The theme of Mondays quote – It’s Not About Me – was on my mind when I read this interesting blog from Seth Godin – What Fuels Us?
(Disclaimer – There’s a lot of “me” in this post, but I really hope you find yourself along the journey.)
As I pondered what motivates me (read Seth’s blog for ideas), it’s clear I’m not fueled by individual achievement or recognition. They’re nice, but not what gets me up in the morning.
It’s an interesting exercise, narrowing down what keeps an old bald guy going. And the answer is different than I would have imagined.
When I retired from teaching 17 years ago, I knew I couldn’t just quit – I needed to move “to something.” At the time, I thought the something would be writing. Apparently, Jesus had other ideas.
I didn’t see a 1500-mile handcycle journey or The Freedom Tour over the horizon. But even if I had, I probably wouldn’t have understood the fuel that keeps me coming back each day.
It’s the same thing I loved about teaching.
Community.
Community is what drives me, an odd statement for an introvert. But creating community is the fuel that’s driven me since I was a first-year teacher.
Through all that time, I’ve always been more at ease when someone else was on the stage. In my best classrooms, I got things started and floated in the background, answering questions, helping students to connect and direct their learning.
Same with The Freedom Tour. I’m happiest when we devise general guidelines and others claim ownership of some aspect and run with it.
Jesus came to make us free, not to hand us a strict set of formulas or rules. He showed us how to live and said, “Follow me.”
I think he smiles when we work within his guidelines, use the gifts he’s given us, do our best to follow him – and trust him for the outcome.
It’s. Not. About. You. Or Me.