Rockfest Day 12 - The Long and Winding Road

The beginning of the journey is generally an exuberant time. There is the anticipation of what lies ahead, the expectation that goals will be met and dreams will come true. We are full of energy and determination. Nothing can stop us now.

Then reality sets in. The road along the journey is longer than anticipated. It is steeper and harder than it first appeared from the safety of our living room. We find ourselves lost in a detour we didn’t expect and come upon hostile situations. It is enough to make us want to quit and give up mid-trip.

Journeys are long and tiring. That’s why its good to take a few friends along for company.

Dorothy learned this early in her journey. At the outset there was high anticipation and excitement for her journey ahead. There was singing and dancing. Heck, the whole town showed up to wave goodbye and wish her luck. But not too far down the road she encountered her first problem – a fork in the road.

Her instructions were simple enough – follow the yellow brick road. But now the yellow brick road split in to two parts. Which way was she to choose? That’s when her first friend joined her on her journey. Scarecrow wasn’t much help, he didn’t know which way was the right way but he would do his best. So after collecting themselves, they were off singing and skipping.

The journey was interrupted again, this time by a grove of hooligan apple trees. Hungry, and what journey doesn’t make us hungry, Dorothy and Scarecrow just wanted an apple or two to eat. But the local trees didn’t take too kindly to that and threw the apples at them. That’s when companion two joined the team – Tin Man. He wasn’t afraid of the trees, he chopped them down.

Tin Man wasn’t much help, being rusted and everything, but his heart was in the right place. So off they all went, still skipping and singing with great anticipation. Until the road got dangerous again.

Our friends encountered near death at the hands of a dangerous beast – at least that’s the way Cowardly Lion tells it. Dorothy and company were walking through his territory and he was going to protect it. He wasn’t much of a protector as it turns out. But he was good at joining the journey.

Our friends had had quite a time along the road. They were really beginning to wonder whether they’d ever reach their destination. And just at that moment when each wanted to turn back their destination was in sight. Only problem was by this point in the trip Dorothy didn’t have enough energy to get there. She wanted to lie down in the beautiful flowers and nap first.

Laying down on the journey, it’s a strong temptation – it’s a bad idea. If she kept laying there she would never each her destination. Luckily for Dorothy she had another companion on her journey watching over her and she made it snow, waking Dorothy up and setting her back on the right path.

Dorothy encountered several more terrifying twists and turns along her journey but she ultimately did reach her final destination. She did not do it, however, without her traveling companions. Each time there was a new set back Dorothy was not alone. One of her companions would step up and help her through.

The end of a journey isn’t always the great fanfare we experience at the beginning. Most of the time we arrive at our destination, if we arrive at all, tried, worn out and bedraggled. There is not much skipping and singing at that point. We are just happy to have survived.

But we can have the singing and fanfare. Dorothy did. There was just as much celebration at the end of her journey as there was at the beginning. She didn’t look like someone who had battled a long winding road, angry trees, flying monkeys and been held captive by an evil sorceress. She looked like someone who conquered her journey instead of the other way around.

I want to travel like Dorothy. The road to anything worthwhile is never straight and smooth. We were never meant to walk that road alone.

I’m going to encounter my own long road, angry trees and flying monkeys. I hope to avoid capture by the evil sorceress as much as possible. The temptation to give up will be strong at times. But in the event that happens I know my Traveling Companion is right there with me protecting me, guiding me with knowledge and giving me his heart to see my journey to its end.

You’ll recognize me on the journey – I’m the one singing and skipping.
~

Rockfest Day 11 - Blind Man's Bluff

“Tag, you’re it!” That is the point of Blind Man’s Bluff, a children’s game I spent hours playing with the kids in the neighborhood growing up. One of us was wearing a blindfold chasing the others in a game of tag while the others shouted things bluffing about their location. A sort of Marco-Polo on dry land.

Being “it” was terrible. You had to wear the blindfold and fumble around with arms outstretched groping for people. You felt completely foolish. People could sneak up on you and poke you or say “not it” right in your ear and run away before you had time to whirl around and tag them. Unless you had goods ears, quick hands and the tracking abilities of an Indian, you could be “it” for a long time. Being the “it-girl” in Hollywood is good, being the “it-girl” in tag is bad.

