“If you do not cut the mooring, God will have to break them by a storm and send you out. Launch all on God, go out on the great swelling tide of His purpose, and you will get your eyes open."

- Oswald Chambers

One of my favorite memories of my investment career was a meeting I had with one of the bond salesmen who covered me out of Chicago. We met for breakfast at his hotel and he made a strange request. He asked if I would pray over him.

He said that the vision he had of my life was that I was standing in a raging river of God’s provision, blessing, joy, and adventure; that the water was literally washing over me as I stood there. The picture he had of his own life was that he was standing on the riverbank, toe barely in the water, desiring to be out in the whitewater as well.

My life often doesn’t feel (and I would imagine look) that way, but the fact that he identified it has been a plumb line repeatedly drawing me back to the heart and intentions of God. The reality is that the Christian life was intended to be filled with joy, adventure, and blessing as we journey through it with the Father. It was never meant to be easy, but His burdens and yoke are always easier and lighter than the ones we choose for ourselves.

In a breakfast meeting this morning with a couple of leaders, God reminded me of something else in regard to that story. While He intends my life to be a raging river of adventure, joy, and blessing; I am actually the one who has his hands on the valve that controls the spigot...

I get to decide how much of that grand intention I actually enjoy.

Reality is that I often choose my own plan and enjoy the less wild results of those choices. It often doesn’t look like my friend imagined 10 years ago. But the fact it sometimes does and that I get to ultimately decide how wide that tap gets opened, has me yearning for more.

The privilege of living that life is incredible, but the impact of living that kind of life is unimaginable. When I let the water flow freely and wade out into the middle of that flow, the life He intends is fully on display. And…

I inexplicably invite others to experience the same.

It is humbling to know that the water washing over my life might splash onto others, too. That my children, the people I work with, or even the people I live around, might find an invitation into that as well.

It is a little embarrassing to know that while glory is available I often reach for so much less. Kind of like making mudpies in the slums when a holiday at the sea is available, like C.S. Lewis says. I am far too easily pleased.

Are you barely dipping your toe in the water, standing ankle-deep in the still water along the banks, or out in the deep stuff with the water washing over you?
Have you ever experienced the rush and exhilaration of the water powerfully flowing over and around you?
Do you ever find that the life you are living inspires others to find a better life?
That those you love and lead are interested in following your footsteps?