All of us are looking for a quick fix. I want it today. Really, I want it now.

After 44 years on this earth I have come to realize that almost anything worthwhile takes time. This is equally true if you want a great mind or a great body or even a great spirit. Through the years I have watched people walk in the doors of the Church and hope to put their marriage back together and they want it by next month. I have had numerous teens that come to youth group and want deep relationships within 3 or 4 visits. I have watched people come looking for moral teaching for their children and give up after a year.

Unfortunately, none of those things work that way.

I firmly believe that healing for your marriage, great moral teaching for children, deep relationships and a of life transformation only come after a long period of repeated action. Eugene Peterson once wrote a book I read (now I forget almost all of it) entitled “A Long Obedience in the Same Direction.” I do remember that his point was simple; to develop a deep spiritual life you need to continue doing the same things day after day, month after month, year after year, and decade after decade.

The two simplest principles I know for real change: Start today. Don’t ever give up.