I am so glad I no longer have to play that stupid game. Which is why I do not understand why I continue to play it.

It seems as if I find myself wearing that darn blindfold every few days or so. I try not to play but I get lured into a game. It usually starts with the bluffs. I hear whispered in my ear things like – you’re not good enough, you’re not smart enough, it will never work, your dreams will never come true, you’ll be alone forever, it’s all your fault, things will never change. As soon as I hear those whispers that blindfold is on and I am playing the game.

A game I do not want to and should not be playing.

The enemy loves it when I listen to his bluffs and accept his invitation to play. He knows that as long as I chase him with my blindfold on he can shout lies in my ear all day long and I will never catch him and I will remain “it.”

The thing about the bluffs the enemy whispers in my ear is that is exactly what they are – bluffs. Not a thing I hear in my head is true. I am good enough, I am smart enough, it is working, my dreams are coming true, I am not alone, it is not my fault, things are changing. What I have to do is call the enemy on his bluffs.

When you call someone on their bluffs they generally fold like a house of cards. He tried to bluff Jesus. Three times the enemy tried to convince Jesus He was not the Son of God and three times Jesus refused to take the bait and put on the blindfold. Jesus called him on his bluffs. Each time Jesus referred to His Father, to the truth, and each time the enemy backed down and eventually gave up altogether. (Matt. 4:1-11).

When I hear that old familiar whisper begin in my ear instead of reaching for my blindfold I need to do the same thing and call the thief on his lies. This game of blind man’s bluff isn’t just a game of tag, this game has me as its prize. At stake are my peace and joy and future. And I don’t put those at risk for anybody, I don’t care how sweet your lies are.

So I am retiring from blind man’s bluff. Next time I find myself being the “it-girl” it will be without the blindfold. Hollywood may never be the same.

~

Rockfest Day 10 - Sunday Contemplation

“For He shall give His angels charge over you,
To keep you in all you ways.
They shall bear you up in their hands,
Lest you dash your foot upon a stone.
You shall tread upon the lion and the cobra,
The young lion and the serpent you shall trample underfoot.”
Psalm 91:11-13

As we think about the new week ahead, with all its opportunities and challenges, let’s remember we will not walk the road alone.

~

Rockfest Day 9 - The Cavalry is Coming

The other evening I was out with a friend of mine having a very pleasant time. We were sitting outside at a little bistro during what was one of the few wonderful Autumn days in Houston. Our pleasant time was interrupted when we heard the distinct sound of a rock being thrown against a car window.

Immediately the entire group of patio patrons stood, looked over the hedge toward the direction of the noise and from the safety of the patio began to yell at the would-be thieves. Just then two waiters came running out of the restaurant and started off down the street. By the time they got to the scene of the crime the perpetrators had driven off. Luckily, without any loot or finishing what they had started – although the front windshield was now a mess.

What impressed me about the action by the waiters was that they darted off without knowing anything about what they were getting into. They both had total disregard for the possibilities for danger. They did not know if the car-jackers had weapons, how many there may be or even whose car it was – it was on a public street, not in the parking lot. None of that seemed to matter, there was trouble and they were going to stop it.

There is an expression that people use when help is on the way “the cavalry is coming.” I like that expression. When it is used you just know everything is going to be alright. That’s what I thought when I saw those waiters run off, hang on, the cavalry is coming!

Cavalries have been used for protection and combat for centuries. A cavalry is defined primarily as a force that fights from horseback. Cavalries have always been the superior fighting force of any army. The position of fighting from horseback has many advantages; it helps multiply even the smallest fighting unit, it allows armies to outflank their enemy, it makes them faster and more mobile, they can surprise, avoid and outmaneuver, or retreat quickly. Fighting on horseback is also said to have a psychological advantage over a man fighting on foot. Bigger, stronger, faster – the cavalry is who I want in my corner whenever I get into trouble.

