Advent ABC's: React

I tend to react. It’s not necessarily a trait I’m proud of. Oh, I know how to put a positive spin on it by saying I’m always alert and ready, flexible and changeable. Truth be told, reacting is the less disciplined and less responsible way to handle life. I also rehearse. I go over conversations in my head. I practice responses. I think about how I want to say something. I try to be ready with the witty answer. Chances are, though, in the moment, I’ll just react.

I was thinking about this today while reading Donald Miller’s book, A Million Miles in a Thousand Years. I’m only halfway through the book and I want to buy a case and hand them out. As he was writing about the story we write with our lives, I thought about something I wrote recently about my Myers-Briggs Type. I’m an ENFP. Today I was thinking about how I have lived in to the FP parts of my personality. By depending on my feelings to make my judgments, I avoid having to think deeply on anything. Being all out there and unplanned, I avoid having to develop discipline.

So what do I do with this self-awareness? At nearly 53 years into this journey, I don’t think I’m going to change these things about myself, I can move towards a more balanced and developed personality. I draw great hope and comfort from Paul’s words to the Philippians: And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns. (1:6, NLT)

My story isn’t done. Neither is yours. His work in and us and through isn’t done either. How will you let him develop you? How will you let him write in you and through you into the lives of others? I wonder how you will react to this…