I can put up with a lot of things. I can live with a truck that may not run just right; a refrigerator that’s a little scarce on food, folks that complain too much, a house that’s drafty in the winter. I can go on and on, but there is one thing I sure don’t want to live with and that is regrets. Regrets come in all forms. “I regret the way I acted.” “I regret went back for thirds at Golden Corral.” “I regret what I said.”

What about this one?

“I regret I missed that once in a life time opportunity.”

Lets zero in on that one.

I’m sure that most of us can look back with regret about golden opportunities you purposefully let slip by you. But let’s try not to dwell on those because what’s done is done. I just have to briefly look back to the foolishness of my youth and let that be a reminder to seize those God given golden opportunities in the days ahead.

At the time of this writing, I am on my way home from a tour of ranches out in west Texas. I had the privilege of visiting with the new general manager of the famous Pitchfork ranch in Guthrie, Texas. His name is Brooks Hodges.

Brooks has some big boots to fill. The manger before him was Bob Moorhouse, who is very capable and very well known in the ranching community. Brooks said that when he was offered the job, he almost didn’t take it. He said: “I’m only 28 years old; what do I know?” (He actually seemed to know quite a bit.)

The Pitchfork ranch is 123 years old and the home ranch covers 163,000 acres. It’s a big job with tough decisions; especially now with one of their worst droughts in history.

They have gotten a little over 2 inches of rain in the last year. So Brooks took the reins in one of the most challenging times ever in the Pitchfork history.

But he took the job anyway, a golden opportunity. His ending comment was: “I’ll be darned if this ranch will go down under my watch.”

Moses had a little in common with Brooks.

He was given a golden opportunity. He almost didn’t take it because of self-doubt, but he took it anyway. He went on a purpose-filled ride of his life. Had he said “No,” he and many others would have missed out. And perhaps lived with regret as he lived a mediocre life.

We may sometimes let fear of failure keep us from taking God given opportunities that will enhance our lives and the lives of others. We fear making mistakes and what people will think of us. But an even bigger mistake is to miss the opportunity.

Don’t dwell on past regrets of missed opportunities. Look for those opportunities that God is giving you and seize those opportunities. He is more than able to empower and equip you to do whatever it is He has called you to do.

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Editor’s note: Tim Wallace is pastor of Cross Brand Church. To contact him, e-mail [email protected] . For more of Tim’s articles, go to www.tallinthesaddle.wordpress.org.

Church, Pages 2 on 10/05/2011