Today, army cavalries are largely ceremonial. Fighting on an actual horseback doesn’t have the advantage it once did when armies are up against a tank or IED. We don’t find ourselves in too much hand to hand combat anymore and that is where a cavalry’s true advantage comes in.

While armies don’t fight hand to hand much anymore I do. I seem to find myself in some sort of hand to hand combat almost daily. Yesterday I was in a big hand to hand battle with frustration. After a long day I got totally lost driving through an unfamiliar city. Even my GPS system told me it didn’t have enough data to figure out where I was and “re-calculate” my route. When you get so lost, your GPS is lost – you’re lost. Very frustrating and really easy to lose my cool and temper. I could have used a cavalryman to rescue me – literally and figuratively.

If I rode with a cavalryman everyday then I would be fighting my daily hand to hand combat from a position of greater strength. I would be taller than my enemy. I would be faster, more easily able to maneuver and outflank, surprise and overpower. And I would have a psychological advantage over my enemy as well. I would feel so safe and secure.

With a cavalryman at my side everyday my battles would be won before they ever began.

I was talking to God about this, as I was trying to find my way out of the piney woods town I was lost in, and asked Him if He might know of a good cavalryman for me. He said He did. He said I did too. He is the Cavalryman who already rescued me when He died for me on Mount Calvary.

Turns out the cavalry isn’t coming, it’s already here. I’ve just been spelling it wrong.

~

Rockfest Day 8 - From Me to You

Dear God,

I accept this day just as it is. You are the Lord over my life. I rejoice in this day that you have made, trusting that You are present with me. I will not regret or resent the way things are. I thank You for all things, the good, the bad, the great. I trust You and will not let fear be my guide.

I love you,
Me

~

Rockfest Day 7 - Early Adopter

“Early adopters.” It’s a phrase I hear thrown around quite a bit these days. It refers to people who adopt or buy-in to new ideas or technology early. Early adopters are first generation people. They accept things before all the bugs get worked out and before the general population accepts it. They get on board early with a new idea and help spread the word.

All sorts of people are early adopters. They are not all nerdy, geeky types. Not all rich and can afford the new stuff types. They come from all walks of life. But early adopters tend to have one thing in common. Early adopters are considered by some to be risk takers.

I heard it used most recently in connection with the people who purchased the first version of the iPad when introduced. I am one such early adopter of the iPad. Buying technology doesn’t take great risk – risk doesn’t have to be great to still be risk – but it is risky because the technology could be riddled with flaws and fail and the early adopter is stuck with a useless, fancy paper weight.

We have had early adopters throughout our history. Think of the people who drove the first cars made by Henry Ford. They were early adopters taking risks because there were no gas stations on every corner to easily refill the fuel tank and not too many people could repair them when they broke down. And everyone was taking a risk because no one knew how to drive.

Early adopters like to be on the cutting edge. Like to be on the frontier, where things are happening and unfolding. If they encounter a few hiccups along the way that’s okay, that is part of the experience and they can help make the later versions better for having adopted early.

Today we tend to find early adopters in the world of technology but they are found elsewhere. I am reminded of twelve early adopters, the Really Early Adopters. These twelve men probably didn’t consider themselves to be big risk takers but they turned out to be ultimate risk takers. Most all paid for their early adoption with their lives or livelihoods.

These twelve Early Adopters came from all different walks of life – fishermen, a doctor, a tax collector, to name a few – and they didn’t really have anything in common, in the beginning. But they all believed in the same thing - Jesus. They adopted early, got on board and helped spread the word.

The cool thing about the twelve Early Adopters is that the Jesus they got on board with is the same Jesus you and I can get on board with today. He is still version Jesus 1.0. There is no version 2.0 and there never will be. The risk of adopting Jesus into our life doesn’t come from Him, it comes from us, from letting go of all the other stuff that holds us back.

It is risky to do something our friends aren’t doing. It is risky to try a new way of living by love. It is risky to ask for help from someone we cannot see. It is risky to live by forgiveness. It is risky to live by faith. But those are risks that we feel and we must let go of.

