The idea was doomed from the start. In a well-intentioned attempt at physical fitness, I agreed to play racquetball with my son, Tim, during my lunch break. Though I love the sport, it (apparently) no longer loves me. Tim and I discussed the fact that he is about half my age. We agreed we’d both “take it easy” and play “just a little bit.” Five weeks afterward, my throbbing back still reminded me I shouldn’t have even attempted playing “just a game or two.”
It’s one thing to overdo it in sports, but what about the rest of life? In the book, If I Could Do It All Over Again, I sat down with 28 well known Christian leaders. We talked over some tough questions. Asking them what they would do less of yielded some interesting answers.
Joni Tada told me, “I would look at a lot less news on the television. Sometimes it becomes a fixation. It can depress my spirits.”
Ravi Zacharias said, “I wouldn’t worry as much. God is completely in control.”
Tony Evans admitted, “I love sports. I love watching sports and keeping up with sports. But I would probably spend a little less time on sports if I could do it all over again.”
What would Gail MacDonald do less of? “I would do a lot less hurrying. It was Dallas Willard who said, ‘Be ruthless with hurry.’”
Preacher and author Tim Keller confided, “I would do less surfing of the Internet, without a doubt. I think the Internet is a friend of information but an enemy of thought. It’s great at snippets of information, but it doesn’t help you think or reason.”
Singer Michael W Smith confessed, “I’d be less concerned about ‘How many records did we sell this week?’ Less of that whole immature thing of trying to be recognized, trying to be accepted.”
So what would YOU do less of, if you could do it all over again? Email me your thoughts at jon.gauger@moody.edu.