Now Don’t Just Sit There!
by Charles R. Swindoll
An old year has completed its course. A new year is smiling at us with twelve months of the unknown. An entire ocean of possibilities, including both sun-drenched days and a few storms with howling winds and giant waves, stretch out across the uncharted waters. If we let ourselves, we could become so afraid of the potential dangers, so safety conscious, we would miss the adventure.
That’s one option, of course—becoming a beach-dwelling couch potato, someone who looks toward the horizon, entertains a few thoughts that start with “Someday . . .” or “In a year or two I’m gonna . . .” but then leans back and just keeps looking. What if Christopher Columbus had been content to build sandcastles along the shores of Spain?
Now, admittedly, some go a little nuts when they decide a change is needed. Larry Walters did. The thirty-three-year-old truck driver had been sitting around doing zilch week in, week out, until boredom got the best of him. That was back in the summer of ’82. He decided enough was enough; what he needed was an adventure. So, on July 2 of that year he rigged forty-two helium-filled weather balloons to a Sears lawn chair in San Pedro, California, and lifted off. Armed with a pellet gun to shoot out a few balloons should he fly too high, Walters was shocked to reach 16,000 feet rather rapidly. He wasn’t the only one. Surprised pilots reported seeing “some guy in a lawn chair floating in the sky” to perplexed air-traffic controllers.
Finally, Walters had enough sense to start shooting a few balloons, which allowed him to land safely in Long Beach some forty-five minutes later. When asked why he did such a weird thing, Walters usually gave the same answer: “It was something I had to do . . . I couldn’t just sit there.”
Between doing nothing and trying something that ridiculous, there’s a wide expanse worth probing. Think of the dozens of things God is going to teach us and the many ways we are going to see Him work in the coming year!
But I should warn you, you will have to change . . . and that won’t come easily. Mark Twain was correct when he said, “The only one who likes change is a wet baby.”
Breaking out of old, tired routines is one of the secrets
for staying young and energetic.
Excerpted from Day by Day with Charles Swindoll, Copyright © 2000 by Charles R. Swindoll, Inc. (Thomas Nelson Publishers). All rights reserved worldwide. Used by permission.
How about you? Are you ready to let God lead you valiantly into the service He is calling you to?
Hi, Nancy, I thought of you when I watched this video — it’s about microfinance, and SO inspiring! I know you have studied microfinance, in fact I think the man she referred to is a man you mentioned, too. Anyway, here’s a link to it.
You’re in my prayers, Nancy.
Linda
http://stevebuccellato.blogspot.com/2011/03/speaking-of-storytelling.html
Hi Linda, I watched the video – what an amazing and inspiring young lady. It’s so encouraging to see young people getting involved in this way. Thank you for sending the link. Nancy
Thanks, Nancy, for sharing those words of inspiration and challenge. They are wise! I’m excited to see all that God does in and through your life this year, both here and in Uganda. Bless you for your willingness to say “no” to being a beach-dwelling couch potato (as Chuck Swindoll called it!). No doubt your year will hold what he described as “an entire ocean of possibilities, including both sun-drenched days and a few storms with howling winds and giant waves, stretch out across the uncharted waters.” Thank you for your example of stepping out in faith! You are an inspiration!
Blessings,
Linda
Hi Linda! I’m glad to hear from you. I hope you had a nice Christmas and a good start to the New Year. I am so looking forward to 2011 and all that God has planned for me. Of course, I hope that includes a move to Uganda and early in the new year too. Yes, I really liked this devotional from Chuck Swindoll and thought how timely. (My ocean of possibilities for the last few days though seems to be in trying to decide which shipping company to use and should I ship a car or not. Haha!) Seriously though, I am learning to walk in faith in not only sunny days but also during the storms. God is faithfully holding me up with each step! What a journey this is going to be! Thank you for your continued encouragement. Nancy