Recently I was bowling and I had an insight. When I bowl, I take my stance, envision a strike (or spare), and then I proceed. Based on the rules, when we bowl we can only go so far before we must let go of the ball. If we cross the line, it gets slippery. Once we let go of the ball, what happens between our release and the pins is out of our control. We can put spin on the ball to alter the trajectory as it rolls down the lane, but in order to get a strike there is an element of luck. When strikes happen, the ball never hits every pin; the ball only knocks down some pins and those pins knock down other pins. The only thing any bowler can do is prepare for the moment that the ball is in their hands, because once it is released, everything is out of the bowler’s control.

Life is a lot like bowling. We all want to “strike” big. However, many people think that in order to strike big, they have to be in control every step of the way. They want to walk the slippery path in efforts to eliminate all uncertainty and make sure that each pin falls down the way they want. Not only does this eliminate the uncertainty, but it also takes away the fun and excitement of playing the game. The true fun comes from not knowing what’s going to happen; the excitement rest in the moment of no control. No one has perfect control of the chaos at the end of the alley.

Life is full of uncertainty and it is impossible to strike big without learning how to become comfortable with that uncertainty and being willing to take big risk. Oftentimes we get frustrated when we try to dictate the outcome and it doesn’t end up the way we wanted, not realizing that our own unwillingness to let go is what stood in the way of the best outcome. In bowling there is a definite best outcome-a strike. In life the best outcomes are unlimited and when we fail to release control we cut ourselves off from the opportunity to ever strike big. A bowling ball can be a metaphor for any intention we have including a prayer (for healing, for forgiveness, etc), an idea (movie script, business venture, etc), or an action (performance, service learning trip, etc). Like bowling, life is not about being in total control; it’s about having faith in times of no control. In order to manifest any intention and strike big, always remember to:
1. Prepare
2. Let go, and
3. Have Faith

Live purposefully!

Economics is founded on the underlying assumption that resources are scarce. The entire field is essentially about the distribution of scare resources. I’m uncertain that the law of scarcity applies to every resource or that it is the best way to live. Think about it. Of all people, the homeless man opted not to save the sandwich for later. His selflessness allowed us to feed someone else that may not have eaten that night. It is clear that he believes in the law of abundance and that he will eat tomorrow somehow.

How do people behave if they accept the law of scarcity?

* They store up as much as they can
* They share less and only give when they think that they will get something back or know they have way too much
* They fear losing what they have and try to protect it with locks and alarms

How do most animals that don’t believe in scarcity behave?

* They only take what they need
* They share more
* They have lots of faith
* They don’t claim ownership to anything

What do you believe is best?

Challenge: The next time you leave a restaurant with leftovers, offer it to the first homeless person you see instead of taking it home. Have faith that someone will feed you in the near future.

Last night, Daryn and I went out to feed homeless people on University Avenue with leftover Subway sandwiches from an on-campus event earlier that day. As we distributed the platter, some people took two, but most took one. Ironically, there was a man standing in front of the closed Subway and we approached him. When we offered to give him the last two sandwiches, he said “No thanks, I’m full.” Daryn and I looked at each other in surprise and then walked away in silence.

This kind of reminds me of the biblical story about the manna. The key message was “Don’t take more than you need. Have faith.” I began to think about all of the food that I have let spoil in my refrigerator, all of the electronics I bought that are collecting dust, and all the clothes I’ve bought but never wear.

On a deeper level, the man’s faith that another meal would come at the appropriate time is noteworthy. How can a person with so little have so much faith? Or better yet, how can they not? Their entire life of a homeless person is built on faith. As a matter of fact, most animals live just like a homeless person in faith that they will find what they need when they need it.

This experience made me question my faith. Am I living in fear or in faith? I think that a lot of people (myself included) are in the process of seeking security whether it is financial (money), social (status), or intellectual (degrees) in fear of insecurity. It is easy to say that we are faithful when everything is in order, but s/he who is faithful all of the time, good or bad, is truly faithful. I think that we can test our faith by taking the risk of following our dreams. Oftentimes that path is less secure, but it definitely requires more faith and is probably more rewarding.

Inspire by: The homeless man in front of Subway