Editing My Life :: Chapter 3

I live a life that can be very easily overcome by self-absorption.  I remember reading two different articles focusing on this narcissistic lifestyle.  One was about being at home…and not going to work everyday.  It said something about not having to interact with people on a daily basis made you more impatient because you didn’t have to deal with people as much as you would at a job. 
The other article was based around social networking and how with things like Facebook and blogging…we become consumed with ourselves.  We put up posts and updates saying all the good things going on in life and comparing ourselves to what other’s are doing.  This spirals into a sense of self-absorption always focusing on “me.” 
Between being at home a lot and managing a blog, I feel like this is often a temptation and a struggle I have to deal with.  I get so caught up in my own life, thinking the world revolves all around me.  When in fact it doesn’t.
In all of this, I am reminded there is a bigger story out there and it is not about me:

But Victor Frankl whispered in my ear all the same.  He said to me I was a tree in a story about a forest, and that it was arrogant of me to believe any differently.  And he told me the story of the forest is better than the story of the tree.

I am but a tree…in a much bigger story of a forest.  It is not about me.  I need to love people better.  I need to let go of being so consumed with what will make me happy or successful.  I need to focus on the bigger picture…and ask the forest what He wants with me. 

When you stop expecting people to be perfect, you can like them for who they are.  And when you stop expecting material possessions to complete you, you’d be surprised at how much pleasure you get in material possessions.  And when you stop expecting God to end all your troubles, you’d be surprised how much you like spending time with God.

*Snippets of thoughts from Donald Miller’s book, A Million Miles in a Thousand Years.  Catch up on all the posts here.