in·volved

  [in-volvd]  Show IPA

adjective

1.

very intricate or complex: an involved reply.

2.

implicated: involved in crime.

3.

concerned in some affair, especially in a way likely to cause danger or unpleasantness: I didn't call the police because I didn't want to get involved.

4.

committed or engaged, as in a political cause or artistic movement: The civil rights demonstration attracted the involved young people of the area.

en·gaged

 [en-geyjd]  Show IPA

adjective

1.

busy or occupied; involved: deeply engaged in conversation.

2.

pledged to be married; betrothed: an engaged couple.

3.

under engagement; pledged: an engaged contractor.

4.

entered into conflict with: desperately engaged armies.

5.

Mechanics .

a.

interlocked.

b.

(of wheels) in gear with each other.

Thanks to Dictionary.com for those definitions. 

They seem to be very similar words. But, let's see if we can shed a little light on what I am babbling about here. 

When a woman and a man start seeing each other, they could be said to be involved in a relationship. When they commit to each other and state that the wedding day is imminent they become engaged. See the difference?

Yeah, it's symantics because looking at #4 under involved and #1 under engaged above, you could say these mean the same things. But, in practical terms I am going to be speaking more about #3 in involved and #3 under engaged. 

I am currently involved in the following things/roles:

• Follower of Christ
• Husband
• Dad
• Computer dude
• Youth minister
• TaeKwondo student
• Soccer player
• home owner
• guitar player
• worship leading
• dog trainer
• gardener
• business planner
• facebook friend
• real friend
• motorcycle owner
• drummer
• blogger

That's just a quick list...everyone has a similar one. Some people with more things, some with less..but, the ideas are the same. We are involved people. There's a lot on the plate. But, there's one more that everyone has that seldom makes the list that brings most of the other things into perspective. One, that if added and seriously considered, changes the priority of things immensely. 

• dying

Yep. It's on all our lists and everyone knows it. And when added to my list I immediately re-order some of the items and might even cross out a few. But, I don't add it to the list because it's kind of like losing my hair. It's happening, I'm just not going to point it out all the time. Right?

The more I think about it the more I think that's wrong. And the word "Engaged" is why. See, I am a dabbler. When nothing is a priority, everything is satisfactory at a mediocre level. Let me explain that...When I have a honey-do list of things like, change light bulbs, tighten screws, oil squeaks and the like, nothing is pressing. Everything is ok the way it is, we'd just prefer that the door didn't squeak. But, the door still works...so, I can essentially not be real aggressive in completing the stuff. However, when the dishwasher breaks or the water heater is leaking...things are serious. I become intimately under engagement to see that no more damage occurs, etc. It is a pressing matter because of the serious-ness.

Am I talking about taking life too serously? Shouldn't we have fun? Is there anything wrong with having fun? Of course there's nothing wrong with fun. But, "Discipline yourself to do the things you need to do when you need to do them, and the day will come when you will be able to do the things you want to do when you want to do them!"~Zig Ziglar

Zig Ziglar (one of those motivational speaker type guys) said this in his special southern type accent  and it burned into my cranium forever. The point is that there are and should be priorities. Finding out what our priorities are requires the adding of ALL the items that are on our "involved" list (including dying) - then sorting out what's important and what's not (and maybe crossing some off)- then engaging in the items that remained on the list. 

I've been reading in Colossians lately and ran across this: Col 3:²³ Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, ²⁴ knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. 

You can probably guess which word speaks to me loudest in those scripture passages: Heartily...not flippantly or some word that means just "good"...but Heartily. Full on board, I think you get the picture. So, we are to do our lists with passion...from the heart. Can I do all those things with that kind of adverb? Heartily?

I guess the short of it is I realize that I have too much on my list. Maybe if we're all honest, we all have too much on our lists, right? But, to prioritize and cut things out means that I don't get to do those things right now and that may seem like I am denying myself something good or valuable. However...My wife used to talk a lot about seasons of life. You know, when our kids were little in diapers, she'd say that she's enjoying that time because it won't last forever and the next thing you know they'll be moving out of the house and getting married....Yeah, she was right. I didn't "enjoy" that as much as she did and I regret it. Not necessarily the diapers, but that age of total dependence and sweet coos and drool. I didn't totally miss it, I was involved....but, she was engaged. 

When we don't pick the things that are truly important and sacrifice them for the things that are trivial (to a degree or maybe even it's the wrong season for it) then you really miss out on both things. You don't live the fullest life doing either thing heartily, but have parts of a lot of different things that you did in passing.

Some people may argue that doing a little of a lot of things is the spice of life or is in some way better. Uh, that's kinda what I did for a long time...and it left me with being excellent at nothing. Pursuing nothing. Accomplishing nothing. Having dabbled in life by being involved in a bunch of things instead of engaging in what was important for that season. 

Seasons change - a lot....and it's over before you know it. (See that last item on the list).