Not Everyone Gets a Trophy

We live in a world where we make up names of awards so no one feels left out. Where everyone's a winner. Everyone is excelling at something.

And, unfortunately, we minimize the adverse effects of defeat, 2nd place, and the need to try again. Instead, we elevate others' opinions, practices, or decision to walk away when their preferences aren't embraced.

What kind of culture are we creating? To believe that someone's self-esteem, the need for tolerance of their attitudes and behavior, or re-creating the rules for their unique circumstances should be the motivating factor for excellence and success.

Not everyone gets a trophy!

Commitment, discipline, endurance. It's developing those traits along with the right attitude and physical ability that will lead to a successful path of some intended end.

Half-hearted commitment that sways with the winds of criticism and personal comfort will not lead to success. Lack of discipline that will not put in the work required to develop those skills will not result in success. Short-sightedness that easily gives up when the work becomes difficult will not lead to ultimate success.

But really, when you think about today, Memorial Day, there's a greater prize to be embraced. Our trophy, our freedom is being held in honor today. But not everyone gets to hold that trophy.

Why?

Because they're commitment, discipline, and endurance was put on display that you and I could hold the trophy high today. We owe so much to them for the fight they had to never give up, to put our preferences ahead of their own, to see the mission through to the end even though it cost them their very lives; what a great sacrifice.

But there's also another One who paid the ultimate sacrifice. The trophy of real freedom is on display in the form of an empty cross and empty tomb. While on earth He was never privileged to hold high above His head a trophy. If anything, He accepted last place by holding a towel and bowl of water.

And to see what we've gained by these people, by that One person willing to negate ever holding a trophy; life and freedom! So, today, may we be grateful for the enduring sacrifice of these brave men and women offering their lives for our freedom.

Perhaps a fitting remark for today would be the words of John F. Kennedy, "Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country." And today, given the ultimate sacrifice of God's Son Jesus on the cross, it would also be fitting to say, "Since Jesus took up His cross for me, how now may I take up my cross and follow Him??!!"

While many of us are trying to conjure up a way to win our next trophy, our next prize, maybe we should stop to see that we all have the most amazing trophy we could ever hope to attain in the sacrifice of those who have gone before; life and freedom!

Pull Over

Have you ever been pulled over? Me too. And it was no fun--at all.

Hearing the tone of disappointment and receiving a citation with freshly written ink demanding my appearance and cash just above his signature. He was in no way going to excuse my absent-minded decision to press the pedal so sternly with my witty style of manipulating jargon.

Not only do we find ourselves pulling over because of self-inflicted acts such as speeding and reckless driving, but there are other moments that find us heading to the shoulder of the road as well.

Not too long ago I felt the weight of my truck shifting hard left. Strange to me, I decided maybe I should ease off the road to survey the ensuing problem. Flat tire!

How did that happen? I have my oil changed, brakes checked, and tires rotated like clock work and here I sit on the side of a busy highway wondering how am I going to make it on time to my next venture. Spoiler alert; I was late! Very late!

Sometimes it happens that things beyond our control, like a flat tire, get in the way of us moving seamlessly from one place to the next free of pain or worry. But pulling over instead of ignoring the tug and pull that life puts on us is the best thing we can do.

I'll never forget driving on the dusty roads of Africa admiring the beautiful landscape as we passed by countless acacia trees and creatures of the wild such as zebras, lions, giraffes, and rhinos that can only be found in their natural habitat or zoos around the world.

And as our group admired the beautiful yet rugged terrain we couldn't help but pull over, pause, and stare with amazement. There was something about that moment that captured our attention, captured our affections--our heart--that we would have most certainly missed had we not pulled over.

There are instances in life when the best thing we can do is pull over. Whether it be friends flashing their blue lights of accountability, the natural warning signs of our own life's version of a flat tire, or simply the beautiful design of relationships or God's creation; often our best option is to simply put it in park. Pull over.

I don't know how fast you're racing down life's highway but let me encourage you; don't ignore the warning signs leading to a disastrous and dangerous off road course and don't ignore the beauty of these little moments that can only be enjoyed when you hit the pause button in your life.

Life is happening fast; one selfie at a time! Instead of turning up the music with your windows down, speeding through life, scrolling through everyone's latest post and picture upload; take time to simply stop and enjoy the small moments that are telling a much bigger story than that one song, that one video, that one photo. Pull over!

Soap Dispensers

Is there anything more disappointing than walking up to an empty soap dispenser?

Standing in the buffet line, walking up to the teacher's desk, leaving someone's side in a hospital room. Expecting, anticipating, hoping that the hand sanitizing station is going to fill your germ-covered hands with its liquid cleanser.

And then...Nothing!

No liquid, no foam, not even one drop!

You feel so dirty! Like you should hang a sign around your neck that screams, "Unclean!"

So you begin an all out search for someone somewhere that has Germ-X strapped to their fanny packs for such occasions. These faulty mechanisms attached to the walls of public facilities have only provided false hope for clean hands.

Oh the joy of the tingling sensation of 99.9% of the world's germs falling to their deaths on your newly sanitized hands!

Seriously though! Do we really think that there's an endless supply of liquid goodness being dispensed from that small bottle of sanitizing therapeutic lather?

Neglecting its use or even over-extending its purpose can create a faulty mechanism that develops cracks and malfunctions. We have to quit abusing and ignoring its intended design.

Have you ever thought of yourself as a soap dispenser? Of course not! That's ridiculous!

But have you ever thought of yourself as a love dispenser?

I don't mean the sappy kind of love where romance novels bode. That's probably more like lust.

We each have an ability to dispense love in such a way that others feel its effects and it creates an affinity, a pureness, a cleanliness, an acceptance that causes them to crave it even more.

