Busting Our Borders

   I bet when you read the headline to this blog post you thought I was going to go on some rant about securing the borders of our country from illegal aliens. Well, I do have very strong political opinions as most of you know. However, this is not the appropriate time for that. A year from now I might be singing off of a different song sheet. While I am all for securing our national borders and making sure people follow a process for citizenship, the borders I am referring to might make some of you think differently. I hope so. I am talking about the borders we put up or allow others to construct that limit our potential to make a greater impact on our world. I am talking about man-made borders that keep us locked into a sense of "this is just how it is." For me, it just doesn't work like that. The dash becomes a minus sign and life becomes more of a chore than an adventure. We see a subtraction of our purpose which leads to a road to nowhere. If this is you an about-face is in order. Your borders need to be blown up (figuratively speaking of course).

   Back in 2009 I was afforded one of the greatest opportunities of my life. It is a time I always look back on and wish it never had to end. I was working as an assistant pastor at a Vineyard church in Maine and was asked to join a team of three others heading over to Denmark. Our senior pastor was going to be teaching a week long class on healing at a Bible College and there was going to be a lot of interaction with students, faculty and staff.  Before I set out on this adventure with my three friends I had no idea what a life-changing time it would be. Last night my wife and I had a rare night out together. Our night ended with a trip to Dairy Queen for some ice cream and I found myself talking about what else, my trip to Denmark. The impact of this trip caused me to do something I always did but did not realize I was doing. I was removing borders of where I would allow myself to be used. No borders. No walls. It was just me and the purpose I had been given. Our collective purposes crave action without borders. Trust me friends, there are life-changing times ahead. It is up to us to release ourselves from everyone else's expectations. The fear that paralyzes us from going beyond where we are comfortable needs to be obliterated. There is nothing like it when you break free and see your borders expanded. Your life is never the same. The borders become harder to see.

   In the days, weeks, months and now years since my trip to Denmark I cannot help but see the impact on my life. I get emotional when I think of that time because something new was born inside. Something new was stirred up. I am eternally grateful for the friends I experienced this time with and the new friends I now have because I went. All of what I experienced would not exist if I did not step out and go when I was asked. I missed my daughter's dance recital but I will see plenty more of them. She understood and loved the flowers delivered to our home on the big day. There is a cost. Don't fool yourself into thinking otherwise. A lot of times we don't go because we are afraid of the unknown or don't want it to cost us. Sometimes we don't go because other people don't approve. Sometimes we don't go because other people have other expectations for us that may or may not be directly communicated. That shouldn't happen but it does unfortunately. In any case the ultimate decision rests with us. For me busting my borders meant that my God-given talents, abilities and gifts could be used anywere.  It still means that today and it always will. What about you? Are you going to bust your borders? I love hearing stories of people who do. Be brave. It is time to step up.

   Our lives are not long enough to allow borders to keep us down. We need to branch out. People might say, "Well that is just not me. I can't do that." You may be right because only you know what you are willing and able to do. However, I guarantee that you will see impact on your life even if you step out and it is a total flop. When Deb and I moved to North Carolina we anticipated a smooth transition. It didn't turn out that way initially. So what! Just like my trip to Denmark had a profound affect on me so did our move to North Carolina. I am a different person because of both. One may be looked at as more of a success than the other but on what basis? Denmark produced a lot of great things in me but so has my experience here in North Carolina. No borders says, "I will go and be obedient." As a man of faith this is how I will always live my life. I will go. That is just what I do. You can too. "Go" can mean lots of things. Maybe you take that new job or decide to go back to school. Maybe you go to another place to live. The going is hard because you don't know how it will end. You are no longer in control. I think I like it better that way. Are you willing to go even if you have no idea what will happen? Will you give up your comforts? No borders says you should.

   Your life has the potential to be great. It has the potential to make others great. The borders mentioned in my stories would fall under the geographical category. It really doesn't matter what borders are out there. All of them can be expanded. All of them can be busted. How about we expand them so far that you have to strain to see them. Are you with me? My hope is that you will see what I saw. I can be used ANYWHERE on this planet if I am willing to go. So can you. You can decide right now what and how that will look. It will be different for each one of us but therein lies the beauty. What a wonderful thing to watch! It is an amazing sight when people step up, bust their borders and are forever changed. Some may not be the risk taker that others are. Okay, I get that. Just don't use it as an excuse. Look for the reasons why you should. It is easy to convince yourself not to do something. The hard lies in the greatness of pursuing what some consider unobtainable. If you are reading this post you still have time. Don't let your life have borders. Don't box yourself in. Bust through those borders. It is not all roses but it will have more impact on you than if you stayed status quo. Remember, it's about the dash!