Rider Haggard called it "the grip."

"The grip" is that moment when you first discover a whole new side to life. This new goal or focus or passion is so deeply engrained in you in that moment of discovery that it feels as if it has just been sleeping inside of you all along. Now, this new passion isn't a fleeting possession or hobby, but it's a desire that changes your life's vision. It adds a whole unchartered territory to your map of adventure.

Do you remember your moment of "the grip"?

I asked myself that question today and realized that I had left a few gripping moments behind which led to a rediscovery of an old passion. It was a goal that I used to long for and fight for daily. I don't know why I haven't thought of it in a while. Maybe Mr. Haggard would call that "the rut."

One of the scariest things to me would be to get to the end of life having never been gripped by something.

I long to only be gripped by an eternal perspective.

Where will you be?

Just a taste of the basics.
Bright lights and late nights.

Church has become some moral grid for our behaviors.

And even the Bible says that idea will run our spirits into the ground to the point of wanting to die.
Romans 8 says that if we focus on our flesh to any extent, even with the goal of fixing it, it will lead to death.

Want life and peace?
Set your mind on the Spirit of God.

How to do that?
I'm still working on that part.
And I guess I hope I never stop.

I can’t solve my problems.

That truth is the foundation of my greatest joy.
Why?
Because it will send me seeking something outside of myself.

You are not the answer to your addictions, your relationships, or any churning in your soul.
What a beautiful relief.

Talent is learned.

"Turn your eyes upon Jesus. Look full in his wonderful face. And the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of his glory and grace."

May my life grow strange.

I will never see that moment again.

Yeah, I'm thinking of a specific moment, but what occurred in that moment doesn't matter really, does it? No, because what happened in that moment is true of every moment.
It'll never come back.

I'll never see that sunset at that mountain overlook.
I'll never see that kayak in the sand.
I'll never see my granddad's smile after finishing the project.
I'll never see her face in that exact same light.
I'll never feel that massive crowd singing that pleading chorus.
I'll never see any of those moments exactly as they were ever again.

I must understand that I am daily dying.

I saw a old picture of a man in a uniform the other day. There was no documentation on him other than that he fought for the Confederate army. No name. No story. Just a face and a gun.
I could see in that face that his life felt no less real and vital and progressive than mine does to me. His feelings and aspirations were important to him just like mine are to me and yours are to you. He was very alive. He is now very dead.
I think and write about this a lot. Maybe it's a phase. You know the "I was young, ambitious, and dumb" routine. And where I have no doubt that any of those characteristics are accurate in stating who I am, I also know that the once-in-a-lifetime moments happen, well, every moment.
Two hundred years from now someone will pick up (or view in some format) the picture of me on Stone Mountain that was taken eight days ago and say, "Wow, that guy has been dead a long time. And those pants are ridiculous."

And guess what...I will go on climbing mountains, playing music, loving people, hurting people, pursuing selfishness, refining my desires, praying for freedom, wallowing in regret, wasting time...just like every other day for the rest of my life. Life doesn't transform at some magic moment.

"Real life" has already started. I will never have as much time to become who I need to become as I do now.
I have been living my life since August 5th, 1988. That is my birthday, so obviously that is when life began for me.
However, what I mean is that so often I view everything in life as getting ready to happen.
"Some day when I get out of this place...some day when I meet that person...some day after I graduate...some day when I make that much money...some day when I get married...some day when I have kids...some day when I retire."

Today is some day.
Life just is.
So I must just do.

There are things I want to see, moments I want to feel.
Commence living.