I want so much more out of my existence. There's so much life to be lived. I have degrees I need to complete, love I have yet to experience, places I haven't travelled and personal accomplishments waiting to be checked off my to do list. As time passes I get a little restless with my slow progression. I've hit those "milestone years" and looked at my status in life with a sense of disappointment. At 21 you realize how out of touch with reality your expectations were at 16, for 21. By 25 you've experience that Steinbeck adage, the best laid plans of mice and men often go awry...
There's a downward spiral that you can easily get sucked into focusing on those things you feel you should have done already. Those habits you should have broken, patterns you could have stopped, mistakes you didn't learn from right away. You know, that you know, that you know you can be better, that you should be farther. It's so frustrating.
But, "Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content." (Philippians 4:11)
Actually, this scripture gets so much better, it goes on to say: "I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need." (Philippians 4:12)
Essentially, you can be lacking and completely satisfied all at once. You can be full and hungry, have plenty and still have need. How?
First, because "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." (Philippians 4:13)
When and because Christ lives in you, you can be satisfied in whatever station of life you're in because you are not where you are meant to be. Wherever you are is a resting place for your elevation. Knowing where you want to be, knowing that you are working towards all goals and ambitions, fuels your contentment for your present existence. Why?
Because it's temporary.
Where you are is not where you finish and there's such a peace in that knowledge. There's a joy in knowing that you still have time to be great. That you haven't stopped moving even when the steps are being taken at a snail like pace. All forward movement is progression be full in that wisdom.
But stay hungry.