There is one more Early Adopter – the Original Early Adopter. God adopted us as his sons and daughters through Jesus before we were ever created. (Eph. 1:4-5). We have already been adopted by our Heavenly Father. He does not mind getting our version 2.0 or 6.0. He will get on board with whatever version we are.

It is not risky to let go and be loved by God. Why not adopt the One who already adopted you?

~

Rockfest Day 6 - Waterproof

Golf is an interesting sport. It is known as a gentleman’s game. Invented in Scotland, it is to be played in all kinds of weather. All kinds of bad weather. If you ever watch it on TV – or nap in front of it on TV – then you know the only time the golfers stop playing is because of lightening, flooding or darkness. But mere rain, golfers laugh at mere rain.

This past weekend a big international tournament was held in Wales, England between the United States and Europe – The Ryder Cup. Being it was October in Wales it rained a lot. Not to worry. The players donned their rain-suits and off down the course they went. Problem for the US players was that their official team rain-suits – complete with their names on the back – let the rain in. The suits did not keep the rain out. The players got soaked until new rain gear from the fan souvenir shop was purchased for them. While wearing their new gear the players were kept warm and dry, and now they blended in with the crowd.

All of this was really quite the news story. The official rain-suit provider was embarrassed and made to defend their non-waterproof waterproof clothes. Reporters asked questions about whether or not the players could concentrate properly while wet. Whose silly idea was it to put names on the jackets? Would this hurt the US’ chances of retaining the Ryder Cup? It seems a little bit of rain was having a really big effect on golf for a moment. The tournament was in a fluster.

Ever watch a bird in the rain? During a recent big rain storm I had a chance to watch a bunch of birds outside my office window. Some birds were sitting peacefully on the wire. Some birds were on the ground eating and searching for food. Some birds were in the trees preening and grooming their feathers. Some birds were flying around. All of them were getting soaked. None of them seemed to care.

In other words, the birds were being birds. No fluster. No furry. No scrambling for cover. What is it the birds know that we humans don’t seem to about rain?

Perhaps birds understand that rain is a fact of life. In life we are all going to get wet from time to time. The trick is to deal with the rain like the birds and let the water just roll off our backs as we go about our day. We can’t let the rain get us all flustered and get us off our game.

Birds of course have a built in resource that we humans do not – they are waterproof. Birds have an oil gland at the base of their tails from which they spread the waterproof oil protecting them. It is helpful during times of rain be waterproof. Like the birds, we have a waterproof Resource we can reach for to protect us during our storms.

Our Resource is right there with us sitting on the wire, with us at the feeder, with us in the tree and with us as we fly around. He shelters us from the storms in our lives and strengthens us in our distress and provides shade from the heat. (Is. 25:4). We will get wet when it rains but our Rain Gear will never fail and never let us get so soaked we are taken out of the game.

With God by our side and by trusting in Him we are just as waterproof as the birds that fill the sky. There is no storm life can dish out that we will not get through. Our job is to make sure we’re using the right rain gear.

Just ask the Ryder Cup team.

~

Rockfest Day 5 - Origami

Origami – the Japanese tradition of taking a plain piece of paper and within a few simple folds creating a beautiful work of art.

God’s Origami – God’s tradition of taking a plain human heart and unfolding it with His love and creating a beautiful work of art.

Let’s let God play origami with our hearts today. Never know what may unfold.

~

Rockfest Day 4 - If You're Not Five Minutes Early, You're Late

I have a dear friend who, Lord love her, I think will be late to her own funeral. She is late for most everything. Parties, meetings, airline flights, movies, hair appointments, dinners. If it has a start time requirement she will, try as she might to make it on time, be late. And I’m not talking about a mere five or ten minutes late. I talking the twenty to thirty minute variety. That kind of waiting is frustrating. Being her friend requires patience. (Being my friend requires patience too but for wholly different frustrating reasons.)

Promptness. In theory it is easy. In reality it is much harder to achieve. For all the frustrating minutes that I have waited for my friend I realize there are things that get in the way of being on time. Life happens. Things slow us down, put us behind schedule. Promptness is hard to achieve because it’s so hard to define.

