Unlock the Strength You Need to Overcome this Disease

Millions of people around the world unknowingly suffer from an insidious disease known as “destination disease.” The most common symptom is the belief that when they achieve a goal, meet the right person, pay off their mortgage, graduate from school, make a certain amount of money, etc., they will be happy.

But succumbing to destination disease, which disguises itself as the ever tantalizing “bigger, better, and faster” trap, is a tragic way to live. Why? Because bigger, better, and faster are constantly moving (and often insatiable) targets.

The hard truth is that destination disease distracts you from living a life of intentionality and actually undermines the development of your total potential because it manipulates you into thinking that you’ll only grow and gain when you arrive at a certain place. Yet the things that add the greatest value to your life and develop the richness of both your personality and potential are found in the process of life.

Just like coffee.

It’s Not Pronounced “Expresso”

My friend, Kirk, owns a successful coffee company here in the Detroit area called ABeanToGo. Though I’m not a coffee-drinker, I have always been intrigued by the detailed, beautiful process of roasting beans and wondered if Kirk might have some relatable facts as it pertains to the topic of process. Sure enough, he did. Kirk brilliantly explained how process (time and precision) is critical for a high-quality product.

Most interestingly, rushing the process and pulling the beans off the flame too quickly yields bitter, undesirable results. How true that is in life. When we “hurry-up to arrive to slow down,” we miss the development of character, depth, and richness in our personhood. Even worse, we risk becoming bitter when the life we chased after so quickly and perhaps haphazardly doesn’t produce the results we had intended to experience.

Depth of character, experience, patient endurance, and lasting appreciation: four invaluable traits only acquired through time.

Quite unlike instant coffee, the proverbial “expresso.”

Kirk explained the reason instant coffee is so off-putting, flavorless, and rather useless: it’s stale. Really. The fundamental step in making instant coffee is intentionally staling the beans. And just like life, when we rush, we relinquish proper development. Friend, the more corners you cut, the less quality substance remains.

Leaps of Fear

For some of you, destination disease may not be an issue of plowing through life indiscriminately. Instead, your strain of destination disease has its roots in fear; fear of the process because of past disappointment. So as a result of not wanting “egg on your face” again, you fasten yourself into self-protection mode, throw caution to the wind, and put the pedal to the metal. In like manner, destination disease keeps people afraid of the dark. To that end, my advice is this: when the path is not well lit, engage; don’t escape. It’s a human response, to avoid pain at any and all cost. However, you’re different because you serve the King of Kings, your everlasting Father, and of you, He says, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” Allow me to break it down.

Power enables you to walk confidently through the mountaintops and valleys of life where you’ll make miracles out of the mess. Love strengthens your resolve to stay the course because the One who loves you immeasurably won’t leave you helpless. And a sound mind is one of discipline and self-control that bolsters you with the character and inner fortitude to reel in impulsive tendencies when you are tempted to jump ship, abort the process, and take shortcuts.

Unlocking the Antidote

I believe that our immersion in receiving God’s gift of power, love, and a disciplined, self-controlled mind (and then exercising it daily) enable us to:

1. Be present in each moment of each day. Jesus said it better than I did: “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.” (Matthew 6:34, NLT)
2. Be patient (I can see your smirk). I have good news and bad news. The good news is that you can (YES, you can) be patient. The bad news is that patience is most effectively developed when it’s being tested. The next time you’re feeling impatient, reframe your mindset and decide, “This is merely uncomfortable, not intolerable.”
3. Be persistent. Whatever you do, stay in the game. Giving up isn’t an indication that you’re defeated. It’s an indication that you quit prematurely.

As Kirk and I ended our conversation, he stated that receiving the ultimate in freshness and quality found in a fine cup of coffee is simply the result of maturity.

Just like life.