For most of us, the great danger is not that we will renounce our

Host: The study was quiet, the soft rustling of paper the only sound breaking the stillness. Outside, the sky had darkened, the soft glow from the streetlights creeping through the window. Inside, Jack sat at the desk, his eyes focused on a book, but his thoughts clearly elsewhere. Jeeny sat across from him, her eyes soft, sensing the reflection in the air, waiting for the right moment to speak.

Jeeny: (breaking the silence, her voice gentle yet filled with insight) “You know, John Ortberg once said, ‘For most of us, the great danger is not that we will renounce our faith. It is that we will become so distracted and rushed and preoccupied that we will settle for a mediocre version of it. We will just skim our lives instead of actually living them.’”

(She paused, her voice calm as she watched Jack, understanding the weight of the words.) “What do you think he meant by that? About settling for a mediocre version of life?”

Jack: (pausing, his voice reflective as he thought through the words) “I think he’s talking about how easy it is to get caught up in the rush of daily life — the constant distractions, the demands, the noise. We can become so focused on checking things off our list or moving quickly through our routines that we forget to truly live in the moment, to experience the depth of our relationships, our faith, our purpose. Instead of embracing life, we’re just skimming the surface.”

Jeeny: (nodding slowly, her voice full of understanding) “Exactly. It’s like we’re always moving at a fast pace, but we’re missing the essence of what’s important. We might go through the motions, but we don’t fully engage in what’s happening around us. We don’t stop to appreciate the depth of our lives, and in doing so, we end up with a mediocre version of everything — including our faith.”

Jack: (his voice growing softer, almost wistful) “It’s easy to slip into that. We think we’re doing enough, that we’re living a full life because we’re so busy. But if we’re not intentionally connecting with the things that matter — with our faith, with the people around us, with our purpose — we end up just skimming over it all. And that leaves us feeling empty, like something is missing.”

Jeeny: (gently, her voice calm and reassuring) “Yes, and the danger is that we get so caught up in doing that we forget to be present. We forget to truly live in the moments that matter. Faith, relationships, even personal growth — they all require intention, attention, and depth. It’s not enough to just show up. You have to be present, actively engaged, in order to experience the richness that life has to offer.”

Jack: (nodding, his voice quieter now) “I think I’ve been guilty of that — letting life move too quickly and not stopping to really feel it, to live it. It’s like there’s always a next thing, always something to do, but in the process, I lose sight of the meaning behind it all.”

Jeeny: (smiling softly, her voice gentle) “It’s easy to get caught up in the cycle. But what Ortberg is saying is that it’s important to slow down, to actually live each day with purpose and awareness. To make sure we’re not just going through the motions, but fully engaging in the life we have, in the faith we follow.”

Jack: (sighing softly, his voice more at peace now) “It’s about being intentional, isn’t it? About not just living for the next task, the next deadline, but about finding meaning and depth in each moment.”

Jeeny: (smiling warmly, her voice full of encouragement) “Exactly. And when we do that, we start to live a life that’s not mediocre, but full — full of connection, full of purpose, full of depth.”

Host: The room felt still, the weight of Ortberg’s words settling between them. The idea that the true danger wasn’t in abandoning our faith or purpose, but in becoming too distracted and rushed to truly live it, was a sobering realization. Jack and Jeeny both understood that life wasn’t about checking off boxes or rushing through the days. It was about engaging deeply with what mattered, being intentional in our relationships, our faith, and our actions.

Jack: (softly, with a sense of clarity) “I think I understand now. It’s not enough to just go through the motions. It’s about being truly present in our lives, about living with intention.”

Jeeny: (smiling gently, her voice filled with quiet confidence) “Exactly. When we live with intention, when we stop to truly experience each moment, we can create a life that’s meaningful and rich — not mediocre, but full of purpose.”

Host: The night outside had deepened, but inside, there was a quiet understanding — that life wasn’t meant to be rushed, to be skimmed over. It was meant to be lived fully, intentionally, with purpose. And in that realization, there was a deeper peace — the peace that comes from knowing that to live well is to be present, to be engaged, and to approach each moment with meaning.