To Live ... With Abandon

Source: catssac.com via Julia on Pinterest

With abandon.

There is something so delicious about those words. To live with abandon. That makes me think of running toward the ocean with arms outstretched, bounding off a springboard into a deep mountain pool, coasting over sun-drenched mountains in a tiny airplane, doing something you're really afraid to do because you know your life is in God's hands.

Risking your life for a worthy cause. Going to war - or standing against war. Speaking the truth in front of hundreds of people. Witnessing to that person who makes your knees knock. Traveling thousands of miles across the country to pursue the college degree you've always wanted.

Or something as simple as singing with the radio in the mall at Christmastime, doing an Irish dance in the kitchen even though your brother looks at you like you're deranged, or even just daring to sit by someone new in class one day.

With abandon.

Abandoning your fear, your self-consciousness, your doubts, your lack of faith. Abandoning your ideas about how you ought to act, what people will think, how you've never done it before. Abandoning it all. Throwing it behind you as you race toward the bright day of what God has for you.

I want that! So often I find myself sitting quietly on the sidelines, watching as others drop their weights and run, free and strong - and I'm just sitting there, with my baggage of fears, worries, self-doubts, regrets, maybe even unbelief. Often I'll read something or see someone that stirs my heart again and makes me want to "mount up on wings as eagles" the way God made me to; but I stay sitting quietly and say, "Oh, I would love to do that or be that way, but I just can't." 


I'm afraid. I don't know what people will think. I've made too many mistakes to risk making another one.

Doesn't that all really mean, I'd like to believe that God can help me soar, but I just can't?

Abandon that unbelief! Abandon that fear! It's dead, it's gone, it's paid for and conquered on the cross!

The Christian life is a life of great adventure - it's like climbing Mount Everest, kayaking the Amazon River, fighting the final battle at Narnia, racing the Iditarod dogsled race, and rescuing people in the French Underground, all blended together into one fantastic, lifelong, triumphant adventure. It's difficult, sure; it takes faith and courage, sure; but how often do we overlook the fact that it is fun? It's dangerous? It's exciting?

Of course it has its quiet moments, too - moments of reflection, relaxation, conversation with the Lord, admiring His beauty and resting in the knowledge of His love. Those moments are so crucial. But we spend so much time in those moments that sometimes we just get clogged up there. We need to do more moving, running, racing, soaring, rescuing, teaching, and just plain old daring. Daring to try. Daring to speak up. Daring to dance and sing and proclaim our joy and enthusiasm for life.

With abandon!

~ Vicki