Living Large
July 25, 2011
St. Charles County, MO
Stop! This isn’t another column about increasing the size of one’s bank account or retirement funds; nor is it about increasing one’s self-importance or even justification for having a plus-size figure.
Living large is a way of life that can be challenging to wrap our minds around and even more challenging to put into practice. To put it simply, it’s living for something bigger than you. In other words, think and look beyond the little world of ‘me’. This concept is introduced in a book entitled A Quest for More by Paul David Tripp. Tripp focuses his writings on Christian living – yet living large is something for which anyone can strive.
The daily issues and concerns we all face are very real to us. We must remember to put them into perspective to keep them from consuming us to the degree that our peace of mind or our health is negatively impacted. Consider the effect of some of the decisions that loom large now – will those decisions make a difference in your life next week, next month or one year from now? It is imperative that we live large when making decisions and choices relative to their importance and the people they impact.
Living large is essential when faced with moral decisions. Isn’t “self” our focus when we choose to have those second helpings, strike out in anger, cheat on a test, hold on to grudges, have that second or third drink, flirt with a co-worker, ‘borrow’ something that doesn’t belong to us, etc.? When faced with making a decision that might make us happy ‘in the moment’, do we stop to consider the impact our decision would have on our life, health, loved ones, job, integrity, our future? By practicing living large in this area, we minimize self and elevate our goals and the people important to us.
Sound a little preachy? Maybe, but living large is not only for those who have a personal relationship with God. It’s a lifestyle that all of us can choose if we want to maintain our family values, integrity and live peaceably with others. Easy to do? No - it’s a daily, sometimes moment-by-moment discipline. We are all going to fail from time-to-time as ‘our little world’ constantly strives to take center stage. But when we fail, let’s pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, make amends, seek forgiveness where it applies, and commit every moment of every day to choose to live large.
Your family, your health, and peace of mind are worth it.
Diana Wilson writes about a wide range of topics including home, family and her faith. For several years, she worked in an information technology department focusing on communications and process improvement. Diana enjoys her grandchildren, travel, four-wheeling in the mountains and long walks on the beach.
Copyright 2011 Neighbors About Town
