“Sure, you can choose the safety and predictability of the cage, forfeiting the adventure God has destined for you. But you won’t be the only one missing out or losing out. When you lack the courage to chase the Wild Goose, the opportunity costs are staggering. . . . Wild Goose Chase is an invitation to be part of something that is bigger than you and more important than you. Are you in?”- Mark Batterson
Mark Batterson concludes Chapter 1 of Wild Goose Chase as he describes six cages that keep us from roaming free with the Wild Goose, forfeiting the adventure God’s destined for us.
1. The cage of responsibility. Over time, our day-to-day responsibilities tend to displace God-ordained passions. As a result, those responsibilities turn into spiritual excuses that keep us from the adventure God’s ordained for us. When we pursue the passion God’s placed in our heart, the Wild Goose chase begins!
2. The cage of routine. The key to spiritual growth involves developing healthy and holy routines – aka spiritual disciplines. However, Pastor Batterson cautions, “once a routine becomes routine, we need to disrupt the routine. Otherwise, sacred routines become empty rituals that keep us caged.”
3. The cage of assumptions. The older we get, many of us stop believing and start assuming. Hence, we begin to live out of left-brain memory. Rather than right-brain imagination. Thus, we put restraints on what God can do.
4. The cage of guilt. Satan loves to use guilt to turn us into reactionaries. But, Mark counters, Jesus came to recondition our reflexes through His grace. And turn us into revolutionaries.
5. The cage of failure. Ironically, Mark observes, many Wild Goose chases start her. Because, in order for God’s plans to succeed, our plans must fail.
6. The cage of fear. Mark exhorts that we need to quit living as if the purpose of life consists solely of arriving safely at death. The world needs more daring people with daring plans.
Today’s question: What propels you toward forfeiting the adventure God’s destined for you? Please share.
Tomorrow’s blog: “Responsible irresponsibility = the only way out”
