The world, and god, deserve our all

​Matthew McConaughey tells the story of approaching his dad with the conversation that he'd changed his mind about wanting to go to law school and instead decided he wanted to study film. He anticipated that his dad wouldn't respond well to this change, so he feared the conversation.

At a time he'd strategically chosen, a time he felt his dad would be most open to hearing his words, McConaughey told his dad the news.

There was a pause. But then his dad eventually said, "well then, just don't half-ass it."

From those words, McConaughey has adopted a life mantra: If you're going to do anything, don't half-ass it, always whole-ass it.

I believe in that mantra. But I also know that sometimes life circumstances tend to influence my ability to whole-ass it. Like, if things aren't going exactly the way I'd like them to go, or aren't necessarily working in my favor, I can come to adopt those circumstances as unspoken permission to not go at my life and my goals and my responsibilities quite so hard.

I can give myself permission to half-ass.

I often have to remind myself I am not working for this life. And even though I live in this world, even though I treasure this world and I am deeply committed to the overall direction and wellness of this world, this world is not my master.

My master, in Colossians 3:23, tells me:

"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters."

I read those words from my master this morning, and it occurs to me that McConaughey's mantra isn't out of line with God's mantra. That there is a linkage between serving well this world and serving well God. And that is to whole-ass everything we choose to do.

We sometimes give ourselves permission, based on life's circumstances, to hit the brakes. To engage apathy more than whole-assedness. But that permission comes from ourselves and not from God.

And even if God is not your master, even if you follow some other leadership, or none at all, when actually is a good time for one to engage any chosen direction in life with half of all they have to give to it?

To their jobs.

To their relationships.

To their community.

To their health.

When, actually, does what we have chosen ever deserve less than all we have to give to it?

Effort and heart are never disconnected.

Whether our heart fuels our efforts or our efforts reignite our hearts, it's never a bad idea to give our all.

The world, and God, deserve nothing less.