Story-Worthy?

"Life is about experiencing all the things

you find interesting and fascinating.

Just get out there and experience as much as

you can. Participate in life."

- Louie Zamperini

I love this quote for many reasons:

1.)   It comes from someone who has experienced life and can attest to this ‘philosophy of living’

2.)   It embodies an active approach to life

3.)   It excites me!

4.)   I found it in Runner’s Magazine (okay, maybe not quite as deep as the other three, but I think it’s significant…)

I was having a conversation with a friend last week about grandparents and the crazy stories that they tell. She had a collection of her grandfather’s most famous sayings that her family had pooled together after he passed away and had used them in an art project. With each quote came a story and with each story came an even better story- running down abandoned railroad tracks, spending an entire day lounging at ‘the lake’ with friends, hitchhiking across the country, dancing with the girl of his dreams in a jazz joint somewhere in downtown Detroit, and the list goes on. That conversation, compounded with epic adventures portrayed in TV, film, and print, has spurred in me this desire to do something fun and daring. Not something careless just something out of my comfort zone or maybe just something novel- adventures that I will look forward to telling my kids about someday; adventures that just might end up in my grandchild’s art project 60 years from now…

The author of the above-mentioned quote: Louie Zamperini was an outstanding runner. “He set a US high school mile record that stood for 19 years and an NCAA mile record that lasted for 20. As a teenager in 1936, he placed 8^th in the Olympic 5K. By 1940, he was an Olympic 1500-meter favorite, the man many predicted would be the first to break the four-minute mile. But the Olympics were cancelled due to WWII. Zamperini became an airman and crashed into the Pacific on May 27, 1943. He was then captured by the Japanese. They beat him, starved him, conducted medical experiments on him, and would soon enslave him. Once they found out he was an Olympian, they forced him to race. Hoping to humiliate him, the guards summoned a Japanese runner to face him. Zamperini had no choice but to run; had he refused, every captive would’ve been beaten. Running on legs so slender his skin hung loose around them, Zamperini soon fell behind. But as he ran, other captives began gathering to watch. They were exhausted and sometimes broken men, victims of relentless torture, but as they watched the runners, the hollowness left their eyes. Zamperini saw it in their faces: They needed him to win. A prisoner’s slightest infraction could get him beaten to death, so Zamperini knew he could die for winning. But on his final lap, the captives began cheering him on. He made his choice. Zamperini pushed hard, passed his rival, and won. The last thing he heard, as the guard’s club swung into his skull, was a chorus of voices shouting in triumph.” (Taken from Runner’s World magazine, January 2013, “Lifetime Achievement: Louie Zamperini” by Laura Hillenbrand)

Louie, now 96, made an impact on that prison and continues to impact people with his story today. How cool is that??? The amazing thing is that God has an epic story written out for each one of us. He has a “good, pleasing, and perfect will.” (Romans 12:2), we just need to beware of conformity. Transformation by the “renewing of your mind” (also Romans 12:2) is God’s way of starting our epic story. I’m super stoked to see what He’s written out, aren’t you?

Craziness

     It's in the craziness of life that God seems to reveal the "messages" that I don't want to hear. Initially, it usually consists of addressing the question of what am I busy with and is it worth being busy with. Once that hits me and keeps me thinking and steaming for a while, then He starts to work on me in more specific ways. I am knocked off my straight-shot pathway to accomplishing "x, y, and z" and begin to reflect on my day. His still, small voice becomes more audible as I let down my physical and emotional barriers that have kept me going like a red bull in a coffee shop, and the result of this is incredible. A certain unexplainable peace comes over me and everything makes sense! All the stress accompanying my packed schedule melts away with the realization that my life is in His hands and my ultimate purpose is to bring Him honor and glory. Thanks, God, for that interaction today!

Colorful Dialogues

"Perhaps my words get in the way,
     Of the ultimate purpose You decree,
          To show your glory off on display,
               And your love for all to seize.

               I try to make sense of this dizzy mess,
          But all in my own futility,
     Your Word declares that you won't regress,
 So why do I wallow in self pity?

