Here's a morbid, yet fun thought (in a twisted kind of way): Have you ever thought about how you might one day die? Seriously, think about it. When I left work today a nice thunderstorm rolled in. Bright bolts of lightening electrified that gusty late afternoon sky and I couldn't help but think to myself what if I were to get struck right here, right now by lightening? That would straight up suck. Game over. That simple, somewhat unsettling question made me think though. How will I one day die? Would it be in a stampede of wild animals off on a hike somewhere (that's an honorable and manly way to go), would it be heroic final act or would it be peaceful. Beyond the sickening thoughts another popped into my mind. However I may one day go, how will I be remembered? How will the way that I lived my life shape my legacy?
Think about it...really, just think about those two questions.
Frank Sinatra tells us that we have to "enjoy livin' cuz dyin' is a pain in the ass" and "that's life." But is it. Another interesting thought came into my mind earlier today. If someone asked me today "what do you do for living?" how would I answer that question? Again, think about that one. Chew on it for a minute. Would you state your profession. "Well, I'm a (fill in the career..." or would you say "You know what? I never gave it much thought."
I thought about that today and I haven't settled on one good answer. It's too tough. On the surface the easiest answer(s) would be that I'm an events coordinator and I'm a youth minister (kinda). But in all reality that's not 'my living.' I know the government tells me to live to pay taxes and keep the country running. I'm told by society to live to work, to marry and to one day retire. I know that spiritually I'm called to offer myself as a 'living sacrifice,' to worship and not conform my life to this world, but to discern the will of God (Romans 12:2) and blah blah blah.
Because this thought followed me most of the afternoon, coupled together with the thought of being struck by lightening and the legacy I'd leave behind, I realized what I believe to be the start of what my living is:
What do I do for a living? Well, first off I live. I live each day in case it were my last, like I might not wake up tomorrow morning. I live each day to love (unless you're a gal I've gone out with and never called me back), to serve those in need and please those around me, those I meet and everyone else I may stumble across. I might not always be patient, appropriate or friendly, but sure as hell give it the old college try. For a living I attempt to be a compassionate companion in the rat race of life (unless you tailgate me). I live to learn from my mistakes (and I'm sorry to those I've hurt along the way or failed). My living is to one day find all the riches of the world, achieve my purpose and pass the final exam of life that determines if my 'living' was truly lived out... to get into the country club high in the sky known as Heaven. For I know that all things work for good for those who love God (Romans 8:28).
In the wise words of Mr. Ricky Martin we should be "livin' la vida loca," also known as live the crazy life...for me it's to livin' la vida Lofy, livin' the Lofy life (whatever that may be). Today, think about your life and what you do for a living. What's the legacy you'll live behind; Based off the life you lived how will you be remembered? Think about it and when it starts to make sense think about it some more, because you don't know. I'm still thinking away. Smoke is coming out of my ears right now I'm thinking so hard and I've already begun to write amendments and edits to what my living is. And remember just keep livin' la vida...
Until next time...
Showing posts with label Purpose. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Purpose. Show all posts
7.10.2013
4.29.2012
Talking buses named Buster are scary...so is not understanding life
This past weekend I had the opportunity to be apart of a high school youth retreat with a great group of teens. Smacked dab in the middle of Saturday was a few hours of work for me at a community Family event. While I was there I noticed a friendly, talking, cartoonie-looking school bus named Buster reach out to kids about bus safety and such. It was one of those remote controlled deals where someone followed behind, directing it where to go and talking into a microphone that made the bus speak in a unisex, high pitched Darth Vader-esque voice. The thing reached out to kids, in a friendly, engaging way, but did neither. It did the opposite. It freaked them out.
Buster the talking bus scared the crap out of the kids. I watched Buster the entire length of the event. Kids would cry, grab a hold of their Moms. Some would pull a Matrix style maneuver to avoid being seen. One little lad even pulled out a gymnastics number of two cartwheels into a perfectly executed somersault, tucked into a triple deek just to get away from the thing.
It made me think. How often do we attempt to do something that is good in nature, involves nothing but the best intentions, but only to not understand what's going on, to grow scared and afraid or even doubt what is ahead of us, regardless of how entertaining, amusing or horrifying it may be. That one thing that makes the future freak us out.
At the retreat you could tell who was not wanting to be there the moment they hopped off the bus. Like most, you can pick out the teens who have come shut off, close minded and afraid to open up their hearts. Those who are unwilling to accept the Truths or let in the Lord. For me, I had two of those types at my table. Two freshmen boys. Like the little kids, afraid to open up or even talk to Buster, these two teens were hesitant to open up to the retreat, let alone to the thought of the Lord in their lives. They were not wanting (at first) to "buy into" what we were selling.
Like the attempts of using a talking robotic school bus to spread the word of school bus safety we use gimmicks, crazy icebreakers, songs with hand motions and Jesus freak jokes to ignite a flame of interest in the hearts and minds of the teens about a Christ focused life. Outside of ministry we use self-help books, trained professionals, alcohol and other stimulates to help us understand our life and what lays ahead.
