“Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for in the grave, where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom.” Ecclesiastes 9:10
Something that has been on my heart recently is commitment. More specifically, what it is and what it means to be committed to something.
I’ve wanted a dog for my entire life. Ever since my family put our dog down when I was a kid I had always admired families that were able to pull off having dogs. As a kid, I would lobby my parents for getting another kick at the can. Day after day I would beg and plead for another chance for a dog. However, I was unsuccessful and disheartened. I promised myself that when I grew up I would get a dog, I would raise it right, he would love me and I would love him. So, when my house was built in the winter, it only seemed logical to add my favourite four legged animal to the mix. I did my research on which dog to get which included in talking to people, reading books and websites, and of course watching The Dog Whisperer. When I decided on which breed to get the last step was to pick a breeder and buy a dog. And I did.
The days leading up to actually getting my dog were mixed with second guessing my decision and being excited to welcome a puppy into my home. Some days I would be really excited and other days I would be completely regretting my decision. The car ride down to pick up my dog was even worse.
The whole ride to the breeder I was regretting the decision I made. The conversation I was having with God was something like, “God, I don’t have enough time, I’m not prepared, I’m not sure if I’ll be able to afford it. WHAT ABOUT THE MESS THAT WILL MOST CERTAINLY BE MADE in his first few puppy days, God!” I had convinced myself that I had made the wrong decision. I was literally in panic mode. I have wanted a dog ever since I was a little kid and on the way down to pick him up, I wanted nothing to do with dogs. I wanted to go back home to my clean house, curl up into a ball and fall asleep. But I went through with it. I got the dog, against every feeling I had in my body.
Did I make the right decision on getting a dog? I’m not sure if I believe in right or wrong decisions anymore. I just think there are decisions we have to make. I think God is more concerned with what we do after we make a commitment. In the verse “Whatever your hand finds to do, do with all your might…”, more value is put into how we perform after the decision we have made. Commitment is 1% words and 99% follow through.
Did God want me to get a dog? He probably wanted me to get a dog because I wanted a dog. What God is more concerned with now is that I put everything that I have into raising my dog right, no excuses. I need to feed my dog, walk him, bathe him, train him, keep him healthy, clean up the messes he makes and give him the affection he needs.
If I knew then what I know now about how free will should be exercised, I would not have asked God “What do I do?” That is the wrong question to ask. I think even asking that question is insulting to him. He gave us free will so we can make our own choices and forfeiting that right because you are afraid to make the “wrong” decision is like a slap in the face to him. God isn’t in the business of making your decisions for you. What I believe he wants you to do is Evaluate your options, Make a decision , COMMIT to that decision, be Responsible for your actions and then God will surround you with people to help support the decision that you made. Is any of that easy to do? No! But I think that’s the point. Commitments aren’t meant to be easy. There will be ups and there will be downs. There will be days you will love the commitment you made and there will be days you totally regret the commitment you made. I’ve discovered all of that is quite normal. It’s all part of the “Cycle of Commitment”.
God doesn’t want to make your decisions for you. He gave you free will. It was meant to be a wonderful gift, not a terrible curse.
FYI,
Here is a picture of Bruce Wayne.
So far so good!
Peace,
Jimmy
