Falling in Love with Potential (Don’t Do It!)

Lest you think I’m pointing any fingers, all fingers are pointing back to me. And this certainly isn’t for the purpose of bashing anyone. It is to help all of us become more self-reflective in our pursuit of relationships. Scenario 1: He/she has no car, no license, no place to stay, or a job. Is this person a great catch? I know. It depends on the person’s character, right? Oh, he or she is wonderful as a person…there’s just no material possessions or anything for the person to be self-sufficient. But they have so much potential! Surely over time the person will acquire all of the things needed to be self-sufficient, right? Scenario 2: He/she is physically inactive. A certified couch potato. Oh, he/she wants to work out and will do it once he/she is motivated. They just need someone to come along and motivate them. Somehow the idea of self-care isn’t there or the idea of preventative care. Scenario 3: He/she has no church home, no solid spiritual foundation, and is basically wandering spiritually. Oh, he/she says they will establish a relationship with God eventually, but right now life is too busy to pursue a meaningful relationship with God. Again, all fingers pointing back at me. I can relate to all of these scenarios because I’ve been on both sides: wanting something better but living below what God had for me. In reality I love the idea of potential. I’m a teacher, so I see potential every day. In children. In adults I have a few concerns. Where is the tenacity to pursue the things we really want? Many of my readers know my story. I used to be inactive and overweight. I sat on the couch for 18 months gaining weight, yet wishing the weight would fall off. The weight didn’t come off until I did something about it. In addition there was a time my heart was crushed. I had heard in several sermons that if I would seek God I would find Him, so I pursued a closer relationship with God through intense Bible study, prayer, praise, and worship. As a result I have a closer, better relationship with God. In terms of material possessions, at some point in my life, I didn’t have any of the aforementioned things, but over time I worked for what I currently have. In every situation from my formerly poor relationship with God to not taking care of my physical health, I had to learn that not only did I have the potential to do better, but I also needed to put in the work to change ME. My concern is for my readers who see potential in others and will wait for the potential to manifest into something bigger. It is one thing to support and encourage people to grow and develop, but can you build something lasting on potential? Don't fall in love with the potential. Fall in love with the doing and the growing and the developing. Just my thoughts.