               Hope and passion flow from Your Truth,
                    It's a joy to be called one of your own!
                         The daily reminders are more than proof,
                               That out of simple obedience your light has shone.

                         How freeing it is to let go of worry,
                              The doubt in myself 'And I doing enough?',
                                   Again knowing it's all about Your glory,
                                        The more you get out of polishing the rough.

                                                                                     I'm no expert in the ways of living life,
                                                                                But I'll always be there to listen,
                                                                           To the joy, the wonder, the dreams, the strife,
                                                                       Trying my best to never miss them. 

                                                                            Do you ever wonder if there's someone alive,
                                                                       Who cares about you truly?
                                                                   I can't promise that we won't say goodbye,
                                                              But I vow that your story will move me.

                                                              Relationship is a tricky word,
                                                                   One that's been abused, confused, misused,
                                                                        It's true rawness viewed as absurd,
                                                                             That two lives through love be fused.

                                                                             Purpose boils down to a simple concept,
                                                                        Expressed by the Son in dire circumstances,
                                                                  With open arms to the poor, accept,
                                                            With a heart and spirit that dances."

Mirror Mirror...

          Last night, a group of about 40 guys gathered together for a retreat through the Christian Campus House. It was AWESOME! Food, competition, sports, worship, small groups, truth-speaking, etc... What more could a guy ask for??? After a couple hours, a certain smell started to permeate throughout the gym where we were staying, but you got used to it after a while... Smelliness aside, there is something about hanging out with a bunch a guys that sparks certain thoughts, conversations, and realizations that don't occur while in mixed company; it's just the way things are. We sensor ourselves while in the company of women and for good reason! But some things get left unsaid and undiscussed that should be expressed in at least one setting.
          It was great to see guys open up and communicate what was on their hearts last night. That 40-minute small group session was just plain awesome for 2 reasons: 1.) Every guy in my group opened up about something that needed to be expressed for their sake and benefit 2.) Everyone, including myself, was able to relate with something that someone else said and share their thoughts, stories, advice, etc. We talked about family, friends, school, girls, college life, struggles, triumphs, experiences, future aspirations, and God's love and power. If nothing else, each one of us realized that there is someone out there who is going through the same or at least a very similar situation as us. That group allowed us to build community.
          Proverbs 27:17 says, "As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another." I always took this verse to refer solely to accountability about the sin we fall into. But last night Joe, who I wrote about in a previous blog post, presented this in a more expansive way. He mentioned that the sharpening that takes place can also be encouragement. Yes, as men we need to help each other out by calling out the sins of our close brothers in love and helping them achieve success in these areas (though God is the only one who brings these successes), but we are to just as passionately "encourage one another and build each other up." 1 Thessalonians 5:11 We talked about this same concept in my education orientation class Thursday. This idea that as teachers, we have a tendency to focus on the downfalls of our students (or nicely: "how they can improve"). There is nothing wrong with pointing out the flaws in our pupils, but the encouragement we give them in celebrating their successes makes just as big of a difference as improving their faults. The reasons I believe I don't do this more often with my friends is I let my pride get in the way. I build up this insecurity by standing in front of a mirror (whether physical or mental) and pointing out each imperfection. My focus becomes me.
          This brings me to the second big truth that Joe revealed last night. He was talking about how guys and girls alike share this common theme of being dissatisfied with themselves in some way, shape, or form. Whether physically, academically, occupationally, relationally, or spiritually, we find ourselves discontent with our bodies, minds, successes, lives. But what if we deliberately decided to stand in front of that same mirror and take a new perspective- the perspective of a child of God. We were created IN HIS IMAGE! God created each one of us individually as unique members of His grand family with gifts and abilities to change the world for His glory! Yes, we have our shortcomings, but those don't have to be our focus. CS Lewis once said, "Humility isn't thinking less of yourself, but thinking of yourself less." Spending countless amounts of time, energy, and emotion pointing out every flaw that I possess is exhausting, depressing, and produces no beneficial effects whatsoever. Instead, I'm going to use that time to realize that God created me special and for a purpose, and I'm going to attempt to recognize just what He has for me to do with this unique pallet of abilities I've been entrusted with.