We can all remember coming to a fork in the road.  Whether it involves family, career or health, the fork demands our ‘undivided’ attention!  Which way should we go?  The very decision making process can be overwhelming and stressful.

My sister tells of a time when she was just out of high school and struggling with the decisions for her future.  If you knew my sister, you would also know that making decisions was (and is) not among her favorite things to do!  The result of those decisions can be good or bad.  Always wanting to make the best decision, she found herself temporarily immobilized - struggling to make a choice.

When in that position, we somehow welcome the input from another source.  It doesn’t really matter if the advice is good or bad.  What matters is that someone offered information to help tip the balance.  Movement is good!  So is Mom’s advice.

Two pieces of advice my mom will always be remembered for are:

1.  If it won’t matter in five years, it’s not worth fretting about.
2.  God can’t steer a parked car - so don’t just sit there - do something!

When faced with decisions that very well might matter in five years, it is only natural to weigh your options carefully.  That might include a bit of fretting.  Taking the first step down a new road can be scary.  Doing nothing can also be scary!  When the fork in the road brings you to a stop, remember to first breathe a prayer for direction, look over your options, then take the first step.  Getting moving is the hardest part.  God can’t steer a parked car!  But, once put into motion, He can direct you to the right road.

As you sail the seas of life, are you ready to take on the open water or are you still safely anchored near the shore - watching, wishing and longing for something to change?  Do you sometimes feel a burning desire to just pull up anchor and catch the wind?  What holds you back?

Fear Is a Direct Result of Your Self-talk

Fear of the unknown - or maybe even fear of the known - is probably right at the top of your list.  Knowing what you need to do and doing it are two very different things.  Much of fear is a direct result of your own self-talk.  Have you noticed that when you replay negative thought patterns over and over again in your mind, you actually come to believe them?  Be mindful of what you say to yourself.  What you say is what you’ll get.

Maybe you have taken the first step toward that free-sailing freedom, but something is holding you back.  Have you really pulled up the anchor, or are you just safely letting it drag along the bottom where it can snag on rocks and other debris along the way? 

What Baggage Are You Carrying?

Try this very powerful example for yourself.  Place a chair at one side of a room.  This chair represents you.  Now place a chair out of reach on the other side of the room.  This chair represents your goal.  Are you the type to always keep one hand tightly on your own chair - while reaching for your goal?  Maybe you are the type that actually drags your chair with you as you move toward your goal!  Do you get the picture?

Isn’t it time to let go of your anchor?  Meet your fears head on, take a deep breath and take that first step forward.  The winds of freedom are blowing strong.  You can do it!  Reach down, pull up anchor and catch the wind!

 It’s very generic really - the art of making a difference. It happens in all walks of life, in every job, and in every neighborhood. There is a fine line that separates doing only what needs to be done and doing what will be long remembered. Too often we get caught up in the busy-ness of each day. Our focus tends to get stuck in caring only for the day to day needs of number one. Wheat would life be like if we remembered to take a few minutes or a few hours here and there to make an unexpected difference in someone else’s life?

I invited an elderly friend to my home for brunch not long ago. She was quite independent, but had lost her husband nearly a year ago and struggled with loneliness. I wanted to offer her a morning filled with special touches of things she loved. That included appointing my charming husband to play chauffeur, a table setting with my best linens, a menu to tempt her appetite, all the conversation she could want and then, coffee in the music room while I played piano for her. It was a delightful morning.

Now, I happen to love the beauty and fun of a formal tea, a luncheon or in the case of my friend, a morning brunch with all the trimmings. But, there are countless ways of taking that extra step. Sometimes I simply write a short note of encouragement or recognize the hard work of a job well done. The extra step does not have to take hours and hours of planning. Some of the most appreciated moments take just that to give - moments.

People notice when something is not routine. They also know and recognize the difference between duty and genuine caring. Yes, it can take great effort to make the time to do these things. However, I have learned the hard way that sometimes we only get one chance to make a difference - and if we miss it - we may never get another one. Need comes in every size, shape and color. Start small. Pick one and see if you can make a difference in someone’s day.