Just before lights out on the final night of the retreat I had a teen approach me about problems in his life, worries and hopes for his future, and his fears of growing up. He opened up and it was great. Especially after sitting next to each other during Adoration and helping him prepare for Reconciliation answering his questions and praying with him. A one time closed off guy, now opened up to his faith and wanted to go deeper. There was no cartoon-looking, robotic Jesus that came up to him and spread His news, there was no marketing campaign or big hoopla, only a combination of an open mind and heart, willingness to let the Lord in and a bit of inspiration from a spiritual environment. Yet, so often we as adults fail to understand that we don't need to understand, but open up our hearts and minds to the challenges and frustrations that present themselves. Trust in the Lord, and His plan.
When I woke the guys up the second morning, after only about four or five hours of sleep all weekend, the slow bodies of teens rose from their beds like youthful zombies busting through the earthly layers of pillows and blankets arising from their comfortable graves of nocturnal rejuvenation. Some faster than others. I called out to them "I don't understand how you can stay up so late and get up so early and still have as much energy as you do." Then one of the guys shot back without hesitation in a Buddha like demeanor: "We're teens...you're not supposed to understand."
How fitting is that? As we worry about finding our purpose in life, spend countless hours seeking out the next step along the path we follow on this journey, he strive to "understand." We mask our heavy hitting issues with marketing style lessons of hope and strength, we mask the truths behind what we think is "right" and "should be happening." When all we really must understand is that "we're not supposed to understand." That's the beauty of life. We live. We learn. We love. Imagine how dull and anticlimactic our lives would be if everything we wanted either magically happened or didn't with a quick snap of our fingers or tap of a magic wand.
The beauty of life, is that whether we're at the cusp of something greater, or trapped deep down in the depths of depression, what we must truly understand is that we're not supposed to understand. We're supposed to live our lives with purpose, through love of self and others. Striving for our mountaintops and serving those we come across. It is then that we will truly understand...and if not we'll constantly be running from something much more scary than a talking school bus named Buster.
Buster the talking bus scared the crap out of the kids. I watched Buster the entire length of the event. Kids would cry, grab a hold of their Moms. Some would pull a Matrix style maneuver to avoid being seen. One little lad even pulled out a gymnastics number of two cartwheels into a perfectly executed somersault, tucked into a triple deek just to get away from the thing.
It made me think. How often do we attempt to do something that is good in nature, involves nothing but the best intentions, but only to not understand what's going on, to grow scared and afraid or even doubt what is ahead of us, regardless of how entertaining, amusing or horrifying it may be. That one thing that makes the future freak us out.
At the retreat you could tell who was not wanting to be there the moment they hopped off the bus. Like most, you can pick out the teens who have come shut off, close minded and afraid to open up their hearts. Those who are unwilling to accept the Truths or let in the Lord. For me, I had two of those types at my table. Two freshmen boys. Like the little kids, afraid to open up or even talk to Buster, these two teens were hesitant to open up to the retreat, let alone to the thought of the Lord in their lives. They were not wanting (at first) to "buy into" what we were selling.
Like the attempts of using a talking robotic school bus to spread the word of school bus safety we use gimmicks, crazy icebreakers, songs with hand motions and Jesus freak jokes to ignite a flame of interest in the hearts and minds of the teens about a Christ focused life. Outside of ministry we use self-help books, trained professionals, alcohol and other stimulates to help us understand our life and what lays ahead.
Just before lights out on the final night of the retreat I had a teen approach me about problems in his life, worries and hopes for his future, and his fears of growing up. He opened up and it was great. Especially after sitting next to each other during Adoration and helping him prepare for Reconciliation answering his questions and praying with him. A one time closed off guy, now opened up to his faith and wanted to go deeper. There was no cartoon-looking, robotic Jesus that came up to him and spread His news, there was no marketing campaign or big hoopla, only a combination of an open mind and heart, willingness to let the Lord in and a bit of inspiration from a spiritual environment. Yet, so often we as adults fail to understand that we don't need to understand, but open up our hearts and minds to the challenges and frustrations that present themselves. Trust in the Lord, and His plan.
When I woke the guys up the second morning, after only about four or five hours of sleep all weekend, the slow bodies of teens rose from their beds like youthful zombies busting through the earthly layers of pillows and blankets arising from their comfortable graves of nocturnal rejuvenation. Some faster than others. I called out to them "I don't understand how you can stay up so late and get up so early and still have as much energy as you do." Then one of the guys shot back without hesitation in a Buddha like demeanor: "We're teens...you're not supposed to understand."
How fitting is that? As we worry about finding our purpose in life, spend countless hours seeking out the next step along the path we follow on this journey, he strive to "understand." We mask our heavy hitting issues with marketing style lessons of hope and strength, we mask the truths behind what we think is "right" and "should be happening." When all we really must understand is that "we're not supposed to understand." That's the beauty of life. We live. We learn. We love. Imagine how dull and anticlimactic our lives would be if everything we wanted either magically happened or didn't with a quick snap of our fingers or tap of a magic wand.
The beauty of life, is that whether we're at the cusp of something greater, or trapped deep down in the depths of depression, what we must truly understand is that we're not supposed to understand. We're supposed to live our lives with purpose, through love of self and others. Striving for our mountaintops and serving those we come across. It is then that we will truly understand...and if not we'll constantly be running from something much more scary than a talking school bus named Buster.
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