What does it mean to commit oneself? To avow? To promise? To throw ones heart and soul into something or someone? To commit to a future outcome? To see something through, no matter what that might involve? Commitment is about sustained intention. Steadfastness. Boldly going on!

Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back. Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation), there is one elementary truth, the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then Providence moves too. All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one’s favor (sic) all manner of unforeseen incidents and meetings and material assistance, which no man could have dreamed would have come his way. I learned a deep respect for one of Goethe’s couplets: Whatever you can do, or dream you can do, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it! From William Hutchinson Murray’s (1913-1996) 1951 book The Scottish Himalayan Expedition.

But this not any old passing thought. My thinking about commitment is linked to a chap I heard about recently who is writing a blog called Future Health 2020 (adventures with cytotoxic chemicals). Here he is introducing himself, Hi, I’m Lee. I was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma on 26 February 2013. This blog charts my journey to future health. Here is a man who has definitely committed himself. I bow to you and may providence flow through and into your life – I guess we would call that spiritual merit.

There is a lesson here for all of us. About commitment to life, the living of it wholeheartedly, no matter what comes.

Read Lee’s post of April 15th where the above quote comes from.