Show Me What It Means…

And so it begins. The next few months are absolutely my favorite time of year. I love that the baseball season is coming into the stretch run. Pennant races, and the fall classic…I look forward to it every year. I love watching the scoreboards every day to see how the races are taking shape. And to hopefully that the Yankees are somehow struggling (unfortunately that is not happening now, see the thrashing they gave my beloved Indians this weekend). And, football begins. We begin camp this week at the school I work at, and even though my summer is coming to an end, I am always excited to begin the year. It is fun to see the team take on a new shape, and also to see all of the starry eyed freshman attempt to keep their head on a swivel. And, the Buckeyes start their season, this year with some questions to answer, but will still be a great year to watch.  All of this, and it occurs during my favorite season of the year, fall.  The new seasons are fast approaching, as well as the best part of the baseball year, October.  Here’s looking forward to another awesome fall!

For whatever reason, God has allowed me to see a lot of things in my short life.  I have been to two different continents, for very different reasons.  After spending the past two weeks in Africa, I realized something that to me is, well…amazing.  Four years ago I witnessed the rich side of life as an intern athletic trainer for the New York Jets.  A life defined by lots of possessions, and a larger than life lifestyle.  The past two weeks I have seen something very different in a world that most of us would consider impoverished.  Simplicity, an ancient style of living rooted in family and community.  I have now had the opportunity to listen to an NFL player complain about trying to sell his Ferrari, and also witnessed the joy of a child throwing a frisbee for the first time in her life.  Two very different worlds, one very clear need.

For most of my life I have tried to make it to the top.  After all, isn’t that what we are supposed to do.  I found that when I reached it, all I found in my heart was sadness.  I spent five weeks in New York, wishing that they would go quickly so I could leave.  I spent two weeks in Africa, wanting to stay longer.  In the places of the plans I set up for myself, I found that I wanted to be anywhere but there.  Within God’s plans for my life, I found that there was no where in the world that I would rather be.  Very much to my suprise, I have recieved more joy in holding a child without shoes and covered in dirt, than having the opportunity to work with professional athletes.

I loved Uganda, and when I really think about it I realize how much.  I wish it would have hit me harder, but my emotions seem to still be locked up.  Even with all the beauty I saw in Africa.  I know that I am a new creation, but I can’t explain why God didn’t unlock my heart in those mountains.  It made me so frustrated, but I am learning something in it.  Maybe the Lord wanted it to be subtle, not like fireworks, a big bang with no lasting effect.  I don’t know, and I certainly don’t understand.  However, I do know that most of my life has been characterized by perfectionism, and numb efficiency, which has never brought peace or joy.  But in Africa time seemed to not exist. It was like God in that aspect, being outside of time.  Joy, love, friendship and community abound, along with a keen awareness of God’s presence, and reckless dependence upon His Grace.

I have been in a place that I thought would be defined by joy and happiness, but instead for me was full of stress and sadness.  I now have also been in a place that to some is defined by despair and hopelessness.  Instead I found a place bursting with faith, hope and love.  It has brought me to a very interesting conclusion:  I would choose simplicity and “poverty” over the decadence I experienced in New York everytime.  I guess Jesus really meant what he said, that he came to give us life, and to give it abundantly.  And in that, I see a small glimpse of the power of the gospel.

I must be slowly getting addicted to this blog thing, two posts in one day…look out.  So for most of the summer I have been trying as best I can to get outide.  If I am riding my bike, I am usually trekking down the towpath, and if its just around home I usually go down to the Lake front with my chair.  I have also been reading The Case for a Creator by Lee Strobel.  It has been a really interesting experience to sit down at the lake, and look at how big it is, and also watch the sun set, and along with that reading of how it is all designed.  Tonight as I was finishing reading I realized something pretty amazing, something that in my opinion, only God can claim. 

The sun is a pretty amazing thing, some might call it astounding.  But really think about a sunset.  No matter who are, where you live, or what language you speak, a sunset is truly awe inspiring.  It truly is one of God’s works of art.  In The Message version of the Bible there is a section of Psalm 119 that says: “Your truth never goes out of fashion; it’s as up-to-date as the earth when the sun comes up…”And the thing I realized tonight from Psalm 119, sunsets are always beautiful.  I got to thinking of the famous artists, Van Gogh, Monet, Rembrandt, Picasso and how none of them can claim what God can.  His artistry is never old.  It is never liked by some, and disliked by others.  Like a sunset, its breathtaking to everyone, at every time, and in every place. 

The really neat thing about this part of scripture is that the Psalmist is talking about another of God’s work of art, his word.  He goes on to say that “I’ll never forget the advice you gave me.  You saved my life with those wise words.”  It also says, “I would have given up when the hard times came.”  I definetly identify with what the Psalmist is saying here.  The last few years I have been confused, mad, sad, seemingly unable to figure things out.  But I remember what it was like the first time I actually heard the God’s word, the peace and hope that came with it.  Like the Psalmist pointed out, for me, it is probably why I have held on to the Lord, even though every part of me wanted to let go.  Because it never goes out of fashion, a sunset is always beautiful.

Last night after the Cavs game I wasn’t tired so I popped in Field of Dreams.  It doesn’t matter how many times I watch that movie, it hits me everytime I watch it.  This time it struck me about two things.  First, as Shoeless Joe is asking Ray if he ever takes a ball or a glove and puts it to his face, it made me pick up my Grandfather’s old Wilson glove and put it to my face.  Its amazing how the old leather smell conjures up amazing memories of playing catch with my Grandfather almost daily growing up.  I love the smell of that glove.  The other part that stuck out to me was this whole idea of dreams and hope that the movie presents.  Ray makes a comment about how he doesn’t want to be like his Dad in that he never did anything spontaneous.  He said that he never forgave his Dad for getting old.  It got me thinking, what is it about growing up or getting old that robs us of our dreams.  I didn’t get to finish the movie last night, but the whole thing of being willing to do something that lots of people may think is crazy, but has the potential for incredible reward.  It reminds me of another quote from a movie: “If a man wants to be great, he must be content to be thought foolish.”  Now, obviously wisdom must come into this, but really, don’t the people who do great things get slandered or doubted when they start.  I found myself praying that I could dream again, dream bigger, and to have the courage to follow them (insert Braveheart line).  I think that’s why I love this story/book/movie so much.  There is something so magical about that baseball field in Iowa, something that makes you start to think about what it would look like to dream the impossible, and to see God come through in some amazing way.

Last night at 707, Andy talked about a great cause that I wanted to write about just to continue to get the word out there.  TOMS shoes was started to help with South America’s poverty and health issues.   With each pair that they sell, they donate a pair of shoes to a child in need.  Very simple, but meeting a very real need.  Check out the link and find more about what they are doing!