But the problem with many of us is that we let love rest in our bodies like Germ-X in a bottle and we are constantly saturating and lathering ourselves with self-love. And when we become consumed with ourselves we begin neglecting others and cracks begin to develop in our relationships with those that actually mean the most to us.

On the other hand, we can become so generous in pumping out our love for others that our love meter becomes broken and we are simply running on empty with no sign of re-filling in sight. And when this happens those closest to us will likewise suffer the results of our misused bottles of affection.

The reason I'm so passionate about soap dispensers is that I've been on the receiving end of a sanitizing station malfunction. And it's disappointing!

And the reason I'm so passionate about being a better love dispenser is because I've been on both the giving and receiving end of a love dispensing malfunction. And it's heartbreaking!

Our lives require a constant, mutual filling and dispensing of love and affection. We have been created with an innate desire to belong and feel loved. And when we learn to find a healthy balance of giving and receiving love toward others we will begin to recognize that we are fulfilling our God-given design.

Count it all Joy!

Date to the prom; that's joy. Magna Cum Laude; more joy. First job; even more joy. Wedding day; some say the best joy. Baby's birth; is there a greater joy? Better paying job; definitely more joy than the first. Grandparent's Day breakfast; can't wait for that joy.

Memories like these create a monumental highlight reel of joy. We place stakes in the ground of our past to re-visit those accomplishments and experiences with friends and family. And aren't we all notorious for re-telling our favorite childhood memories with old friends and new acquaintances with phrases like, "Remember when we...?"

To this day, one of my favorite memories was the zip line across the driveway with rope and a horseshoe!

Unfortunately there are memories we've been charged to recount that seem more like blooper videos and blundering mistakes caused by our own ignorance, apathy, or lack of self control.

Remember that phrase in the Bible, "Count it all joy, brothers, when you enter various trials?" Many of you have probably scratched your head and wondered, "What was James thinking?" I know I have. He says trials, those moments that disrupt the natural rhythm of life, are supposed to be times that we count as joy. Yeah right!

I think most of us would agree that the devastation caused by setbacks such as bankruptcy, cancer, job loss, betrayal, and death aren't worthy of our joy. Yet, every time I read James's letter, that phrase "count it all joy" sounds more like a command than a suggestion.

But what if we removed just one word? What if we removed the word "it"?

The word "it" seems to emphasize the circumstances of the trial rather than the result the trial is actually producing. There's no way our hearts can be happy when bad things happen in life. The pain of life will always hurt. Death will always have a sting. We are wired to feel and express those emotions.

What we must learn to realize is that the trials, the pain, the hurt has purpose. You see, the joy isn't found in the trial itself. Rather, the joy is found in the character the trial is producing on the inside.

When we only experience the good things in life we rely too heavily on our own intelligence, ability, and strength. When circumstances beyond our control, the seemingly bad things in life, the things that require someone else's intervention, we experience a process of change and maturity that we would never know otherwise.

So, count all the joy that can be experienced knowing that all of life's circumstances are working in you to create a more perfect version of yourself if you'll learn to yield to the work God is doing through your glad obedience!

That's Why I Believe

I woke up in English class one day....

After wiping away the saliva that had seeped out onto my cheek during a tape deck reading of "The Great Gatsby," I remember the teacher pausing the tape and asking a series of questions from chapter seven (I think--I can't remember now).

Who? What? When? Where? Why? How?

And I was stumped. I wrote the questions down with no response and thought, "This will be easy to grade!" All would be lost in hopes of maintaining an "A" average in the second week of school.

Little did I know that those questions would either haunt me or drive my every decision for the rest of my life. Opportunities and plans such as school, careers, and relationships all run through the grid of those questions.

Who will you marry? What will you do with your life? When do you want to consider starting a family? Where do you want to live? Why do you want to go to school there? How will you pay the bills?

Places like Wikipedia provide quick answers to questions such as "Who was the 27th president?" (Taft, by the way) Or you can YouTube how to change a spark plug in your lawn mower. Or research your favorite colleges based on location, tuition, or degree programs. Goodness, you can even search for a potential mate through sites like Match, EHarmony, or FarmersOnly.com.

While the facts to many subjects or situations are made available through exploring the internet there seems to one question that can be somewhat difficult for any individual to answer; the question, "WHY?"

When the question "why" arises we must research and provide a simple plan or a strong defense. It's no longer citing facts but developing an argument or opinion that often involves an emotional appeal.

"Why" seldom lets us cakewalk through life.

Questions like, "Who will win the World Series? What's your favorite dessert? Where is the most beautiful place on earth?" become more thought-provoking when we attach the question "Why?" to our response.

Why do so many people see questions about faith differently? Most people's faith is centered around a collection of facts that held with strong belief to provide a defense with an emotional appeal.

Remember the story of Thomas? Jesus had appeared to all of the disciples except him. They tried to convince him that Jesus had risen from the dead but apart from the facts he failed to believe; particularly, the scars found on his hands and his side.

When Jesus appeared to Thomas, He removed all doubt and Thomas' response was, "My Lord and my God!" Then he devoted the rest of his life to making a strong appeal to those whom he met about the risen Christ. Why did he believe? Because of the proven fact of Jesus' resurrection.

Christians aren't defending an issue of intelligence, philosophy, ideology, or doctrine. They have a strong emotional appeal to a personal story of how the facts of Christ's life, death, and resurrection have impacted their life.

Our purpose isn't to argue our way to victory. There will always be someone more intelligent or perhaps more belligerent in their own defense. But we, like Peter and John, must feel so convicted to say, "We cannot deny what we have seen and heard!"

Defending your faith isn't so much convincing others as it is daily convincing yourself of the truth. We must remember that faith is believing today the promises of yesterday. Christ has always proven Himself faithful. Never once has any of His promises failed. That's why I believe!