Let’s Not Live Half a Life

God’s intent is to give us life abundantly. Let’s not live half a life, Let me tell my personal story as an example.

I grew up in a good one-half life. My parents had rejected emotion due to their hurt. Their success is that they created a safe place for those who could live in that rational positive space.

I was one who could. So, we had only half a world, but I did not know it as grew up that way.

However, the rational world has a lot in it. Respect, clear boundaries, peace, kindness, positive encouragement, never criticism, no fear, and I found God there.

But the Bible says God wants to give us a full life.

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

My Mom and I had a good half life. It is impressive what my two hurt parents could do in that space. (Some could not get in that space and life was much harder for them in such a family)

Once again, God wants much more for us. God called me out to find my heart at age 25.

For me to enter the feeling world was a non linear process. I wanted a 1,2,3 road map to feeling like whole people can.

Feeling is not like that. After a year, I was depressed. My wonderful non Christian Mom said. “Why do you chase this if it makes you so unhappy?”

I told her that it seems it is the first step for me to enter in. That proved true.  Many men are stuck in half a world. It is not easy at all for us to come out from the space we live in naturally. It is so uncomfortable and I had some unreasonable fear of being silly which also held me back.

Indeed, Let’s Not Live Half a Life

I think many women will marry men who will live in just part of the full world God wants to lead them into.(Some women need to enter the rational world their husbands often know.)  It took me years and a few tries, and I am still working to be alive, but each small victory is something. I would never turn back from that amazing discovery that God wanted my heart at age 25. By God’s grace, I found life and gave life and faith and a love of ‘heartfelt story books’ to my kids. My wife could not do it alone.

Men, God has something more for us. We can step past our rules and boundaries with some safe guides like our wives and enter into another good world that is not as crisp and clean but more fuzzy and yes, warm. God wants us to live the adventure. Let’s enter in.  See also God Gave Me Life.