Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy

Welcome to Day 74 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me.

This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom.

Life Is Not a Spectator Sport

Thank you for joining us for our 7 day a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 74 of our Trek, and yesterday we finished a two day series on how we can overcome fear when we choose to focus on love. Today we want to look at why "Life Is Not a Spectator Sport."

We are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina. It has been a very busy day of client work today, which included a great meeting with a couple from Florida about being involved in a potential technology project. This is a project that I wrote a business plan for nearly three years ago, but the timing was not right then. It is still in the very early stages, so we will be seeking God’s wisdom and guidance on moving forward. Tonight we have the privilege of watching our grandson Kiprono while his parents are involved in other activities, so that is always a blessing for Granny and Gramps.

While our life seems to be very full most days, I have to admit there are some days when I wish it were a bit slower. I can’t help but feel like a slower pace would allow me to check out and not have to deal with what appears to be competing demands. I remind myself, though, that most of these activities are of my own choosing, and that if I had to do it all over again, I would probably make the same choices. But, that does not stop the desire to step back and become a spectator in life instead of being so actively involved. However, I know "Life Is Not a Spectator Sport" and to fulfill my destiny in life I must be actively involved. This applies to you and those around you as well. For some people, this will be on a large, grand scale impacting thousands, but for others, it will be on a small intimate scale, impacting a few. Both are equally important.

Although I am very much an optimist, I am also very much a realist. I understand fully that it’s not always easy to get through this thing we call life. If we allow it, day after day we are bombarded with constant negative images. We are told we are too fat, too lazy, too dumb, too old, too ugly, too far behind the rest of the world, and so on. And sadly, there are people in this world who derive pleasure from keeping others down.

For those who allow it, the world can be a scary, cold, and unwelcoming place. The world can be a place where we are afraid to take on challenges, try new things, express who we really are, or act like ourselves. As a result, it is important, imperative even, that each of us takes an active role in determining how our life is going to play out, and specifically, what role we are going to play in it – a starring role, a supporting role, or that of a spectator. The first two are equally admirable; however, the third role is one that requires us to have a change of mindset.

Growing up, one of the highlights of our weeks that were otherwise filled with work and school was our Sunday nights when we would all sit around the TV, eat popcorn, and watch The Wonderful World of Disney. We rarely missed it.

That memory got me thinking of another Disney story The Hunchback of Notre Dame and its main character Quasimodo . We learn that he views life from the cathedral bell tower high above the village square too afraid to be a participant in the festivities and everyday happenings going on below and all around him.

His conscious decision to be a “spectator,” due to his various insecurities (most resulting from the abusive behavior of the reprehensible Judge Frollo) and a major deformity. That decision means he is missing out on even the most trivial joys that may be found “out there.”

That is until Laverne,