I’ve been using the phrase “rich life” instead of abundance or prosperity as it feels a little less itchy to some of you. I believe in prosperity. Unfortunately like a lot of things in life, a few folks went a little nutty with their message on it and it became a “bad theology”. Sad really because to avoid the bad theology we become people of limiting beliefs. We have made the choice to not live the lives we were intended to live.

But, that’s another soap box for another day!

I read this quote and it sums up what I want to express today:

A rich life is the dream of every man. It is not just money which makes us rich but the environment we live, the quality of life and the standard of thoughts which lead us to live a rich life.

Rich doesn’t equal a bank account, a 401K, investments or possessions owned. Those things certainly help in leading a certain lifestyle of richness but it isn’t a “rich life”. What I like so much about the quote is it draws attention to our surroundings, quality of life and our thoughts. Perfectly said.

I really want to draw attention to our thoughts. We limit our beliefs to fit in known scenarios. Little boxes that hold our dreams and lives. We miss out on really living while we waste away on the empty nutrition of these thoughts.

Sometimes our situations flat out suck. Money is tight. Or maybe you say, “What money?”. Good jobs are scarce. Or, your job doesn’t have enough forward opportunities for you to find potential success. Your spouse and kids just don’t get it and drive you to moments of agony with worry, frustration and nagging. Your community feels depressed and lacking life. Maybe the illness you have struggled with for years fights you every step of the way.

How can I have a rich life when I have to ______________?!

Wah. Wah. Wah. Wah.  In the words of my abundantly smart son, Jacob, “Are ya done yet?”.

His words were said to me two years ago this month. When in yet another pity party for myself of how my life had not turned out the way I wanted it to, there he came at me with some hard truth. Brutal but honest.

I was so consumed in my own despair of “wah wah wah” that I wasn’t even spending time with my own kids that I was actually despairing over. Hello! Get over yourself and the life you think is so stinking sorry and change it! If you don’t like it, do something. Get off the bench and put yourself into the game.

Sorry…squirrel. [Yes, Jim Genet, I have squirrels too!]

Framing It Up

In Haiti in September 2011, we were way out in the mountainside. It was breathtaking. Stunning. And in the midst of the poverty, the lack, the hunger, the seemingly nothingness – they had a richness to life that few will ever know.

They framed their perspectives on community, family, and what they did have. Each Other. The beauty of nature. Their faith.

This was the view from the window of the home we built. What a view to have every single day! Let me tell you – this photo just does not come close to the vibrant shades of green.

It reminds me of framing up our own views, our own perspectives on life. Maybe if we stopped focusing on what we don’t have or don’t like and started focusing on what good we do have, we would see the beauty of the landscape too. We would be willing to take risks to live. Dream bigger dreams. Shoot just dream period.

We would experience a rich, quality in our every day moments that take them from ordinary to extraordinary.