On May 19 I wrote about the power of discovering the One Thing which could move your life forward. In theory if you discovered the one critical thing to do in each area of life, and did it, life would change dramatically for you. (If you missed the post click HERE to read it.)
But I’ve been wondering if the opposite is true. What if there is a negative One Thing you are doing but stopped? Would it significantly improve your life?
Last week I had the privilege to help the Revolution 313 ministry in Detroit feed the homeless. The head revolutionary, Brent Bittenbender, had located an empty field in downtown where the homeless gathered every day. That’s where we went. We went to them in a van with a flatbed trailer on which were two grills ready to cook hotdogs.
My assigned task placed me at the head of the line where I announced they could only take one of each food item. Seconds could be had after everyone else had their firsts. In my position I became the greeter, announcer, and enforcer. All these roles I learned while serving as a pastor.
I met each person as they came through the line. Dejected. Hopeless. Weary. High. Buzzed. Lost. Forlorn. Bill (not his real name) embodied all those characteristics. He wore shabby clothes and had an eye which turned sideways. On his right arm he wore a white hospital sling. But we connected the moment he announced himself to be a preacher.
We went off to the side and he told me his simple story. “I lost my pulpit to alcohol but I want it back.” He told me of a liquor store around the corner which opened a 7:00 AM. “I am their best customer” he said.
I put my arm around him and prayed for him. He thanked me, and with a tear in his eye, turned and walked back out into his misery.
One Thing. If he could just stop doing One Thing.
I’m not a fan of focusing on the negative. I want to find the positives and make them stronger. But my new friend got me wondering about the One Thing which, if we stopped doing it, would catapult us toward a better life.
I’m convinced most of us have something in our lives that, if we stopped doing it, would instantly improve life. I’m inviting you to join me in finding what it is and then working to stop doing it.
Maybe the negative One Thing holding you back is:
- Spending too much money and not getting rid of debt.
- Failing to take care of your body by eating too much and not exercising.
- Deciding to coast through the rest of life.
- Becoming spiritually complacent.
- Engaging in an addictive behavior.
Maybe your One Thing isn’t on the list. But find out what is holding you back. And I’m guessing you know exactly what it is. Imagine how much better your life would be without that destructive One Thing in your life.
Now, find a way to get rid of it. Stop it. Pray. Kill it. Turn your back on it. If necessary talk to a pastor or get counseling. Whatever it takes purge your life of the negative One Thing. You might be amazed to see how your life improves.
Thanks for the insight, keep up the good work and keep the faith up front….
Thanks Ivan. I appreciate your comment.
Yup, you’re reading my mail! “Deciding to coast through the rest of life.” But it goes deeper than that (doesn’t it always?). I think it takes getting rid of the fear. The fear of failure. Or success. Or of choosing the wrong thing. Maybe it’s not coasting as much as it is paralysis….
I agree: fear is a real issue!
I have more than one right now that I am trying to work on. It is so easy for me to let that ONE thing creep back and lose sight of what I need to do. Thanks for the reminder, motivation and encouragement Pastor Randy.
It begins with recognizing and acknowledging that ONE thing…..for some that is the original hurdle. It is hard to declare war/eliminate an enemy that is not recognized as such. Sounds like this gentleman is already into step 2. I shall pray for him…..
The one negative thing I have is negative thoughts about my faith…have been totally disappointed and now a totally cynical believer.
Thanks for your comment. I too have been tempted to be negative about my faith. But it’s always because of what people have done. God has always been better to me than I deserve.
I have 2 negatives in my life. 1. Bad knees and I start tackling that this Friday, going to see a specialist. 2. A son, who was called to be a missionary while on a W&W trip with his grandpa in the Azores! Steve went to ONU for one year, 2003-04. Dad asked the church board if he could dismiss church on that Sunday night in August so that he could help take his grandson to Olivet. Grandpa was soooo proud of Steve. Grandpa was sort of his mentor. They spent 3 W&W trips together, they first went to Jordan. There, Steve was presented an Arabic Bible and it was inscribed to him. More or less stating he hoped Steve would come back and preach to them as his grandfather had done. It had been 10 since dad had gone there and he had been corresponding with the pastor at that church. Steve went with my dad to Spain as well. The last one was the Azores. That August of 2003 after taking Steve to Olivet, he entered the hospital and had an emergency quadruple bi-pass. He never returned home. He died in December 2003. Steve struggled at Olivet and I was deeply disappointed that he did not get the care I thought he would and he pretty much lost his desire for missions. When he came home we had already made financial arrangements for the next year. He disappeared for the summer, he backslid and never went back. Longer story shorter. He married a girl had a girl and a boy. She committed adultery 2 times. He found an old friend on facebook hooked up with her, she had 4 kids and was recuperating from an accident that crushed her foot and was on crutches. She was losing her home and he brought her here, they have a child together, that makes 7 between them!!! Problem, he cannot make enough money to support them. We are paying the rent and most of the utilities. We should be enjoying our retirement! We can financially do nothing for us. We are at loss, our senior fun time, getting to see the country and enjoying our senior years together. I married a wonderful hardworking guy. He was in the National Guard and had a pension plan from his work at Elkhart Brass Man. plus our Social Security.
I do not mean to complain, I do not want to be bitter or resentful. We have 3 beautiful grandchildren. They are not married and he just pain off her divorce and I did not know she was not divorced. He was raised so different than what he is living. My dad would be devastated at how Steve has turned out. We are allowed to take 2 of our grandchildren to church with us when we have them. We need prayer for sure. Once last note. Steve was our “miracle” baby. We were told we probably would not be able to have children. God blessed us with a beautiful blue-eyed red head. We dedicated him and gave him to God. I am sorry this is so long. Yes, he was named after Steven C. Sommer.
Diana, thanks for sharing your heart. Your family, and especially Steve will be in my prayers. (Life can sure be tough!)