I typically consider myself a pretty open person. If you ask me a question, I’ll generally answer it without a second thought, and most likely elaborate without additional request. I am a “professional” storyteller and will gladly regale a tale at the drop of a hat. I enjoy sharing stories from my life that magnify my Creator and enlarge Him in the eyes of others. I would like to say my mind is as open as my heart, for the most part. If I am presented with new information, I approach with optimism rather than skepticism, curiosity rather than suspicion, hope rather than immediate disbelief—seeing a realm of possibilities rather than a dark, dead end.
Except for maybe one area…politics. Begin a conversation with me about our government, and I will quickly change the subject. I confess that I have such great trepidation and distrust of our government and those in public office that the mere thought of engaging the topic arouses fear, anxiety, tension and doubt. Who could possibly be trustworthy? How could I be sure? Is this person really a conservative, or might he suddenly show his true colors after election? What could they be thinking? Do they not understand how we are losing our rights at every turn? Okay, okay. You get the idea. I already feel my blood beginning to boil.
So yes, I avoid these conversations. If you bring them up, I will zip my lip until you get the idea. I don’t like digging up all my own fears, insecurities and opinions when ultimately I feel…helpless, hopeless to really effect change in that realm.
Oh, trust me, I hear a few ladies’ voices in my head right now—Sure, you can! You have to! You must! One person truly matters, if we all work together! Do it! Why be so afraid? Why clam up and leave it to the rest of us to do all the hard work?!
Yes, okay, I hear you. And there probably will be a time when I can no longer be silent, sit still or lay low. I am open enough to know that is true, that action will be demanded of me if I don’t choose it in the meantime. My inaction may cause great consequences for myself and my family and possibly generations to come. So I truly cannot afford to be so closed-minded, so self-absorbed, so bubblized that I believe I or my family or my descendants will be safe or spared those consequences.
I’m glad you’ve read this far into my blog post. Because maybe politics isn’t such a hot topic for you. But maybe your health or your finances are. Maybe you think you’ve got a “good enough” handle on one or the other that you don’t want to hear about other options out there that could save your life or the lives of your family or loved ones or generations that may follow. And so, out of fear or insecurity, you are closed-minded about learning new ways of being healthy or new ways that could earn you some money so that you could actually find a way out of the hopelessness you may find yourself in.
I get it. After realizing my own closed-mindedness to something like politics, I understand why you have fear and trepidation about rocking your own boat. But this is how I see it. If we remain stubborn and closed to hearing about our world and its greater possibilities, we are only hurting ourselves. If we refuse to learn and grow, we suffocate, wither, and yes, die. And our actions may have such incredible ripple effects beyond our wildest imagination.
I decided on April 1st this year that I was open to trying to lose 70 pounds in 7 months. I had no idea if or how I was going to do it; I just trusted that God would show me. It’s a good thing I was open to hearing it! Friday is November 1st… Are you ready to hear my results and how I have already affected others’ lives in the process?!
The Art of Choosing True Life 