Live, Love, Learn, Leave a Legacy by Heidi Jakoby

What is the fire that burns in your heart? Are you following your passion or has life gotten very comfortable? Recently I have found my life getting very comfortable, I do not seem to feel the same passion for goals as I once did. When I was in High School my goal was to graduate, then to get into college, then graduate from college, get married, get another degree, have children, get a good job . These were all passionate goals for me. Not all of them were achieved but I felt like I was living life to the fulliest in the pursuit of these goals. Now I have a great home, a wonderful husband, we are comfortable and I don’t seem to have a clear passion or as Steven Covey puts it in his book First Things First  I cannot identify “The fire within”. Do you know what your “fire within” is and how to pursue it.

George Bernard Shaw wrote:

This is the true joy in life, being used for a purpose recognized by yourself as a mighty one. Being a force of nature instead of a feverish, selfish little clod of ailments and grievances, complaining that the world will not devote itself to making you happy. I am of the opinion that my life belongs to the whole community and as long as I live, it is my privilege to do for it what I can. I want to be thoroughly used up when I die, for the harder I work, the more I live. I rejoice in life for its own sake. Life is no brief candle to me. It is a sort of splendid torch which I have got hold of for the moment and I want to make it burn as brightly as possible before handing it on to future generations.

How I long to feel this way to find my passion again and to live life like Shaw describes. I love the image of life as a torch not as a flame, that are lives are meant to burn brightly and boldly and we are to leave a legacy that we can hand to the next generation. Shaw speaks clearly that we are all connected and that when all members of the community are living fully we (the community) become a force of nature. How amazing this is. Was there a time when you were a part of a group that had a symitry of gifts and together the group achieved greater things than you could have imagined in the beginning? Is this something you want to be a part of again? How do you move toward that passion , that fire?

When Jesus goes out and recruits disciples he is clear that they are being asked to focus on the most important thing, "First things first. Your business is life, not death. And life is urgent: Announce God's kingdom!...No procrastination. No backward looks. You can't put God's kingdom off till tomorrow. Seize the day." How do you seize the day and fully live it? Let’s read the whole story Luke 9:51-62

In this story Jesus also makes it clear that the journey will neither be comfortable or easy. Is that a part of not pursuing your “fire within”. When I was growing up my parents always said they wanted my life to be easier than theirs. I am not sure how helpful that is to me today. I am comfortable but I am having a hard time finding my “fire within”. Sometimes I think that it is adversity or difficulties that help you to find your passion and to think about your legacy. In Covey’s book First things First he says, “The key to the fire within is our spiritual need to leave a legacy. It transforms other needs into capacities for contribution. Food, money, health, education, and love become resources to reach out and help fill the unmet needs of others.” Do you agree? How has this worked in your life?

Take a couple of minutes to think about the legacy you want to leave, Nichole Nordeman’s video touched my heart and got me thinking about my legacy. The pictures of the people and the legacies they are leaving are very inspiring. What will be your legacy? (video, lyrics)

Finally if you want to just take a deep breath, relax and spend 2 and a half minutes viewing this video from Franklin Covey: Leave a Legacy

Please share your thoughts and comments here and join us on Skype for a discussion just call "bythewaycommunity". We will be on Skype from 7-8pm EST, 6-7pm CT 4-5pm PCT. Hope to talk with you soon. Hope your day is filled with joy!

What gives you JOY? by Heidi Jakoby

Some of my favorite face book or twitter posts are those acknowledgements of unexpected joyful moments. Those moments of joy when you find your keys that were lost, or when a young child spins in circles laughs and makes himself dizzy for the first time are moments of joy. One friend posted some of the most beautiful pictures from the ice storm last year and there was such joy in the sky and sun reflecting in the ice and snow.

Last night my husband and I discussed the readings I posted earlier this week and a beautiful advent prayer a friend posted. ( Luke1: 68-79 and Philippians1:3-11)


It was fascinating to talk about what brings us joy and to find out that for both of us it is very simple things not the things the media puts out but the things that touch our hearts. He said that the quiet that comes with snow brings him joy. As I thought about it there is a different silence when you wake up to a neighborhood covered in snow. For me it is watching people enjoy my cooking or watching someone un-expectantly smile/laugh when they least expect it and no matter how hard they try to stop they can’t.

So how can we choose our joy? Maybe it is more about trying to be present in each moment of this time of Advent. To allow yourself to be distracted by what is most important and to not spend all of your time caught up in the frenzy of the season. In order to avoid some of the craziness of this holiday season I have discovered some great times to shop and I try and get together with friends more than worry about what will be happening in a few weeks. Take a breath realize what is truly the meaning of the season. Take some time and read these two passages from the Bible again.

Take care not to sit in the darkness, take time to find joy this season. What are the bright spots in this season? How might you create some joy in another person’s life? I know that during this time of year when my friends are struggling I just want to help, but that takes time and effort. What would make a friend who is struggling happy today? Sometimes it is a simple phone call, e-mail and sometimes a wall post.

I hope you remember that you are special and loved. You are important to the world and as you begin each day during this time of waiting, expect joy each day, expect good things to happen and help spread kindness. I know that sometimes I forget that I am special and that I can expect good things to happen each day. I hope each day of Advent brings you a little closer to God.

A friend shared this Advent prayer written by Henri Nouwen:

Lord Jesus, Master of both the light and the darkness, send your Holy Spirit upon our preparations for Christmas.
We who have so much to do seek quiet spaces to hear your voice each day.
We who are anxious over many things look forward to your coming among us.
We who are blessed in so many ways long for the complete joy of your kingdom.
We whose hearts are heavy seek the joy or your presence.
We are your people, walking in darkness, yet seeking the light. To you we say, “Come Lord Jesus!”


Amen