live to the hilt

"Wherever you are, be all there. Live to the hilt every situation you believe to be the will of God." -Jim Elliot

This has been one of my favorite quotes for a long, long time. One that will zap me every once in a while with its profoundness. I was pondering it last night after I watched the movie Into the Wild. Something about this kid's journey to find himself and find what life meant brought this quote to my mind. I wonder how many of us think about running away from everything and starting over and living another life. We wonder if we are really living the life we are meant to live. We wonder if God has more for us that we are missing out on. I know I've done all these things. And while I enjoyed the idea of the movie, I didn't feel the need to abandon everything I have and know to go into the wilderness to find "me."

I did realize however, that I am exactly where I am supposed to be right now. No, not a new revelation, but one that I constantly ask God, more subconsciously than any thing else. Am I where He wants me to be? Am I "in His will" which seems to become the catch phrase for my generation of believers?

I am here. I am content. But am I living this life, this moment, this time of my life to the hilt like Jim Elliot says? Or am I coasting through these moments. Am I wasting the chances and opportunities that are right in front of my face today? Am I wasting them because I'm thinking, well, I can do this or that for God once I get married or once I have a family? When I have these things, then I can really serve Him. Then I can really do something for Him. Dangerous thoughts. Dangerous wisdom from the evil one who loves for me to waste my time in coasting mode.

How many things do I miss even though I AM in the right place at the moment? How many things should I be doing or experiencing right here, right now with what's in front of me? How many times has He placed incredible opportunities before me and I waste them because I'm "waiting?"

"Live to the hilt." "Be all there." Do it now. Don't waste what you have for what you think you will gain one day in the future.

I've also been thinking about this a lot because of SCC newest CD This Moment. His tour this year was about living in the moment that God has placed us in. Here are a couple of the lyrics from the title track....

"There's a wonder in the here and now
It's right there in front of you
And I don't want you to miss
The miracle of the moment"

"And He has given us
A treasure called right now
And this is the only moment that we can do anything about"


I am where He wants me to be, but am I living here the way He wants me to live? I don't want to look back on my life and realize that I left so much behind that was there right in front of me. I want to grab every thing He offers me. I want to be exhausted from the thrill of serving Him. I want to end my days with nothing left to give because He has totally used my life and my energy for His kingdom.

Live to the hilt. Live to the hilt.