In-between

D.O.B. Date of birth. We all know it well. It goes on nearly every form you fill out, whether buying a home, applying for insurance, visiting the doctor, or paying your taxes. Everyone wants to know what is your date of birth. Contrast that with your date of death. Nobody knows. It could be today or it could be 50 years from now. It may come slowly from debilitating disease or it could hit you like a ton of bricks falling from the sky, literally or figuratively. Regardless of how it comes, none of us knows the moment we will breath our last on this earth. For some, that thought may instill fear in your soul, dread of leaving our loved ones behind, or uncertainty of what lies ahead. It’s a rational fear and makes sense, but I wonder if perhaps there’s another way to look at this.

I have run a few long distance races. Nothing too crazy, just small local runs all less than 10 miles. For me, 10 miles is still pretty far. As a kid I was a sprinter. I loved the 100 meter and 200 meter. Anything farther than that was considered long-distance in my book. Now that I’ve attempted some longer runs, my goal from the starting line is always the same; I just want to finish. I have to pace myself, breath in and out, relax. I can’t try to keep up with everyone else or I’ll tire myself out too quickly. Even staying focused on the finish line is a poor strategy because it distracts from the moment and causes more anxiety. It’s like thinking about food when you’re starving. It doesn’t help and often just makes it worse. For me, the best way to finish a race is one step at a time, and I think there’s something to learn about life in that. The way I finish a race is a direct result of what happens in between the starting line and the finish line. My pace, breathing, and mental state will not only determine when I finish, but how I finish. It’s the in-betweens of life that will determine how you and I finish as well. What do we do with the time we are given between our DOB and our RIP? If we are constantly stressed about trying to get ahead and anxious about our position, we will certainly feel like hell when we cross that final line. We all know the finish is going to come someday, so maybe we should slow down our pace a bit, breath in, trust God, breath out, love our neighbor. Show kindness to those running alongside us, and enjoy each step we’re allowed to take along the way. How you live the in-between of your life will bring peace to your soul, knowing that when God brings you to the end there is rest after a long, hard race.

Neighbors and Enemies

What triggers in your mind when you hear the words neighbor and enemy? Maybe you picture an epic battle between Mr. Rogers vs. Isis. You might think about a conservative evangelical vs. progressive liberal, or BLM vs. Proud Boys. Over the past 18 months, the nations of the world have seen exponential division in nearly every aspect of the human experience. Politics, race, nationalism, religion, and even families themselves have been fractured by hatred and intolerance of contrary ideas. We’ve seen this for years, but have witnessed a palpable increase in the past months. Why? How did we get here and what do we do about it? I certainly don’t have all the answers. Actually, I realize I don’t have any answers at all. However, we do find ourselves in a very polarized climate that seems to scream and pull at us from each side. “Pick a side,” they say. “If you’re not for us then you’re against us.” What if there is a different way? What if we allow ourselves to dream of a better culture where love speaks louder and tells a new narrative? Bob Goff said, “Grace draws a circle around everyone and says we’re in.” No more division. No more war. No more hate. We don’t have to agree with everything or everyone, but love needs to be a voice that chooses kindness, respect, and equality regardless of our varied beliefs and opinions. Become friends with people who don’t look like you, think like you, or agree with everything you say. Discover the beauty in people that are likely still healing from their own life traumas. As you do, you will find the number of neighbors in your life increasing, while the enemies decrease. I think this is why the bible tells us to love two specific people groups, neighbors and enemies. In loving our enemies, we begin to see them as human, and seeing the beauty in their humanity we can receive them as friends.

For recommended reading, check out Drop the Stones by Carlos Rodriguez

Discover your beauty

How much time have I wasted while the clock ticks on? Our lives, our time are but a momentary vapor in this world. So what am I doing with the time I’m given? Too often I’ve found myself sitting paralyzed, dreaming of doing something great but not really doing anything at all. Fear can grip my soul and render me completely ineffective in this world, too afraid that what I have to offer will never be enough. Maybe you can relate. Perhaps you’ve told yourself the same lies and repeated the story so many times in your head that you start to believe your life doesn’t really matter. You may begin to question your value, and ask yourself why you’re even here and what’s the point of all this.

The truth is that you were designed for a beautiful purpose in this world. Regardless of what you think of yourself or what you’ve been told, the truth of who you are speaks louder than any other voice. Your love matters in this world. Your voice matters. You matter.

My hope is that through this blog, this website, social media, or any other means possible, that you will discover the beauty inside you and believe in the value that you bring to this world. When the voice in your head says you’re hopeless, trust the voice in your soul that screams louder that you are valuable and loved and needed. Check back here often as we learn together the value of our love and our voice in this world.

The greatest of these

Tomorrow marks the 51st anniversary of the tragic assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr.  April 4th, 1968 was unfortunately only one of many days that we have seen evil and hatred wreak havoc on our world, and every time it happens I believe that God weeps in Heaven for the people he loves so much that he gave himself for them.

My wife and I were out on a run this morning before work, discussing how faith changes everything in our perspective of the world.  When we choose to live by faith, we find courage to face the day, the struggles, all the pain and defeat we experience, and know we have a loving God watching over us through it all.  Our hearts become ruled by peace and hope rather than fear and despair.  Then my wife pointed out something interesting.  The bible tells us, “these three remain; faith, hope, and love but the greatest of these is love”.  It seems that in a religious context, faith would be considered the greatest but our God is not the “religious” type.  He is radical, courageous, defiant.  He is love.

Jesus was asked what the greatest commandment was, and his answer was certainly not what religious people would expect.  People would likely expect words like righteous, holy, sacred, or faith.  Jesus says love.  “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind…..and love your neighbor as yourself.”  He goes on to say that these aren’t just good suggestions or even part of the law of God, but, “On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets”.  Everything is dependent on love.  How is it that we miss this while we strive to succeed, to get ahead, to be faithful and good and to work hard, but we miss the simple, raw, elemental aspect of God?  He is love.

Ask God to reveal the depths of his great love for you.  As you begin to understand his amazing, relentless love and the gracious forgiveness he has shown to you, that same love, by the power of God’s spirit will work in you as well.  He who has been forgiven much, loves much.  We have indeed been forgiven much, so let us learn to love much and see the love of God transform us, the people around us, and the entire world.