Commitment Creates Change

In Church on Sunday, a guest Minister shared a story about his son who as a freshman in high school, decided that he wanted to break 2 standing long/high jump records at his school. Apparently, his son was not naturally athletic so his father was worried that having such a goal might turn out to be a great disappointment. So, he told his son that reaching such a goal would require great discipline and commitment and that he would support him as best as he could along the way.

As it turned out, having such a goal ended up transforming this boy's entire life. Because of his commitment and dedication to the physical aspect of the training, other aspects of his life started to change. He began eating and drinking differently because his body required the most nutritious food to perform optimally. He began to spend time with different people who understood the demands and time requirements of having such a goal. He began using his time more wisely because he realized he didn't have a lot of it to waste. And in the end, he broke and re-set both track and field records at his school.

Having goals in life gives us direction and can fill us with a sense of purpose and fulfillment. Without goals, it's easy to find ourselves going through the motions day in and day out, never really attaching much meaning to what we do and why we do it.

What life really needs from us is ACTION. Becoming physically active has changed my life. Becoming intellectually and emotionally active has changed my life. Becoming more spiritually active is changing my life... all for the better.

Exercising discipline and commitment in the pursuit of goals connects us to our higher selves - the one who exceeds our own expectations. It assures us that there is more to life than just beer, pizza and football (though life wouldn't be enjoyed as much without them!).

Our commitment to goals give us hope that things can be different if we want them to be. Change can be just around the corner. It's easier to find than we oftentimes think it is. Defining a clear goal can definitely help.