Life is more than a series of check boxes

​Last evening, I went to the gym to do 2 miles on the treadmill. I had run earlier in the day, so I simply wanted to spend 30 minutes moving. Two 15-minute miles - a fast walk for me.

I'd barely started when I found myself wanting to hit the speed button. I wanted to add a little pep to the belt and get it over with.

But I didn't go to the gym for the 2 miles. I didn't go to check off a box. I went for the 30 minutes.

If we're not careful, life can quickly lure us into a series of check boxes.

Check. Check. Check.

Next. Next. Next.

I felt that in my praying this morning. Honestly - I feel it many mornings in my praying. I'm talking to God, but my to-do list is clearing it's throat in the background.

Eh hem - we have things to do.... God will understand.

Andy Stanley says, "the things we get distracted by are never as important as the things we get distracted from."

Call me convicted Andy.

Yesterday, I finished the book 'Bravey' by Alexi Pappas. Some of you may be thinking, my word Keith, haven't you been reading that book for weeks.

Yes. The answer is yes.

But that book is full of underlines and highlights and journal thoughts in the margins. Trust me, you do NOT want to borrow my copy of this book for your own reading pleasure. 😮

I've drawn arrows connecting one word to another because I was floored by how she used those words together to make a beautiful point. I've written no less than a dozen articles about things she's said and things she's made me think and feel.

This book has been an experience far more meaningful that closing it up and checking it off.

In the time I've been reading this book, Amazon has delivered 5 more books. Each one of them begging me to hurry up already and be done with Alexi and her thoughts on being brave and resilient.

But I ignored them. Because I knew what they were trying to distract me from was too beautiful an experience to be rushed through.

I think God wants me to spend time highlighting and underlining him a little more often. He wants me writing in the margins of our chats. I think God wants me to resist pushing the speed button on our conversations like I avoid hitting it on that 30 minute treadmill experience.

What experiences are you speeding through to simply check them off at the expense of highlighting some experiences in your life. What areas in your life are you not writing in the margins of because you're wasting time on experiences that aren't worth writing about at all.

I have a bunch of them. But fewer than I ever have. There are a lot of things I've decided just aren't worth doing at all.

The only price to be paid in that? I suddenly need more pens and highlighters 🤷‍♂️