Joyful Ruins

In the great movie City Slickers , Mitch, played by Billy Crystal is feeling lost in life. He’s depressed so he and his friends go on a cattle drive to regain some clarity and joy.

In one scene, the classic cowboy, Curly, is talking to Mitch about life. He tells Mitch what the secret of life is and holds up one finger. He says, it’s “one thing”, you find that one thing and everything else won’t be as bad.

Mitch, as he contemplates these words, comes to understand that that one thing is different for each person. For him, it’s his family, the most important part of his life that keeps him living and encouraged.

I started seriously contemplating my one thing. I’ve watched this movie many times and maybe passively considered what my one thing could be. However, as I have faced a generally hard season, I was touched by this idea.

I feel very tugged, distracted and overwhelmed by the many paths, decisions, twists, and turns of my life recently.

Especially in the midst of looking for a job, it’s easy to lose sight and get caught up in the feeling that what I do for work is my life.

When I considered my one thing this time, I was truly surprised that environmental education (the career field I am pursuing) didn’t instantly come up. Neither did teaching kids, working with animals, or writing.

I love all those things and they bring meaning to my world.

In truth, my one thing came up very clearly for me, so clearly, I knew it pointed me to a truth I had not realized.

My one thing is loving others.

This thought brought me peace because if that is my one thing, than whatever I end up doing for work, or wherever I live, or the many other changes of life won’t be as BIG of a deal. I’ll always get to love others. I always will, and if that is my one thing, then I’ve got it! I don’t need any specific kind of job to be fulfilled in life. I am loving others and if that is my purpose, then I’m good.

So, what’s your one thing?