I was reading online the other day that an anonymous bidder on EBay pledged almost $10 million US for a version of the General Lee (1969 orange Dodge Charger) from the tv show 'The Dukes of Hazzard'. The car is owned by the actor who played Bo Duke and has signatures from members of the cast. $10 million!!!
It made me remember all those friday nights when I was a kid - we'd get together as a family (my three siblings, my parents and I) make some popcorn and watch the "good 'ol boys" get themselves into and out of trouble with Boss Hogg. And then of course there was Sheriff Rosco P. Coltrane and Daisy Duke . . . ah, those were the days.
I was driving yesterday thinking about this, and reminiscing about the days of my youth that often seem so much less complicated and clouded than the challenges and complexities of 'grown up' life. "Ah, if only I could have those days back sometimes", I thought, "but you can't go back". But then I wondered if there's a reason we so often long to have those days back. Have we left something behind that we weren't supposed to leave behind - spontaneous joy, trust, peace, wonder, adventure . . .
An individual named G.K. Chesterton once said, "I think God is the only child left in the universe, and all the rest of us have grown old and cynical because of sin."
Jesus himself said, "Unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 18:3)
There's something that's still strong in the heart of a child that resonates deep within me. And I've got to keep rediscovering it in new ways if I'm going to continue to discover the heart of God.
And so if the person who bid on the General Lee is reading this blog . . . drop me a line, I wouldn't mind going for a ride sometime!
Thursday, May 17, 2007
Thursday, May 10, 2007
Jesus, quitting and gummy bears
Well, it was at about mile 20 (or kilometre 32 for those of us in Canada) at about 10am this last Sunday, on the rainy and cold streets of Vancouver (just to add to the drama), that I started wondering why in the world I ever thought running marathons would be a good idea. And unfortunately I still had 10 kilometres remaining to ponder that question!
A few years ago an individual named Jim Fitch wrote a book called ‘The complete book of running’, and in it he said: “When we race, strange things happen to our mind. The stress of fatigue sometimes makes us forget why we wanted to race in the first place. In one of my early marathons I found myself unable to think about a single good reason for continuing. Physically and mentally exhausted, I dropped out of the race. Now I won’t enter a marathon unless I truly want to finish it. If during the race I can’t remember why I wanted to run it, I tell myself, maybe I can’t remember why now, but I know I had good reasons when I started. I finally learned how to fight back when my brain starts using tricky arguments.”
After the race I described to my wife the incredible pain of those last 10 kilometres, and the mental will power that it took me not to quit, and then almost in the same breath I told her how anxious I was for the Okanagan Marathon in October. She just shook her head at me . . . but I thought of Jim's words.
It's amazing, that when things get tough, we hear the voice in our head telling us, 'give up - it's more enjoyable in the bleachers'. But I'm realizing that what produces not only great runners, but also great character, a great marriage, great relationships, a great career, and a great life, is remembering why we run the race and then keeping going even when it hurts. That's why I love to run. And that's why I love Jesus for making me crazy enough to enjoy it.
Plus, if you don't quit, in the last couple miles they hand out gummy bears to the runners - I figure that alone makes it worth it!
A few years ago an individual named Jim Fitch wrote a book called ‘The complete book of running’, and in it he said: “When we race, strange things happen to our mind. The stress of fatigue sometimes makes us forget why we wanted to race in the first place. In one of my early marathons I found myself unable to think about a single good reason for continuing. Physically and mentally exhausted, I dropped out of the race. Now I won’t enter a marathon unless I truly want to finish it. If during the race I can’t remember why I wanted to run it, I tell myself, maybe I can’t remember why now, but I know I had good reasons when I started. I finally learned how to fight back when my brain starts using tricky arguments.”
After the race I described to my wife the incredible pain of those last 10 kilometres, and the mental will power that it took me not to quit, and then almost in the same breath I told her how anxious I was for the Okanagan Marathon in October. She just shook her head at me . . . but I thought of Jim's words.
It's amazing, that when things get tough, we hear the voice in our head telling us, 'give up - it's more enjoyable in the bleachers'. But I'm realizing that what produces not only great runners, but also great character, a great marriage, great relationships, a great career, and a great life, is remembering why we run the race and then keeping going even when it hurts. That's why I love to run. And that's why I love Jesus for making me crazy enough to enjoy it.
Plus, if you don't quit, in the last couple miles they hand out gummy bears to the runners - I figure that alone makes it worth it!
Thursday, May 3, 2007
Jesus, the Olympics and Holy Discontents
I was reading the BC Christian News yesterday (which I admit I don’t usually read because I can never seem to find an update in it on the Vancouver Canucks or the Phoenix Suns . . . which I think are God’s favorite sports teams as well), but I noticed it because of the front caption which read “2010 a catalyst for church unity”. And of course in Vancouver 2010 is synonymous with the Olympics, and the article focused in on a vision to use the Olympics to rally churches together to be a witness to the influx of people coming from around the world.
Now I think this is great, but I was grieved by the realization that we’re a culture consumed with rallying around the big sexy event, without a corresponding burden for the difficult task of transforming culture in the places where we live our lives every day.
I think of Melissa who volunteers at the crisis pregnancy centre, Janice who just became a big sister to someone in need, Allyson who has a deep passion to restore shattered families, and Bruce who’s fighting to save their neighborhood school, and I’m convinced that it’s the living out of these holy discontents (that Jesus gives us) that will be the real catalyst for the church to be awakened and unleashed.
I guess this is my holy discontent – to see each unique life unleashed for the glory of Jesus. But now I’m preaching, so I’ll save it for Sunday! Think about it though, what when you look around you, ‘wrecks’ you, and what are you doing about it?
Now I think this is great, but I was grieved by the realization that we’re a culture consumed with rallying around the big sexy event, without a corresponding burden for the difficult task of transforming culture in the places where we live our lives every day.
I think of Melissa who volunteers at the crisis pregnancy centre, Janice who just became a big sister to someone in need, Allyson who has a deep passion to restore shattered families, and Bruce who’s fighting to save their neighborhood school, and I’m convinced that it’s the living out of these holy discontents (that Jesus gives us) that will be the real catalyst for the church to be awakened and unleashed.
I guess this is my holy discontent – to see each unique life unleashed for the glory of Jesus. But now I’m preaching, so I’ll save it for Sunday! Think about it though, what when you look around you, ‘wrecks’ you, and what are you doing about it?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)