We get inspired by watching someone do something, but our inspiration is not always well-founded.

You know this is true – just think about how many times you have watched a TV show where they have said, “Don’t try this at home.” They sometimes even go further by telling you that their stunts were done by professionals and safety precautions were taken.

You know when they say all that that somewhere someone is going to get all excited, all inspired and try to reenact what they saw.

… As an aside, I went to a hockey game last night and at one point the puck was flipped high in the air in front of the goalie. A defensemen jumped to knock the puck down, but only got a piece of it, causing the puck to unfortunately fall behind the goalie into the net. 

Well, with absolutely no intention of repeating that goal, I did the same thing when I was playing early this morning. I couldn’t believe it! It happened exactly like it had the night before, only it was by my hand this time. 

I certainly wasn’t inspired by the defensemen’s feat to want to repeat it. 

I remember watching a commercial once when my son was about 10 years old. The commercial was for a piece of exercise equipment called, “the AbDolly”.

I was in a goofy mood at the time and thought I could make one. My inspiration fired up my son as well. 

Soon we were off to the hardware store, looking for items we could use to build our own AbDolly. About an hour later we came home with our purchases and got to work. 

When it was finished it didn’t really look anything like the AbDolly we’d seen on TV. I never used it for exercise but, on occasion, we have put it under really heavy items to move them around our basement. 

Oh, and the cost to make it was probably more than buying the AbDolly itself. … But we had fun.

The other day I was looking at purchasing a stand-up desk. They cost a lot of money, so I thought that I would look online for a DIY version of a stand-up desk. 

I found several – most were ridiculous – but there was a simple version that I thought I could make. 

I told Lily and she answered, “Don’t you dare!” (maybe she was remembering the AbDolly).

I replied, “I’m going to price this thing out”, and off I went to the hardware store. 

Meanwhile Lily went online to find me a decent stand-up desk. 

I had a price list, and recorded the cost of all the items I needed. When I got home I added them up and the DIY stand-up desk would cost me about $250.  

But from Lily’s list I found I could purchase a stand-up desk, that I could electronically control the height of, for about the same money as making a stationary one. 

This time my inspiration to make a stand-up desk didn’t get the better of me. Wisdom prevailed and I purchased one online. 

Here’s the thing: There are a lot of things that can inspire you, but from God’s perspective are not in your best interest. We can get all excited and inspired even though it is costly or there is danger involved. When we find ourselves in that situation, take time, weigh the dangers and count the cost. Then make the wise decision: listen for what God would have you do. 

That’s Life!

Paul

Question: What has got you all inspired right now? Leave your questions and comments below.