Once

“Once, that is all we get. No dry runs. No do-overs. This day you’re living right now is not a dress rehearsal or a practice lap. You’re on the stage. You’re in the game. Start playing.” (Joe Gibbs)

Zacheus was one who made full use of his “once”. Zachary’s was a man of action. He heard that Jesus was coming to Jericho and went to great effort to be sure he could see him. He climbed up a sycamore tree. He didn’t care what others thought – he moved toward the goal to see Jesus. He positioned himself to be found. The rest is history – Jesus saw him, Zacheus was blessed and then the entire town benefited from the encounter – he gave the poor ½ his wealth and paid back everyone 4 times what he took.

Stepping up to your “once” takes action. Action requires risk. Taking a risk takes courage. Zacheus had to climb a tree so he could see. Esther took a risk to go see the King. Mary risked ridicule by pouring oil on Jesus feet. The men who broke open a roof to let their friend down in front of Jesus all took a risk. They all recognised their “once” moment.

In his book “Mud sweat and tears” Bear Grylls shares what his colonel in the SAS said to him upon passing selection: “What makes our work here extraordinary is that everyone here goes that little bit extra. When everyone else gives up, we give more. That is what sets us apart.” Sounds like something Jesus would do – go the extra mile, do something extra…and something Jesus would ask us to do.

We can ask God to be the “extra” something in someone’s life…to see the need and meet it…they will be blessed and you will step from the ‘ordinary’ into living an’ extra-ordinary’ life!

“When the story of these times gets written, we want to say that we did all we could, and it was more than anyone could have imagined.” (Bono)

“So don’t forget to remember to show up for your one & only life!”