“There is an eagle in me that wants to soar, and there is a hippopotamus in me that wants to wallow in the mud.” ~ Carl Sandburg
Are we stuck in our comfort zone? There are benefits, you know. But the cost of staying stuck may involve eternal consequences. Sometimes staying stuck means we’re unwilling to move forward because we don’t trust God with the outcomes.
Think about it. If we’re to live our calling, staying stuck is not a real option. Yes, pushing through the boundaries of comfort = change. And change is scary. But God can give us the grace and courage necessary to change all the habits that keep us stationary.
You are not alone.
“For it is God who works in you to will and to act according to His good purpose.” ~ Philippian 2:13
I’m with you on this journey of change, my writerly friend.
RSS feed for comments on this post. TrackBack URI
on July 17, 2007 - 10:06 am
Boy, this is so much like where I feel I am at the moment.
Thanks, Vicki.
on July 17, 2007 - 10:39 am
Thanks for your post. It’s very relevant to my writing right now. I’m totally the hippo! Wallowing in self doubt.
on July 17, 2007 - 11:08 am
We just talked about this in Sunday school this past week…it’s difficult to take that first step out of the mud…most days I don’t mind being the Hippopotamus but I know in my heart it is not where God needs me to be
on July 17, 2007 - 9:33 pm
This ministered to me in a way that I cannot describe.
I have been such a hippo…I am thankful that at an altar…a few years ago….the Lord renewed my purpose…Thanks for being a vessel of the Lord in your writing.
God bless you!
on July 18, 2007 - 8:58 am
Vicki,
So true. Like you, I have been thrown out of my comfort zone with unexpected twists and turns. Somehow, this tossing about is more manageable than intentionally and purposefully stepping out of my comfort zone.
Still, I do believe that nothing is more painful than not being in the place that God intends us to be. So it is worth the purposeful effort–thanks for the reminder. I will be taking a closer look at my ‘zone’ today.
Hope you and your family are doing well. Been praying for your husbands quick and complete recovery…talk about being thrown out of your comfort zone…you have been through quite an ordeal. So glad that things are going better.
Diane
on August 3, 2007 - 3:53 pm
Hal, thanks for the comment and visit. I’m lifting you in my prayer, my brother and fellow scribe.
Darcie, sorry to not respond sooner but wanted you to know I’d like to encourage you! We’re all in that hippo phase, one time or other. Keep writing!
Danielle, thanks for that. You’re so right–we need to take that first step out of the mud. Great word picture.
Angie, thank YOU for posting encouragements and sharing your heart. So appreciated!
Diane, so thankful for your post. Together we can check our zones:-) And wow, I’m so grateful for your prayers. We were definitely thrown outta-de-zone lately:-)