Have you ever thought, “I have no idea …?
I’ll bet you have, and I’ll also bet it’s not true.
This graphic captivated me. Last time (How To Be A Better Funnel) I talked about the funnel as a metaphor for choosing how we spend our resources. Today I want to share another interpretation.
I’ve told you that I’m working on writing the story of Rich’s Ride. I enjoy writing, but it’s very difficult work. This funnel represents how I feel each time I begin a new chapter.
Writing is hard because I don’t just want to use any old words to relate any old story. I want to tell THE story, the one that will touch a reader’s heart, inspire hope, and open up the possibility of chasing God-sized dreams. I hope to write the best possible story—God’s story.
The funnel symbolizes the difficult process of considering idea after idea, churning and distilling and combining, and finally choosing wisely. It’s art, and it’s hard. It means listening and allowing God to speak. It means, to borrow from Jon Swanson, really considering the character of Jesus and choosing words that communicate who He is.
I think we all face an analogous dilemma every morning. We can choose to simply survive and find a way to get through each day. Or we can live on purpose.
Living life on purpose is like creating art. It’s as though God offers a fresh canvas, a blank musical score, or an empty page. Then He says, “Create something beautiful.”
That’s hard work. Beautiful writing or music or paintings don’t just happen. I think it’s the same with choosing to craft a life that pleases God.
I opened with a question: Have you ever thought, “I have no idea what I should do, or what to say, or which direction to turn?”
There’s usually no shortage of ideas or options. “I have no idea …” probably means we don’t want to do the hard work or face the consequences involved in choosing from many available options.
The artist never asks “What will work?” That question can be answered in a variety of ways. The artist refuses to settle for “what works” or even “what’s good.” True art results from “What is best?” And that’s the question God wants me to ask.
I think an effective funnel has a very wide top and a very small and selective bottom. The space between is difficult and, at times, painful.
It’s also the only way to use, and not waste, the day God gives me.
What’s your response?
Please leave a comment here.
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