On the One Degree Theory

A good friend of mine, Mark Baker, and I were having a conversation and he mentioned the most incredible thought. Mark is truly one of those organic sages. Often, he says things that are just mind-blowing. I tell him that I’m going to write them down and I have written many. I thought I’d share one of our most recent conversations here. It was definitely helpful to me.

In discussing our futures, Mark suggested that there is a point that our lives are supposed to end up at. This point is our destiny. However, what we do everyday can affect where we end up. He likened this to a point that we are aiming at. If we are off even one degree today, we can completely miss the destination we were supposed to end up at. This is illustrated below.

Like Paul in the Bible, Mark believes there is a mark that we are supposed to reach when we end this life. (Philippians 3:13-14 below) That mark is stationary – it doesn’t move. What can change are our behaviors and attitudes today. If we are off now even one degree, it can mean the difference between success and tragedy.

Does that mean we need to become perfect? Well, not exactly. It does mean we should always be being perfected – becoming more and more like our destiny everyday.

Another important part of this theory that Mark mentioned is the idea of our family’s destiny being affected by our ability to reach our individual mark. If we are off one degree, it could take our children years to get from where we’ve taken them to where they’re supposed to be. In essence, they have to make up for all the work we didn’t do and then live their own lives too.

That sounds like a lot of pressure! However, the simple message for me was to live a life of diligence. Not overly concerned with being a perfect person, but overly concerned with being perfected. Making sure I am improving everyday. Making sure my children and grandchildren aren’t fighting some of the same pitfalls that I face today. This kind of diligence makes you evaluate your decisions more, be a better neighbor, and accomplish the goals God has given you. Be consistent, be diligent, and remember, one degree can change everything.





Lord, thank You for the power of friendship. As You said, iron sharpens iron. I thank You for the Bakers and their wisdom and insight. Even more, I thank You that You have a plan for my life. Please allow me to keep pressing toward that mark. Give me the wisdom to see you in every potential opportunity and decision. Please correct me when I am off even one degree, so that I reach my destiny. Thank you for reminding me that Ashley and my destiny are interdependent [and that Jocelyn (and future children)’s destinies are dependent on us]. I know this is not meant to burden me, but it is meant to show the significance of today. I love You and look forward to knowing You more.






Sifting,
j.a.g.








------------------------------------------------
Philippians 3:13-14
13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.