It is not enough to admire. My admiration needs to lead to action.
And this is what I am hungry for. Daily I fight this battle within me to settle for admiration. To settle for a “love” that is comfortable. To settle to do things I have done before, seen before, and am confident in myself to do. But I do not desire to settle for confidence of what I have done in my past. For anyone can choose that road. Anyone can carry out what they have done before with a little self-discipline.
Something that grabbed my heart a few months ago was this: If everyone stayed with what was passed on to them, we would never see change. I realized I held others to a higher standard than that which I had for myself. I expected those who grew up hurting: to grow from their hurt. I expected those who grew up being abused: to escape the abuse. I expected those who grew up without an education: to desire advancement. I expected those who have been loved less: to learn to love others. I expected so much of others. But what about myself? I have been cared for every day, given a solid education, experienced support from a loving community, encouraged to keep trying, not give up, and succeed countless times.
So because I was fortunate enough to have a "Christian" upbringing, I have the right to stay comfortable? To find safety in a college education, reliable job, etc. is my standard? Is this really the same standard that I have been placing on others?
How could I settle for that which I expect the broken to rise to? Will I not challenge myself, also, to rise? To rise above what is comfortable and escape into dreams that produce tenacious love? Will I move beyond that which was normal for my parents and even my peers, and rise? This is the calling Jesus has on our lives: a call to move forward, a call to tenacious love.
We must hold each other accountable to follow the dreams deep within our heart. Oh, God, let this be our standard.