Why Did the Chicken Cross the Road?

 

Throughout my life I have heard this simple riddle asked over and over again in so many settings, "Why did the chicken cross the road?" As a child it was a challenge to come up with the correct reason, it was easy to come up with many optional answers like, she saw some worms on the other side, her coop was on the other side, she saw her friends on the other side, on, and on, and on we went. All of that guess work, but in the end the answer to this riddle was so simple and direct, "she wanted to get to the other side of the street." Later in life, this simple direct child's riddle became an inquisition about life itself, why did the chicken cross the street? Why did the man just decide to do what he did? What drives you or I as we make decisions about the direction we are going in life. What is our motive behind our actions? Why do we choose to help in some instances, and walk right by in other settings where the needs are obviously the same? The question begs to be asked, "Why did you, or even better why didn't you cross the road?"

Motivation is a driver in all situations and choices that we make. Answering the "why" behind our decisions is a good place to start when evaluating what we do and the time that we invest in doing those things we do. The simple answer to our original riddle is to get to the other side of the road, but the complexity of that answer can be found in the "why" did she want to cross the road. In much the same way, asking yourself "why you do what you do?", or "why do you spend the time you spend doing the things that you do?" If we can stop and take an inventory of all the "things" we give our time and attention to, we might just realize that there is more to why the chicken crossed the road. The true complexity of the "why" in that decision may lead us to do an analysis of our "why" in the things we spend so much of our lives doing. 

Why do you work? "To pay my bills." Really? If that is your answer to that question, my friend you need to do some self-analyzing. Work does pay the bills, and paying the bills is pretty high up on the list of things that have to be done, but your answer should be so much deeper than the "getting to the other side" type of response. You represent God in your work, you make a difference in your work, and you should make sure that the difference you make in your work is a positive impact on those you work with, those you are working for, and for those that benefit from the work you do. Your work matters. Why have I spent over 35 years coaching youth sports? "I love what I do." Yeah, but, why I coach is so much deeper than that. I coach because I believe God gave me the ability to motivate and inspire others to be all they can be, sports is the vehicle that allows me to convey that message. "I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me." Philippians 4:13 You should ask yourself the "Why" question in all aspects of your life and in your walk with God. Why did you cross the road? It is more complex and more intentional than just to get to the other side of the road. 

I Corinthians 10:31 tells us, "Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God." Whatever we do, wherever we find ourselves, whatever circumstance we find ourselves, "do everything for the glory of God." How we handle ourselves in our cars when the driver of the car in front of us sits a little too long when the light turns green should glorify God with our actions or reactions. How we behave when we are given a seemingly impossible goal to reach at work, is a direct reflection of how much we trust that God has a plan and His plans are so much bigger than our own. "My plans aren’t your plans, nor are your ways my ways, says the Lord. Just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my plans than your plans." Isaiah 55:8-9. Why do we have a family and what are you investing in the lives of those that you call your own? Is it simply because that is what a man and woman are supposed to do? Or is it because the call on your life is to impact the lives of your family so that they can go out and impact the lives of their future family and all those that they come in contact with along the way? Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ^and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely, I am with you always, to the very end of the age. “Matthew 28:18-20. What you do and why you do it matter, trust me, you are not just crossing the street to get to the other side!

Find your why, dig deep to uncover your motivation for why you do what you do. Evaluate your intentions and assure they are not just self-serving reasons that make you feel better about you. God has a plan for each of our lives, he has a purpose for you to fulfill, it is your job to find out what your purpose is today and then go fulfill it for the glory of our Risen King! 

Coach Carter