We live in a world that seems to have sped up overnight. Everything happens in seconds or milliseconds and if we don’t respond in like time we are slowing things down and gumming up the works. Mail used to take weeks or months to get to a person when sent via pony express. Now we call regular mail “snail mail” because 24 to 48 hours for a letter is a lifetime. And we are even watching the demise of email. It is too slow and plodding, replaced by instant messages and the ever horrifying “status updates” which are instant communications to no one in particular but to all my “friends” at the same time.

Patience has gone the way of the pony express it seems. We demand the same type of behavior and instant gratification from each other as we do from our smart phone. I want what I want and I want it – now.

And we demand the same type of instant behavior from God. We demand that God keep pace with our time table. We demand that God fix our problems when we want them fixed. God promised to help, so where’s the help? And when God does not bend to our will? Then God either doesn’t really exist or He no longer cares about us.

Back in the day, Moses day, people understood things didn’t always happen overnight. Circumstances of life impressed that upon them. To get anywhere Moses and his people wanted to go they had to walk. No cars or trains or planes to get them there in a hurry. It may take them months to get all those thousands of people from one place to the other.

So when Moses and his people asked God for something if it took a while they had the built in patience to handle the waiting. I’m not saying Moses liked waiting any more than you or I do. He probably didn’t but his patience muscle was better exercised for the inevitable waiting.

God will make us wait. We will wait for our breakthrough, for our healing, for whatever it is we are praying and believing God for. And He will deliver our answer. God has perfect timing. He will never be early, but God will never be late.

Think of all the times God has come through for you. Right on time, right on schedule – His schedule. Perhaps you think He could have done things differently or earlier to save you the wear and tear of stress? Perhaps the wear and tear of the stress was meant to bring you closer to Him and to bring Him honor and glory.

Jesus was once asked to come save His dear friend Lazarus who was dying. He told Mary and Martha that He would heal Lazarus but that He’d be there in a few days. A few days? Lazarus will be dead by then. Sure enough, two days later when Jesus finally arrived Lazarus was good and dead. With Lazarus’ family mourning Jesus went into the tomb where Lazarus was laid, prayed over him and Lazarus was brought back from death. (John 11: 1-44).

Lazarus did indeed get healed but Jesus timing was so that God could be glorified. (John 11:4). Jesus could have healed Lazarus days before, while he was still alive but it would not have had the same effect on others. It would not have brought such glory to the Lord. Jesus promptly healed Lazarus right on time.

Promptness – there is no one more prompt than God – we just have to adjust our definition and exercise that patience muscle.

~

Rockfest Day 3 - Sunday Contemplation

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever belives in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16). That sentence is perhaps one of the most well known and often repeated scriptures in the bible. The scripture is so well known that the text is no longer necessary, just the citation will do. “John 3:16” can be seen on posters at sporting events and sprayed on road signs.

The trouble with such familiarity is that we tend to take the familiar for granted. I do.

John 3:16 is a short passage but it throws out a mighty big message. God so loved everyone in the world – those present and those to come – that He sacrificed His Son’s life to save ours’.

Would you do that? Would I do that? I don’t think I’ve ever thought about it. During Lent each Spring I give up doing something I enjoy as a way to honor God, but let’s face it giving up wine or chocolate for 40 days is not really in the same category.

I don’t think God is asking me to sacrifice my live or the lives of my loved ones for Him (although there are one or two loved ones I wouldn’t mind sacrificing). But perhaps the thought here is to try and not take His sacrifice for granted. To recognize that what He did was big, so big and loving, I cannot in my finite imagination imagine doing it.

Because remember, God knew before He did it what Jesus was going to be put through, how Jesus would be treated and how Jesus would die. That was the point of His coming. It wasn’t just that God gave us His Son, it was that He loved us enough to sacrifice Jesus for us.

When I think about those I love and think about me doing something like that, I know it would crush me and I could not do it. And that’s when it hits me just how much God loves me because it did crush Him and He did it anyway.

That kind of love I never want to take for granted.
~