My Life in Flatirons Idioms

(Taking a page out of my friend Mike's book, tonight is an exercise in brevity. Sometimes less is indeed more.)

Looking back at this year's sermons and my life, there are many shared moments. Heretofore, I present:

Quotes about my life (mostly from Pastor Jim):

We're not saying these are the best [stories]. We're saying that they're our [stories] and that's what we have to share.

You say your life is messed up? Me too. (then, “Let's figure it out together”)

God says love your enemies. I say, I'll hold 'em, you hit 'em.

People say “That's just God's will” and they say it at the worst times. It's not. God didn't send it, God didn't allow it. But He said “I can use that for good.” Why didn't He control it and keep it from happening? Jim's Theological Answer, write it down: “I don't know. Talk to God about it.”

It didn't surprise God. God didn't say “Ooh, didn't see that one coming. I hope this turns out OK.”

I'm not at my destination. I probably won't get “there”. But I'm better than I used to be.

Hurt people hurt people.

“Accepting this world as it is, not as I would have it.”

“Accepting hardship as a pathway to peace.”

Life with Jesus isn't easier. But it's better.

It's not about the destination, it's about the journey.

Life is always more clear in the rearview mirror than in the headlights.

(Last, but not least)

Come and see. [I] don't care what you believe. Just come, see, and decide for yourself.

One Day

One day more!
Another day, another destiny.
This never-ending road to Calvary
[...]
Tomorrow we'll be far away,
Tomorrow is the judgement day
-Les Miserables

As I struggle through organizing my story in my head, recording my story to share, and writing the story bit by bit through my actions, a commonality that I'm noticing is the milestones in my life that seem similar. On a handful of occasions, there's been days where I woke up convinced my life was on one path, yet by the time I laid my head down that night, my life was completely different. There's of course the “gimme” dates – breakups, relationship beginnings, first days of school. There are also the much more subtle ones, though – the sermon where God “read my mail”, that Sunday that I started down the path that would lead me to leading in ministry and a role on the worship team, and so on.

Within one set or the other are the days that affect my life where I feel unprepared or inadequate. Maybe it was the sunny Sunday morning when a car accident interrupted my dad's drive to church. Maybe it was the day when my relationship with Mary became untenable and no longer viable. Or the evening that a “friend” decided to hand me all the emotional trauma in her life (and thereby blame me when I didn't fulfill her expectations). So goes the list in part. Each time left its mark, whether shallow or deep, whether devastating or merely puzzling. And I'd be lying if I said that I was completely ready for any of the above events.

I argue with God about this sometimes. I say, “Gee God, I'd like to have known about that beforehand so I could either get my stuff together or brace mentally or something.”

At every Appleseed event, there is a generous helping of America history served at each event revolving around the events of April 19, 1775 (the start of the Revolutionary War). Every shoot includes a re-telling of the “three strikes of the match” as well as other anecdotes of ordinary people who showed courage and made sacrifices for what became the great nation we live in today. I think every time I hear the stories, I notice something new. I feel that that is one characteristic of a good story – seeing it anew every time you approach it - but I digress.

On one occasion, what stood out to me was the simple fact that the battles of Lexington Green, the North Bridge, Concord, and Menotomy all happened on one day. As the storyteller highlighted, the colonials woke up one day as watchful British citizens (albeit with grievances), but went to bed that night as traitors to the crown, able to be executed without trial at any time upon the recognizance of any British officer.

The conflict was years in the building, but in one day, it all reached a head, then overflowed onto all around. What a contrast in a mere 24 hours! The chaos introduced in their lives is nearly unimaginable.

What about my life? Contrast in twenty-four hours much? Why do these days always catch me by surprise? Is each momentous day, as that April 19th so long ago, merely the result of months or years of prep work?

God only gives me two answers to my argument that He should give me some warning. First, He reminds me of the verse that says that He will not tempt past what we can bear. Secondly, I re-discovered a song in my library that I hadn't heard in some time, thanks to the wonders of iTunes DJ (or genius or whatever). (Don't judge me, it's iTunes on a Mac; the only Mac I own) When I was (much) younger, I listened to quite a bit of Michael W. Smith. His song “I Know Your Name” (not to be confused with Chris Cornell's song of a similar name) says in part:

Yes, I know your name
Every prayer you pray
I'm the one who brought you to this place
The voice who sings to you
The hand that clings to you
Oh my child, I've always known your name
Known your name

He's purposely brought me up to every bridge, ford, or river that I've had to cross. He's put them into my life at just the time He intended to, and though I've wondered sometimes if I was going to drown, He has always made sure that the water was deep enough to try my faith, but shallow enough that I could touch bottom, even if it was just barely.

At the end of my thoughts, forgive me for resorting to lyrics again. “Each new day again, I'll choose...” No matter if that day is just another day of the usual grind, or if that day is one that will once again twist my life in a new direction.

When You call I won't refuse
Each new day again I'll choose

There is no one else for me
None but Jesus
Crucified to set me free
Now I live to bring Him praise

All my delight is in You, Lord
All of my hope, all of my strength
All my delight is in You, Lord, forevermore
-Hillsong, “None But Jesus”