Daily Archives: June 6, 2012

To finish well

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What will you story say at the end? Is your story worth saying? I make myself these questions everyday. Is it because of how I see myself in the story? Do I have an “ordinary” life and reading about all of the other extraordinary ones, creates an angst in my chest of, not being “there” or having “it” (whatever any of those mean). I think about the end, a lot. I think of how my actions today will impact the lasting memory of my likeness in the minds and hearts of those I love. Will my life reflect greatness? Will my actions exude my highest and most noble thinking? I hope so. In fact, I pray so. What will my story say to those that will remain? What is my story saying now? This really gets to me.

Recently I attended a mens group called Seven, that met for seven weeks at seven in the morning on Fridays. We explored the seven questions that rattle the minds of most men. Great conversations and even better community. The theme that really got to me was that of leaving a legacy; finishing well. How will I be remembered? How will my wife, my son and my daughter be impacted in the days, the months and the years to come? What will my grandchildren say about me? More importantly, what will God say about me?

I am a big fan of movies that depict true stories. I feel attracted to them when I can relate to many of those to whom it happened to. But if you are like me, what really stirs my heart are the endings. The underdog finishing on top, or the dejected changing his or her ways, or the stories of how the human resilience conquers the most difficult situations; epic endings. Maybe I feel attracted to them because I wonder if my story will be memorialized as those that have made it to film, not because of fame or fortune, but because of the inspiration it can bring to generations to come. Will my story inspire someone else to achieve the impossible? Will my life change the course of someone else’s story? Can I make a difference for the world to see? Will my story be epic? Have you made yourself these questions, or is it only me?For some of us, when we look at our present life we recognize that by our standards, we are not living an epic tale. And we question our existence, over and over again. I don’t know the answers to any of the questions I have made and are still making to myself. But I know they will be answered in due time.

So I have resolved that until those answers come, when I’m faced with impossibilities, I will continue to believe that all things are possible. When i feel discouraged, I will continue to inspire and be inspired. When I’m talked down and demeaned by others, I will continue to think like an eagle when everyone else around me is not. When handed the worst, I will continue to expect the best. When all seems at a lost and at a dead end, I will continue to trust that God has a plan for my life and for those I have been entrusted with. A bigger, greater, brighter, stronger and more wonderful plan than what I can possibly imagine. When faced with small minded people that want to water down my existence, I will continue to dream BIG because I serve an unmeasurable God. When wronged by someone I consider a friend, I will continue to believe in friendship, because it is the face of kindness in the world. When there is no clear path, I will continue to live my life based on the possibilities, because living by fact alone ignores any faith and greatness. If times are scarce, I will continue to give even when all is taken from me. If shunned by the world, I will continue to love. If I fall, I will brush off the dirt, clean my wounds and get up every time. When faced with injustice, I will continue to fight for those that cannot fight for themselves. If I’m left as forgotten, I will continue to remember those in need even when nobody else acknowledges me. And by doing all of this, I trust, I hope and I pray that I will be able to answer many of my questions and dilemmas. Maybe you should do the same.

I long for the day when I bow before the Almighty and lay my crown at his feet and say, “Lord, I made it. There were times when I thought I’d fail, but I made it”. That day, that glorious day, I will know that I finished well.

“BREATHE expectantly, LIVE confidently and MOVE Boldly”

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© Copyright Danny Maldonado, 2012

Your race

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Many times while I’m alone I ponder where I am and where am I headed in life. It is sometimes a challenge because there are so many voices around, and many “benchmarks” that are available. So many bloggers, writers, preachers, politicians, professionals and in the end everyone has a different opinion about almost everything. At times, it is just overwhelming to reach a definitive conclusion of where should my steps go. Have you felt the same? When there is uncertainty of what to do next. That uncertainty is so powerful some times that it becomes paralyzing.

Making decisions is basically what we do every single day. We either get good at it or someone else does it for us and we reap the consequences of the decisions made for us. I don’t know about you, but I don’t feel comfortable by being controlled by someone else’s decisions. Just think for example about all of the laws that have been enacted by our elected officials, (yes, you and I or someone else voted for them to do so, but that is besides the point) that when you read them you say, “What were they thinking?”, or what about the policies that have been “thought up” by your boss that seem to make no sense at all and creates more work for you? We all have experiences of decisions that have been made that affect us. I know, there are bigger reasons we have laws and rules in place, but the fact remains that because of them we are required to make decisions every day.

Every day, every decision, big or small is important. Many are simple but other are life altering. It’s all connected no matter how simple it seems, so you want to get good at it. Recently I read in the book of numbers an interesting story about Joshua. He was being handed the leadership of the people of Israel and these were the instructions: “He is to stand before Eleazar the priest, who will obtain decisions for him by inquiring of the Urim before the Lord. At his command he and the entire community of the Israelites will go out, and at his command they will come in.” Talk about precise instructions! Wouldn’t that be just a perfect arrangement? Yes I know, it feels a little controlling, but in the end if was the best for the people of Israel.

For me today, I seek the exact relationship with God, but not through a third party, a prophet, a priest or a pastor, but by delving into God’s word. The precise instructions of how to live and finish well in life, are written in it. And the more we seek, the wiser we get. The problem with our times is that we want immediacy. Flip a switch, touch a button, click a link, you get the point, and we forget that just as our bodies take time to develop, the same is true for our character. It’s a process, but if we do not seek to get good at making decisions that can alter our lives and those around us, someone else will do it for us. The sad part of this is that, unlike the people of Israel that were being directed by God himself, you will have no one else to blame but yourself for the decisions made by someone else for you. When you don’t decide, you are actually deciding.

Take courage and find your path in life. You might have been avoiding it just because it was easy to read someone else’s blog, or article and unconsciously you walk in life by “their” view, not yours and in the end you carry with all of the consequences, good or bad for that. Don’t live anybody else’s view for your life.

The day will come when your eyes will open for the last time and you will breathe your last breath. A day will come when a final sentence will be said about you. What will that be? I truly hope that I can say as Paul told Timothy, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.”

Run in life with all your might, all your heart and all your strength, but run your race.

“BREATHE expectantly, LIVE confidently and MOVE Boldly”

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© Copyright Danny Maldonado, 2012
Scripture quotations are taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.