What I’m used to

I play mind games with myself.

My friends and clients know this. I have to psych myself out to do things I should do. Put reward systems in place, like I’m in kindergarten or something. I am not above making myself a chart with star stickers.

Recently I was trying to remove any and all excuses that were keeping me from moving around again. I did Couch to 5k several years ago and loved being able to just walk out the door and jog for 30 minutes in the morning or evening.

But I didn’t really like my shoes. I bought some Nikes on sale a couple years ago and they were fine, I guess. Then my sis-in-law told me if I was going to start running again, I HAD to get some Brooks.

Brad went to Track Shack and got these custom-fitted shoes when he started working out. I figured if I had the perfect shoes, I’d really have no excuse.

I walked in and was immediately intimidated by all track equipment and all the people who knew how to use it. So I wandered over to the wall o’ shoes and pretended like I knew what I was looking for.

One of the guys working there finally felt sorry for me and asked if he could help. I told him I wanted new running shoes and I wanted them to be Brooks.

He asked me to walk ten steps away from him so he could see my stride. (Awkward.) Then he had me walk back toward him. He had me take off my shoes to see what we were working with.

“You have very narrow feet,” he commented. Hadn’t heard that in a while. I told him how my sister and I always got the shoe size and then N when we were growing up.

He went in the back and came out with three boxes. He explained his reasoning for each selection as he laced them up. I tried on the first two pair and he pointed out an incorrect fit because I had to pull the laces so tight to make the shoe fit my foot.

“Oh, that’s how they always are,” I said with a shrug. “I’m used to it being that way.”

Then he said something fairly innocuous with no deeper meaning whatsoever. As far as HE knew anyway. God borrowed the sales guy’s mouth without him knowing and about knocked me out of my chair.

He looked up at me a smiled. “Just because you’re used to it doesn’t make it right.”

BAM.

He kept talking about the shoes and the last pair fit perfectly. Honestly made my Nikes feel like bricks on my feet. Big fan of Brooks now.

(No, they are not sponsoring this post. But they totally should be. AND Track Shack. And nothing against Nikes at all. I wore them for years and Nike Airs were a lifesaver to me back in the day.)

I grabbed a couple pair of overpriced socks and my perfect shoes and checked out, all the while turning those words over and over in my head.

Just because I’m used to it doesn’t make it right.

Mind = blown.

Seriously, you guys, is there ANYTHING that doesn’t apply to?

Relationships.
Routines.
Health.
Traditions.
Possessions.
Jobs.

There is so much in my life that I’m just used to that I never stop and ask if it’s right, good, healthy, true, etc. And like my Nikes, my life is fine. I mean, it works, you know?

But now I’m wondering if ‘fine’ is getting in the way of ‘amazing.’

Jesus spent much of His three years of ministry teaching this lesson over and over and over.

The New Covenant.
Abundant life.
Wealth as a burden, instead of a blessing.
Believing Gentiles being children of God as much as the Jews.
Women being valued and involved in His ministry.
Outcasts as friends.
Calling out the man-made rules of the Sabbath and breaking them.

How many times did He say to the religious folk of the day, “Just because you’re used to it doesn’t make it right”?

Those who had ears to hear heard. But many went back to their Nikes. Life was fine. Why risk change when everything was fine?

I have a tongue-in-cheek motto with my friends. If I ever ask them how they’re doing and they respond with a less-than-enthusiastic ‘fine,’ I grin and say, “Don’t you know? ‘Fine’ is the new ‘fabulous’!”

And we laugh because we know it’s not. We know ‘fine’ isn’t good enough. Not in the long run.

We were born for the abundant life, but we settle for less all the time because it’s what we’re used to.

These days I’m trying to stay on the lookout for what I’m used to getting in the way of what’s right. I say put it all on the chopping block. Examine the unnoticed details of your life and ask the question.

Paul didn’t tell the Philippians to focus on what’s fine. He said,

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.  (4:8)

Just because I’m used to it doesn’t make it true. 
Just because I’m used to it doesn’t make it noble.
Just because I’m used to it doesn’t make it right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent or praiseworthy.

As a child of God, I was made for more than what I’m used to.

And so were you.