Sometimes bigger possibilities lead to bigger holes

In the book of Matthew, Jesus said something that gets more and more profound to me the older I get. He said:

"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it."

When Jesus was delivering this message as part of his sermon on the mount, he was talking to his followers about the path to eternal life. But many who follow me aren't Jesus followers, just as there was a day I wasn't a Jesus follower, and yet, I still think this passage is full of incredible wisdom.

Especially in these times.

These times, when the distractions in life are endless. These times, when we can walk through a broad gate and see endless possibilities. Only, and I see this a lot these days, what endless possibilities often translate to is a total lack of focus.

Endless possibilities that look like chasing material wealth, superficial relationships, and a host of short term pleasures. And what often happens at the other end of those chases is stress and burnout and deteriorating mental health.

I have told my boys that indeed, anything may be possible, but very very careful which possibilities you choose. Be very careful how many possibilities you long for.

Because I am discovering, even if some days it feels like a discovery painfully late, that it's the small gate and the narrow road in life that leads to health and fulfillment.

In a world that's begging us to collect thousands of followers, having a meaningful real life connection with a few is where fulfillment comes from.

In a world begging us to do whatever it takes to make millions, it's contributing something helpful to the world that might make pennies by comparison that offers fulfillment.

In a world begging us to take supplements and adopt this diet and buy that gym membership, little makes you feel better than a long walk and a good night's sleep.

We live in a world of endless possibilities; scrolling past them one after the other on our phones is such real but sad symbolism for this. We live in the land of opportunity, but have opportunities become more thieves than givers of life?

The gate is small and the road is narrow that leads to life. And for sure, that truth has spiritual implications that point me personally to Jesus.

But it also points me to looking at my day ahead.

It points me to considering, am I chasing all that is possible one day to the point I can no longer focus on what is possible today?

Am I distracted by all that could be one day or am I focused on all I know I can be today?

If your day feels overwhelming, if you're feeling a little burnout and stretched thin, it's possible you've walked through a gate much too wide and you're now trying to keep up with people running on a road much to broad.

Maybe it's time to stop.

Narrow is the gate that leads to life, and believe me when I tell you, it's never too late to find that gate.