So maybe you’ve noticed the blogs aren’t arriving as frequently. Or maybe you haven’t.
We’ve been reassessing how we do this thing called RICH’S RIDE. If you’re considering following a dream, perhaps this analysis will help your thinking.
First, I’ve simplified the words in my diagram.
Capacity represents what you can do. It’s your gifts, your time, talent, and treasure. Most of us never even approach our true capacity.
Passion is what you LOVE to do, the stuff that truly gets your juices flowing. Life would be a lot simpler if passion always matched capacity. It doesn’t.
Service is what someone NEEDS you to do.
Last time I talked about what happens when you don’t attend to the blue circle. In this situation there’s a vision. You see a need and you’re passionate about addressing it, but you haven’t built or accessed the capacity to do it effectively or sustainably.
I absolutely believe God provides, that He qualifies those He calls. I also believe He expects our best effort. As the adage says, “God feeds the hungry birds, but He doesn’t toss food into their nests.”
Constantly ignoring the blue circle leads to frustration.
We all know people who operate outside the red circle. They’re good at something that meets a need, so they do it. Nothing wrong with that. And they keep doing it, day after day, year after year, long after the passion’s gone and it’s drudgery.
I worked with teachers like that. We know folks at church who always volunteer for everything because it’s the right thing to do, even when it’s a task they dread. We know we can count on good old Joe to do whatever needs doing.
The best thing we can do is release Joe and tell him he doesn’t have to try to meet every single need, because nobody can do that. Service works best in the long term when it happens with passion, joy, and fun.
Service is why we’re here, but let’s be clear: it’s okay to relax and have fun—just because. Everything can’t be about following dreams. Once in a while you gotta go fishing or watch a ball game.
The point is that you don’t make a meaningful life there. Most folks who’ve retired thinking they’re “just going to play” discover you can only play so much.
I think you follow dreams and make a meaningful life inside all three circles, using your unique gifts and passions to serve others and change the world.
Please leave a comment here.
