Extremists: Your Strength Weakens You

This goes out to all those people who give everything, all the time, to anything they set their mind to. You know who you are, but if you don't, your thinking goes something along these lines: "While I'm at it, I may as well be the best at it. Why not do something others probably don't have the endurance (or brilliance) to do. Life is too short for anything less than 100%. You haven't done/seen/heard that, why not? (utter disbelief)"

Extremists live life as if the present is the most precious gift and cradle it like a new-born. When the present becomes the past they have no regrets, they then start thinking of ways to manipulate the future so that when it arrives it can be spent like no other day before it; uniquely and unforgettably. Extremists tend to plan, but if something better comes along they change their plans. There is nothing more extreme than spontaneity, a willingness to change the way you see the next few minutes, hours or days!

This all sounds like a fairy tale, like a person you read about in a book or watch in a movie. You may be able to relate to certain aspects of the above description, but have never really seen it fully lived out. The reason for this is simple: the very aspects that make so-called extremists so endearing and successful, are the very things that trip them up in the end.

Extremists have a tendency to alienate people that can't keep up with them. They tend to be seen as selfish, reckless and driven. They would argue that they are just being misunderstood, but what is often the case is that, that which drives them to the edge, drives them over the edge.

What is the solution then? Jesus was extreme, He was a revolutionary, He alienated, polarized and mobilized. So, what was the difference? The bible says that Jesus only did what He saw His Father do and said what He heard His Father say. It stands to reason then that what we think is extreme is in fact an everyday reality for God. When we think we're living on the edge and seizing the day we are actually just beginning to tap into the potential He has given us.

Jesus was a lot of things, but one thing He was not, was selfish. Consider others just as Jesus considered you when He went to the cross. It will put your extreme tendencies into perspective, it will focus your passions onto others, onto a world that is crying out for help - an extreme cry!

Taking the Limits Off

Limitations and restrictions have kept entire generations and cultures from reaching their potentials. Sometimes these limitations are self-imposed by ungodly thoughts or ideas inherent to our culture or environment. Other times these restrictions are enforced on us by others, who in their search for identity, find it in restricting those around them from reaching their potentials.

The most subtle, and therefore the most powerful of these ceilings are those that we restrict ourselves under. Have you ever found yourself saying or thinking along these lines?: If only I was prettier; If only I was richer; When the weather is better I'll do it or When I find some time. By abiding in this way of thinking, even slightly, you are limiting what you can achieve in your alotted time here on earth.

As soon as we look for reasons why we can't do something, we start cementing the roof tiles on the ceiling of possiblity. Instead look for reasons why you can do things! God has indeed restricted Himself to work wholy and souly through us, being His hands and feet on the earth. Thus, when we start limiting ourselves, we are in fact limiting God's ability to change peoples lives and hopeless situations through us. 

Understand this: You are pretty enough, you have enough resources, the weather will never be good enough and there will never be a right time. We are not qualified, in ourselves, to live out the dreams and visions that God has put in our heart, but He qualifies us. It is only because of His enabling grace and by the leading of the Holy Spirit that we can ever see and break through our supposed limitations.

To conclude: Challenge yourself in areas that were previously off-limits to you, according to what you or other people thought. Allow God to show Himself faithful and strong through you,so that He gets all the glory. Take the limits off Him and He will shatter the limits off of you.

Life Begins ...