I caught Barbara Walter’s special on Steve Irwin last night, and I’m so glad I watched it.  Jeff and I scarcely sit down to watch anything…perhaps a couple of times during the entire summer.  But this was really good.

I’d only seen Steve’s show on the Discovery channel once or twice while in hotels; and we rented his full length movie a few years ago.  I felt such an immediate appreciation for this guy who lived life with such gusto!  Can you even imagine throwing yourself into the mud on top of a crocodile with such abandon?  Stroking it’s snout and planting a kiss right on top of it’s warty nostrils?  Totally oblivious to mud and muck and discomfort?

The man lived life.  And then some.  He was only given 44 years, but he wrung every last bit of life out of every split second.  His wife Terri said that Steve had no “five year plan.”  If he had a dream, a vision, he threw himself into it with complete and utter passion.  “He was hard to keep up with sometimes,” she said.

If only I could tackle my laundry with the same passion.  Roll in it, delight in it…give it a big ol’ loving kiss.

Or better yet – my husband, my children.

I have endeavored for some time to pare down the extraneous things of life.  I am painfully aware that man is allotted only a certain amount of days…and each moment that passes means I have less time on this earth.  Each activity is held up to scrutiny…”Is THIS how I want to spend my time?”  For this reason I despise pointless meetings, worthless television shows, and fluffy books.  I want the meat, the kernal, the core.  I attempt to arrange my kitchen, my laundry area, my bathroom to save motion and steps – to cut out the time spent on the ephemeral.  That’s why the food I cook needs to be nutrient dense - brimming with benefit in every bite.  Why waste time on that which does not nourish?  Curriculum choices, craft choices, extra clothing…it is all held up to the same lens.  If it is worthy, it stays.  If not, it is gone. 

I have heard thru back channels that Steve Irwin was a Believer.  Terri spoke of her Faith last night, as well.  While I know that the state of a man’s soul is between him and his Maker – my heart was glad to hear this.

There is something in me that says THIS is how God made us to live…filled to the brim, running over, totally spent and used up to His Glory!