I have read a two books and watched a management series by Henry Cloud. I have been impressed with his action orientated teaching.  When I received an email about a series of Webinars from Dr Cloud and Dr Townsend, I thought I would sign up.  I got a little more than I bargained for. 

The first webinar was about the barriers to change.  Nothing earth shattering or convicting here.  It was good information, but I didn't see any of "afraid to change" factors present in me.  (I will come back to this - maybe not the best conclusion on my part.)

The second webinar started by a challenge to write down the goal that you have for your life; the reason that you started watching these webinars in the first place.  This is where the trouble started.  I was unable to come up with a goal.  I mean, I have goals, but they seem kind of trivial and really short term - get this project done, wrap up this project, etc.; not the kind of goal that requires life change or a more radical movement.  I really could not come up with anything that seemed like a worthwhile goal.  That was really disheartening to me - so disheartening I stopped watching the webinar. 

Then the questioning started.  Have I become so complacent and content in my life that I have no aspirations anymore?  Have I achieved everything that I am supposed to achieve?  Am I afraid to step out?  Have I closed my mind to the possibility of larger goals because I am comfortable?  Am I just too tired to aspire?  Positive answers to any of these questions is depressing. 

Here is the problem.  I am a mountain climber.  I love to dream and make those dreams reality.  I love to move forward.  I love to change.  I love to be a change agent. This is how I am wired and one of the contributions that I believe I bring to this world.  I think this is where the "depression" set in: the gap between were I am (no goals) and who I believe I am (action orientated).

OK, so I have to do some work.  I have to make sure that there are no personal barriers to me changing or moving - that I am not lying to myself when I thought that I got a passing grade on all the reasons why people don't change.  Secondly, I believe that I need to listen more to the Spirit.  I cannot believe that He is done with me - that I have no other mountains to climb.  I just need to listen, clearly listen to what He would have me do.

One of my driving passions has been to spend/invest my life - not to waste it.  Being sedentary is wasting it......

I guess the reason I wrote this is so that you do not become complacent either.  Do not waste your life.  Keep moving and don't be content with the status quo.

I say this every time I have a gap in my blog - it has been a while and I have not taken the time to write.  In reality, I guess that I have had nothing to say of any value.  (Of course one could argue that I never have any thing valuable to say!)

I have had a fascination with war - not the carnage and killing - that would be morbid - but the fact that humans can be so evil and so inhumane.  And frankly, human stupidity.

For example, in World War II the conquer of France by Germany was not by direct frontal attack through the fortified Siegfried line which was along the France-German border, but through Belgium; around the Siegfried line.  Guess what plan had been proposed by a German general in World War I?  Guess what strategy the Germans used in World War I to avoid the French forts along the France-German border?  You guessed it - they attacked through Belgium.

I look at this and ask myself - how can people be so incredibly stupid?  How can the brightest military minds spend millions and millions of dollars to establish fortifications along a line that 30 years before had simply been bypassed?  Seriously?  Did they not see this coming?  Did they not understand the strategic deficiency of not protecting the France-Belgium border? 

What is it about the human condition that causes our minds to bypass things like this?  It is arrogance?  Is it complacency or laziness of mind?  It is simple ignorance?  It is a failure to believe that the past can and will repeat itself?

Whatever it is, it is dangerous human trait.  The Bible speaks of our enemy being smart.  He is seeking to devour us and he will use whatever means he deems necessary to gain victory.  It is our charge to be wise to his schemes.  It is necessary that we not become complacent or routine in our lives so as to give the enemy an opening.  If he has used a scheme in the past and found success - guess what - he will probably use it again.  Be diligent, but wise, be looking for subtle attacks of the evil one.  Don't let him repeat his old attacks on you!