Are we living or just existing?
I would rather be ashes than dust! I would rather that my spark would burn out in a brilliant blaze than it should be stifled by dry rot. I would rather be a superb meteor, every atom of me in magnificent glow, than a sleepy and permanent planet. The proper function of man is to live, not to exist. I shall not waste my days in trying to prolong them. I shall use my time. –Jack London
The proper function of man is to live, not to exist.
I believe that sentence is for me today. It’s easy to slip into exist mode, isn’t it? Or is it just me??
We can exist through our daily routines. We can exist through work, school, responsibilities, raising children, marriage, etc., etc. We can exist through what my friend, Jill, calls “the hamster wheel” of life. Pretty soon, before we know it, we have just existed through our entire lives.
Life is meant to be lived, and is too short and important to just exist through.
Take a look at what Apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthians in 2 Corinthians 6:11-13 (The Message)…
Dear, dear Corinthians, I can’t tell you how much I long for you to enter this wide-open, spacious life. We didn’t fence you in. The smallness you feel comes from within you. Your lives aren’t small, but you’re living them in a small way. I’m speaking as plainly as I can and with great affection. Open up your lives. Live openly and expansively!
My life isn’t small, and yours isn’t either. It’s big. It’s special. It’s unique. It’s important.
I don’t want to live it small. I imagine you don’t want to either.
Let’s follow Paul’s words to open up our lives, and live openly and expansively!
How do we do that?
- Seek God. Ask Him to help you live each day, each moment in a way that glorifies Him.
- Treat life as the adventure it is. Don’t be afraid to try something new, or to take a few chances. Think outside the box. Break out of the mold of typical, every day life.
- Make a “bucket list” of all the things you desire to accomplish yet in your life, and set out to begin crossing things off your list.
- Invest your time and energy in things bigger than you, and in making the lives of others better.
- Is there a dream in your heart that has been stifled? Pull it back out, dust it off, and revisit that dream. It’s never too late to pursue it.
Your life and mine is meant to be lived–beautifully, abundantly, uniquely–all to the glory of God. If we’ve slipped into exist mode, may this be the jolt we needed to break out of it and live again!
Let’s do it together. Blessings to you today!
Julie
Its Woman to Woman (#W2W) Wednesday where we lift each other up and encourage one another, woman to woman. We need each other in this life, and let me tell you, it’s an honor to do life with you! Please add your encouragement below for others who stop by. Let’s make this place one of the most encouraging spots in the online world today. 🙂 I love and appreciate you!
Linking up with Three Word Wednesday, Coffee For Your Heart and Woman2Woman.
Oh, I love that passage from the Message! “Your lives aren’t small, but you’re living them in a small way.” So true. I want to live “openly and expansively.” Thanks for sharing this today, Julie. Just what I needed to hear. xoxo
Thank you, Sabra. God must be talking to both of us lately. 🙂 I’m praying our lives reflect how big our God is! Thank you for your continued encouragement, Sabra!
You had me at the first quote! And I love the message translation of that verse 🙂
Lisa, I love The Message translation of it too. Sometimes that translation really speaks to me! Thank you for sharing here today. Praying your day is blessed!
‘I want to live big!’ So few words that sum up so much. I’m tired of living small and ready to live big! Take chances, chase dreams, follow God!
Amen, Kathryn! Let’s live big together!! Yes, take chances, chase dreams, follow God! Thank you for being here today. As always, you’ve encouraged me! Blessings, friend!
Hi there, Julie! I love this: “Seek God. Ask Him to help you live each day, each moment in a way that glorifies Him.
Treat life as the adventure it is. Don’t be afraid to try something new, or to take a few chances. Think outside the box. Break out of the mold of typical, every day life.” I need to copy this down.
I’m a creature of routine and habit, and I’m so happy to be back in a home school routine (pretty intense these days), so I’m reading this at a perfect time. I want to remember to live each moment to glorify Him. That IS an adventure! (Saw you on Woman2Woman and Coffee for your Heart.)
Hi Betsy! Thank you for your encouraging words here today. I need to put those on my bathroom mirror to read them each morning and night. Glad you are back in the home school routine and are living an adventure! It’s great to do life with you, friend!
This makes me smile. I have functioned in existence mode for too many years and am just beginning to step out and live. It is beautiful and wonderful.
Kim, I’m thrilled for you! You’re stepping out and living! Wonderful! I think we slip into existence mode without even realizing it. So glad you’re not there anymore. Thank you for stopping by today! It’s always a blessing to have you here. Have a great day!
Needed to be reminded of this today, Julie. Actually its more like a confirmation of something that’s been ruminating in my heart over the past few weeks. And with my birthday next month — 55 — it seems like a perfect time to dig deep and then LIVE deeper. Thanks. 🙂
Happy Birthday Month, Sheila! I’m glad God used this post as confirmation for you. I love it when He does that! I appreciate your words, “a perfect time to dig deep and then LIVE deeper.” Thank you for sharing! Glad you stopped by today. Blessings!
I don’t want to live in a small way. It is sad how we can be on auto pilot and just cruise through life. I want to really see and experience all that God has for me!
I’m with ya’ Sarah! No more auto-pilot! Thanks for stopping by today.
Hello from a new reader, I found your blog through the linkup with Coffee for your heart, and I wanted to say thankyou for opening my eyes today…
“Life is meant to be lived, and is too short and important to just exist through.” – wow, such powerful words that jumped off the page at me! I am currently just ‘existing’ through my days & this post gives me much food for thought
Hi AllieMay! Welcome! I’m so glad to hear from you. I love it when God gives us exactly what we need, when we need it. He is doing a work in my heart on this, and it’s been eye-opening. I’ll look for you on the link! Thank you for stopping in yesterday. Lifting you in prayer this Sunday morning, new friend. Blessings!
Julie, I came from your weekend link “here” and so glad I did. I missed this post mid-week. I find that living in our busy, hurried ways causes so much to be missed. That is “small.” I want to live “big” and be in God’s ways at each step. It takes purpose and willingness to be still and know God in each moment. Thank you for this encouragement.
Caring through Christ, ~ linda
Hi Linda! You’re absolutely right. “It takes purpose and willingness to be still and know God in each moment.” That is key, isn’t it?! Thank you for coming by and for sharing your thoughts. You bless me each time you do! Have a great week!