the early years of King David's life. We are in the middle of examining his process, seeing how the shortcuts tripped him up, discipline kept him going and learning from it to benefit our own lives.

Do you have a dream? If so, resist the temptation to shortcut. Instead, give yourself to it, be persistent, and don't wander down a different path to try get to it sooner.

Join us this week as we continue the journey into the process of David's life.

it cost something...

...anything worth it's salt, that is (which after watching Modern Marvels:salt I can now tell you where that saying comes from).

Have you ever had anything happen to you of significance that didn't cost something? In fact, I would say some of the things that are sweetest in life carry the heftiest price tags.

Being financially free, raising great kids, maintaining healthy relationships, being successful in your career; all have a large price tag attached. The sad thing is that most people haven't counted the cost and they get frustrated and quit way to early without paying it out.

I often wonder how many people gave up on the brink of getting their payday. How many people were literally one step, one day, or one idea away and quit because it got too hard.

It's this thought that keeps me paying it out and keeps me determined. You see, I want the payday and I'm stubborn enough and determined not back down until I get it. How about you?