One month ago tomorrow, two of the things I’ve enjoyed most over the last couple years were removed from my life. Since November of 2014, every time I had a chance to feel the wind in my face riding through the country on my Harley, I’d say to myself, It doesn’t get any better than this. I loved to ride. In a year and a half I put 7,200 miles on that bike, mostly on a bunch of 45 minute rides. It was exhilarating to me. For the last month, though, I’m still not totally healed from the wreck, I’ve very much missed those rides. I’ve thought all I need is to heal and be able to get another bike just like the one I wrecked.

As a consequence of injuries, I’ve also not been able to go to the gym. My second enjoyable thing was working out four days a week. Getting in good shape and feeling really great, looking half decent was very important to me. Going to the gym made me feel alive.

During this time, I’ve been pondering, so where does my happiness come from? Can I be happy without some external stimulus that makes me feel alive? Is God trying to teach me that true happiness can only come from Him and from within? If I need something outside myself to know happiness, is it really achievable, sustainable and realistic?

Just a couple of days ago, after being somewhat depressed about my losses, I’ve come back to the basics. My life does not consist of the things I own. My life consists of a surrendered life that seeks to know and please God. To stay in a place where I am teachable and humble. Life is about surrendering as fully as I know to do God’s will and to serve other people on a daily basis. Out of that foundation life flows.

When I am in that sweet spot of surrender, then all of life’s external things can be icing on the cake, but those things in themselves can never be the cake! Getting this truth turned around always brings me to a place of discontentment. Getting this right, always brings me a settled sense of peace and contentment from within.

Blessings,

Scott