A Sustainable Life

  For the last couple of days I've been thinking about the word sustainable. The dictionary definition tells us that a sustainable life is one that is able to be supported with the basic necessities or sufficient funds. A sustainable way of life is one that is able to be kept going or maintained.  Is your life and the vision you have for it sustainable?

  In 1992 I traveled to London to study at the Institute of Ophthalmology to obtain a diploma in Community Eye Health. One of the lessons driven home by all the learning there was that whatever we were going to do in the area of health care in the developing world needed to be sustainable. So many good works begin with great zeal but end with great disappointment. What happened? In the gospel of Luke chapter 14 we hear the wisdom of Jesus about sustainability, "But don't begin until you count the cost. For who would begin construction of a building without first getting estimates and then checking to see if there is enough money to pay the bills? Otherwise, you might complete only the foundation before running out of funds. And then how everyone would laugh at you! They would say, 'There's the person who started the building and ran out of money before it was finished!'"


  A sustainable life is built on something much deeper than an emotional response to need or opportunity.  There will always be deep needs all around us. Emotions can drive us and lead us to places that are not sustainable and contradictory to a defined vision for our lives. Have you ever met someone who was very busy but never got anything done... or at least not done well? The 'tyranny of the urgent' is in fact the routine operating procedure of someone driven by emotional impulse. We are meant to be led by the Spirit of God and not  driven and controlled by emotions.

  A sustainable life vision needs to include an honest and transparent 'cost analysis' of what it is you are moving in the direction of accomplishing.  As I write this the world is transfixed by the intense beauty and physical accomplishment of the world's great Olympic athletes. We see great speed, strength and agility on display in seemingly effortless performances. But the cost of participating in the Olympics involves years of daily sacrifice and discipline. Great athletes know that for every goal there are corresponding disciplines that require saying NO to what others can easily say YES to. They daily face down peers and have to say no to late nights... no to dietary temptations....no to distractions and anything that might take them off the path toward athletic excellence.

  A disciplined life is a response to an inward vision and direction for our lives. When we know where we're going and what we desire in life...we can exercise an appropriate discipline and lifestyle. (See Proverbs 29:18) We need to have a vision for our lives that has the 'long view' of what our life might look across our entire life span. You will not always have the same physical and mental sharpness that you have at a particular age. We need to make a sustainable plan for our life goals that will get us to the finish line across the decades.  So many careers, relationships and visions for life falter as we age or unforeseen circumstances interrupt our 'life script'.  Perhaps even now you're facing adversity or difficulties that you could have never imagined even a short time ago. Your soul is weary and your emotions are frazzled. What to do now?

  The ability to live a sustainable life of meaning and purpose depends on a source beyond ourselves
You do have strength and purpose built into your soul. The emotions and will of men and women are remarkably strong and resilient....but there are limits. We need a life built upon the Spirit and not just our bodies and soul. In Isaiah chapter 40 we read of a sustainable source of power and strength that every person can draw upon, "He gives power to those who are tired and worn out; he offers strength to the weak. Even youths will become exhausted, and young men will give up. But those who wait upon the Lord will find new strength. They will fly on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint."


  Today I encourage you to go deeper to find a well spring of life that will sustain you for your entire life. You were born for a purpose.... to build, to create, to relate.... and to love. Let God empower and guide you into a life of deep meaning and satisfaction that will last a lifetime!

Jim