Set Your Sights High

1 Oct

“Lord, grant that I may always desire more than I can accomplish.”  ~ Michelangelo

One of my favorite television series was The West Wing.  In it, we followed the two terms of President “Jed” Bartlet, played by Martin Sheen.  I liked his irascible character and how he got things done.  But, more than that, I liked his attitude and vision.  Whenever his administration would finish a major task, his words were always the same:  “What’s next?”

He was a person who was willing to set his sights ever higher and do all that was necessary to get things done.  His character was never willing to rest on his laurels.  It is the same attitude exemplified in today’s quote from Michelangelo, another favorite person of mine.  Michelangelo was driven by the desire for perfection.  He always looked at his world to see how he could make a mark in it not only for acknowledgement but in order to better the world.

If we had the desire to strive for more than we could accomplish, we would always look for new things to do, new ways to help people, new opportunities.  Setting our sights high, we would not only keep ourselves fresh and challenged, we would also encourage those around us to seek high goals as well.  So much good can come about when people ask what they can do next.  Failing to do so can lead to stagnation.

One of the best ways to incorporate that attitude into our spiritual lives is to say, each morning, “Thank you for what you allowed me to do yesterday, Lord.  Now, what would you want of me today?”

FAITH ACTION:  Set your sights high today, looking to see what can be done.  Then, go out to accomplish it.