sweet photo courtesy of JR Woodward

A friend once asked me, “Are you a spiritual teacher?” I replied, ”no”. He continued, “A philosopher?” I said, “no”. He asked, “A thought leader?” I replied, “no”. Then he asked, “An empowerment guru?” I said, ”no”. Exasperated, he demanded, “Then what are you?” Smiling, I answered, “I, am awake.”

-Herman J. Najoli

The most dangerous man on earth is the man who has reckoned with his own death. All men die; few men ever really live. Sure, you can create a safe life for yourself . . . and end your days in a rest home babbling on about some forgotten misfortune. I’d rather go down swinging. Besides, the less we are trying to “save ourselves,” the more effective a warrior we will be. Listen to G. K. Chesterton on courage:

Courage is almost a contradiction in terms. It means a strong desire to live taking the form of a readiness to die. “He that will lose his life, the same shall save it” is not a piece of mysticism for saints and heroes. It is a piece of everyday advice for sailors or mountaineers. It might be printed in an Alpine guide or a drill book. The paradox is the whole principle of courage; even of quite earthly or quite brutal courage. A man cut off by the sea may save his life if he will risk it on the precipice. He can only get away from death by continually stepping within an inch of it. A soldier surrounded by enemies, if he is to cut his way out, needs to combine a strong desire for living with a strange carelessness about dying. He must not merely cling to life, for then he will be a coward, and will not escape. He must not merely wait for death, for then he will be a suicide, and will not escape. He must seek his life in a spirit of furious indifference to it; he must desire life like water and yet drink death like wine.

-John Eldredge

I know it may have been a long week. I know it may have been a long year already. But take a moment to stretch. I mean really stretch. We can become so lethargic behind our computers, at our desks. How does it feel? Did you feel it? You know that tingly feeling you get after you stretch your muscles? It means you’re still here. You’re not dead. The work week can make us feel so lifeless, like zombies walking from one day to the next. Let this day be a different one. Let it be new.

Get up. Walk outside. The air aways seems fresher outdoors. Inside, it chokes us, leaving us complacent. Let the sun make you squint because of it’s brightness unlike the fluorescent bulbs that rot you in your offices. As you breathe, as you squint, try to remember who you are. As yourself, “Am I awake? Alive? Am I living?”

If your answer is, “no.” What are you going to do about it? Will you let the moment pass and go back in front of your computer to die quietly? Or will you become something dangerous. Something living. Something you were created to be, not told to become. Remember what Saint Irenaeus said… “The glory of God is a man fully alive.”

What will it take for you to come alive?

Use these next couple of days to ponder that. Take your question to the Lord. He’ll answer you and I’m sure what he says may surprise you. I’m taking my own challenge, and will post what I find out.

So are you up for the challenge? Ponder. Pray. Then post it. Let’s inspire each other by what the Lord is doing in our lives.