The Extremely Overrated T-Shirt -- Dissatisfaction with Life (Part 1)

Somewhere between a risk taker and a scaredy cat is where I exist.

I don’t like roller coasters with upside-down loopy loops…extreme sports…or highflying adventures. But I also don’t like sitting on the sidelines and watching other people have all the fun, either.

No, I do want to miss out on anything. I don’t like to be the last one to know. And I simply won’t settle for less.

In talking with other women, I know I am not alone with my preferences. If we’re honest, most of us will admit that we often possess an internal craving for a life more exciting than the one we currently have, where all of our longings and wildest dreams can be fully realized. It’s that feeling that we have missed out on something or might be missing out on something. It’s that desire to live out a life more full, much richer, and far more satisfying than the life we currently lead.

Unfortunately, often our dissatisfactions are misunderstood and misdirected.

We think our boredom in life is due to a marriage with a barely-there pulse, so we look for more excitement in a relationship outside the marriage. We suspect that looking better or having more will introduce significance back to our soul. We venture into cheap thrills, partying and compromises to make our life ok. Then we are surprised when the inner longing still exists.

Kinda reminds me of a guy in the Bible named Solomon.

A revered king, Solomon tasted everything the world had to offer and then some. He was rich, powerful, smart, popular and enjoyed worldly pleasure at every turn. He had been there, done that, and gotten the extremely over-rated t-shirt. Experienced and reflective, Solomon penned some thoughts on his past scrambling for fulfillment in life…

“All is meaningless…utterly meaningless.” (Eccles. 12:8)

Solomon was pretty short and to the point in his findings. Apparently, he also learned things the hard way. (Which is, incidentally, something he and I happen to have in common.:)) And his search for MORE contains an eerily familiar tune that most of us have at some time marched to.

As many of us have learned, the relationships we get into that compromise our marriage bring us down and are ultimately meaningless. So are the pills and the partying, by the way. Oh, and looking good doesn’t mean anything with an inner longing the size of Texas raging within us.

All of us want more. All of us want to be thrilled and excited, out of our minds. All of us need something to last longer than our last indulgence did.

Yet…

In the midst of the scramble remains The Constant.

Jesus.

The Constant offers us the ever meaningful. The always exciting. And the ultimate in satisfaction.

The problem is, we are often unavailable to travel with Him because we are too busy trying to purchase the extremely over-rated t-shirt of been there, done that. Choosing the ill fitting, pricey, doesn’t look good on you, anyway, instead of the fast, furious, risky, exciting, mind-blowing, over-the-edge, thrilling and exhilarating fits-you-like-a-glove ride of your life.

Some of my missionary friends could have chosen to purchase the extremely overrated t-shirt, but they are instead living out a life that is so rich and full and risky and amazing that they have no need for a shrinkable cotton souvenir. Instead they are tripping out on an amazing and exciting ride with God Himself, experiencing the satisfaction and fulfillment of a life only He can provide. And among them, not a desperate housewife to be found.

It doesn’t take a renegade to want to live that kind of life. It just takes a person stuck between risk taker and scaredy cat who is some more afraid of getting left behind, out of the loop, or the last one to know.

I’m not willing to settle for a life that is less than what my heart cries out for. I guess you could call it the call of the not-so wild. It sounds sort-of risky, I know. But I just don’t want to miss out on anything.

Lisa

P.S. Next Monday, I will post part 2 of this post. In it, I will introduce you to a book that has challenged me and motivated me to tap into my inner “barbarian” to satisfy my urges. Now that’s what I call a hint!