[This began as a reply to Nathan’s wonderful post, but grew rapidly into it’s own post, so here it is.]
I think commitment is a lost virtue today, not only in interpersonal relationships but also in ideologies, religious beliefs, projects for school, and general responsibilities in life. How many times have you invited someone to an event and they just say, “We’ll see. Maybe I’ll come, maybe I won’t…”? It is a constant challenge on campus to get an unwavering “yes” or “no,” especially from college-age young adults in our culture. We live in a culture of transience; we’re on hyper-drive, constantly moving and searching and trying to be the best, wear the latest, impress the multitudes, and pretend like we’re totally in control when we are barely keeping our heads above water. Stop.
Decide today that you will begin to give 100% towards everything that you do. Pray 100%, study 100%, play 100%, clean the dishes 100%, and give people 100% of your attention when you speak to them (on the phone or face to face). If we practice this now, we will be better prepared to commit to a romantic relationship and giving a person we care for 100% of our attention and care. We will also be better sons and daughters, brothers and sisters, friends, parents, and peers.
A friend challenged me to the 100% rule a few years ago, and it radically changed my relationships with people in my life, my study habits, my work habits, my focus in prayer, and my wholehearted enjoyment of the hobbies that make me come alive. I’m not perfect yet, but I’m making progress.
Lastly, I’d love to hear your thoughts and comments as well regarding the ways we can encourage commitment to students on campus and others God places in our lives. How do we help students commit to religious views, relationships, and personal excellence?
2 responses so far ↓
1 Trisha // Jun 14, 2007 at 2:48 am
I don’t know about anyone else, but my parents (noble pagans) had a few catch phrases:
“Anything worth doing is worth doing well”
“You’re not in trouble for doing X, you’re in trouble for not doing what you said you would do.” (this one was especially prevalent in teen yeasrs when mentioning changes in plans to the ‘rents was very un-cool)
To this day I still hear mom and dad’s voices saying these things to me. I’m very thankful that my parent did everything they could do instill a value on committment to me and my brothers, but it is still definitely a struggle because our world is so disposable these days, that it’s hard not to fall into that mind set. We see it in the material things and in human relationships, whatup %50 divorce rate… Why fix a car, I’ll just buy a new one. Why sew a button back on, I’ll buy a new coat. Why care about this person, I’ll just find someone else.
I dig the %100 policy, I think I’ll add that to the things I remember my folks saying..
2 Matt W. // Jun 14, 2007 at 4:47 am
I think the 100% rule is something that has been wholeheartedly embraced in the past but certainly forgotten in what Trisha mentioned in a very disposable society. My grandparents grew up in times where horses and carriages were their transportation and vividly I remember a story of how my grandfather would sometimes wake up in the morning and have to brush the snow off his bed because the roof needing repair. Hard times sure, but they gave 100% of themselves because they had to.
A favorite quote comes from former Notre Dame football coach Lou Holtz, “I can’t believe that God put us on this earth to be ordinary.” Chances are if you work on that 100% goal, people around you will be wondering why you are so extraordinary (and you’ll be praising God for the talents He gave you at the same time - bonus!)
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