He sat down in my chair and began to talk about what he wanted out of life. Asked me questions as to what I thought about his dreams and plans. I answered honestly. From what he described it sounded good. Like a good plan. I liked it. Then his brow became stern and he looked down as he told me of something in his life that he struggled with. Something that he was engaging in that he wasn’t sure how to address.

I told him, based on what he had just told me, the dreams and goals that he just said he wanted to accomplish, sounded like he’d have ta give that thing up.

I’ll never forget the look on his face or what he said. He immediately raised his head, looked me square in the eye and said in a low voice, “I’m not ready”. I simply shrugged and said, well, then you’ll have ta wait to get what you want until you are. We talked more for a bit and then he left.

Month and a half later I heard he had died of a heart attack. He was waaay young. Way too young to have died of a heart attack. But I haven’t helped but wonder…did he make it? Did he make it before he died? Did he become “ready”?

I know he never got the opportunity to achieve the goal he was striving for; but I can’t help but wonder if he at least got to the place of being ready to accomplish it, ya kno?

It’s been weeks now since I first heard of his death. I haven’t been able ta shake it. The question. The wondering. The contemplation of his life and how it equates to mine. Am I ready? Have I recognized what it is in my life that I need to address, correct, change, in an effort to get what I want? What is my hearts desire? Have I taken the steps necessary to acquire it? Have I sacrificed that thing in my life that I know needs ta go?

People take life for granted. As if there is endless time in whatever it is they want to do or see. But there isn’t. It’s a finite venture, wrought with controversy, at best. Only those with the ability to adapt, change, grow, etc. seem ta manage it well.

And that’s the rub, isn’t it?

So much in this life requires us to step out of our comfort zones, reach a bit further into the unknown, the abyss; develop the skilz and growth to acquire whatever it is that we want to acquire. Staying stagnant, remaining still, rarely results in anything of merit. We are forced, by a seemingly unseen force, to grow and develop…..into the people we are supposed ta be; and if thru some stubbornness, we refuse? Then Life simply doubles down and brings us back to the same spot, time and time again, until we figure it out at last.

In some ways, I’m thankful. Thankful for gettin a second shot; a second opportunity. But I can’t help but think about the time that is lost over the unrelentless learning curve.

Patience? Understanding?…go easy on the self talk? Hmm…should we? What if the remedy to overcoming the fear of “not being ready” lies in the brutal honesty of what we are doing to ourselves? How much we have prevented our own success; by simply being unwilling to acknowledge what it is within ourselves that needs ta change? The unwillingness within ourselves to grow?

“Time waits for no man”

 

….the Time is now. The time of harvest is now. Patience has given us all its due. Father…may the words never leave my lips that “I am not ready”! Prepare me for the now. The present. Remove from me, the fears of doubt. The fears of indecision and uncertainty. Surround me with the Spirit of confidence and boldness. To look into the darkness of the unknown and say with all confidence: “I am ready. Let’s do this”!

The. Time. Is. NOW.

Whatever you’ve been dreaming of. Whatever you’ve been striving for. Collect your harvest. Don’t you dare even whisper you aren’t ready! Grow. Adapt. Change. Prepare yourself for the harvest. Because it’s long overdue, and you’ve had plenty of time to prepare: Reap! 

Embrace the unknown. Everything you’ve been thru up until this point has brought you to this moment. Embrace it. Accept it. Reap your harvest. The very thing you’ve been dreaming of, praying for, is here for you, r i g h t now. You ARE ready. Take it. Be EXCITED! That time, that moment you’ve been waiting for, IS today. The time is today…

Copyright©2021 Jacob C. Larson All Rights Reserved