How often do we really push ourselves to the limit? Not someone else’s limit, but our own. The athletic types I know seem to be pretty good at it. Always trying to beat their last best ride, time or distance. I’m a recreational athlete (and I do use the term ‘athlete’ loosely). I’m not very good at much, but I sure do love being out there! I have hobbies… too many of them and not enough time or dedication to stick with any one of them long enough to develop the muscle memory required to be ‘good’ at anything. So a jack-of-many-trades and a master-of-none.

I’ve been ‘pushed’ by coaches, trainers, bosses, teachers, peers, co-workers, friends and leaders. I’ve been pulled by temptation, deception, arrogance, ignorance and foolishness. But the question came up recently in a small Bible Study group: What would it take to experience a deep longing for God as a regular part of your life? The kind of longing you might have for water if you’d been stranded in the desert for a few days. When have I EVER had a deep longing for God when I wasn’t in the middle of a crises or tragedy? What would it take to experience that kind of longing as a REGULAR part of my life?

I started thinking of times when I knew I was about to do something way bigger than I was ready for (giving a speech in front of 100+ people, my first job, initiating that hard conversation, walking in, walking out, starting over or strapping on wings I’d never used before and going back in). All these events came with a big dose of Humility. Me, KNOWING that I wasn’t capable by myself, standing at the foot of the cross saying: ‘God, I’m not going in there without you, so this is yours, I’ll do whatever you’ll have me do’. That’s when I know He’s got to show up. I need a miracle. So in order to experience this deep kind of longing for God as a regular part of my life…. I’m going to have to deliberately put myself on the edge of comfort. The edge of reason. The edge of the next biggest thing that’s ever happened in my life. Stepping into His yoke (and I like to think of that like a hang-glider), grabbing onto trust…. and taking the first jump. If I really let go, I will instantly be guided by supernatural wisdom that extends way beyond the confines of this earth. It’s not about me. It’s about the trip and everyone I meet along the way. It’s about who I become in the process. The person God intended when he thought me up in the first place.

Below are some pictures from a recent trip: hiking Long’s Peak, CO, a 14,000 ft mountain, just after 3-4′ of snowfall…  I was extended, stretched and challenged… I made it to the top… and I was happy. I want more of that.

Summit - Sitting on top of the world.

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