How can I burn brightly without burning out? This is a day to serve his blood gas with Anthony, I'm getting on it. Well, what is your source of energy? What is your source of light?
In my case, it's in John 15, 5, I am the vine, and Jesus is speaking here, you are the branches. He that stays in me and I in him, the same brings forth much fruit, or much light, right? Or shine. For without me, you can do nothing.
Who is it that said, if you are not connected to the vine as a branch, you're just a stick with no fruit. I have to say, for a long time, I thought I had it all in me. It was just a matter of drawing it out. But come on, let's get real here.
I don't know about you, but too often I tried to draw deep. I couldn't draw anything any further. It's not then just drawing deep. It's pulling down from above.
The greatest on earth below will not reach the least in heaven above. So why not maximize both? What is your source of energy? What is your source of light?
Now we have different convictions, but the message is essentially the same. You must have more than what you have today if you will continue to shine tomorrow. Ariana Huffington, we know this girl, what did she say? Don't just climb the ladder of success, a ladder that leads after all to higher and higher levels of stress and burnout, but chart a new path to success, remaking it in a way that includes not just the conventional metrics of money and power, but a third metric that includes well-being, wisdom, wonder, and giving so that the goal is not just to succeed but to thrive.
Ariana encourages us to embrace a new metric, to continually expand our vision so that we not only succeed and survive, but we become even more significant as we thrive. Whatever or whoever it is that you draw from, I pray it will be an everlasting source that will never run dry, so that you, over time and regardless of circumstances, will continue to burn brightly without burning out. From Scripture, I quote in Hebrews 12, 1-3, let us run with perseverance, the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him, he endured the cross, squaring at shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God, I'm sure he was burning brightly as it is.
Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. In other words, you will not burn out. In a final encouragement, and I quote, you simply have to put one foot in front of the other and keep going. Put blinders on and plow right ahead, and quote, George Lucas, isn't he the source of the force?
It's a Friday and it's time for a weekend to reflect on our podcast this week, which is on burnouts. Number one, in what area are you burning out and what can you do about it? Number two is that someone that you should reach out to, to help out, he who is burning out. And number three, is it time perhaps to reset your goals, to go beyond the current level of success and to go for more significance.
And trust me, as you expand your vision, more of the light and the shine shall be upon you. Have a great weekend.