My Own Advice

I metaphorically banged my head against the blank page on which I was supposed to write today's post for nearly an hour trying to decide what to write about.  It seems, however, like everything I thought of would simply be a rehash of something I've already written.

That's when I started to realize the trend.

My best friend asked me about yesterday's post.  His question was whether or not I took my own "someday advice" with regard to a particular issue.  My honest answer was no.

I then did what I normally do.  I spent an unhealthy amount of time considering the philosophical ramifications of that statement.  I rarely take my own advice.  In fact, one could argue that the main person for whom I am writing that advice is myself.  Often times when I'm posting stuff talking about how people "should" act or live their life or something like that, I'm posting about things I would like to change about myself.

And my hope is that someday, I'll make those changes.  It seems I'm still haunted by that awful word.

I have to believe, however, that if I'm going through something or want to change something about myself, someone else out there is feeling the same way.  If you then apply the ultimately circular logic of all my arguments, there are other people out there that don't follow their own advice.  The question you have to ask yourself is very simple:  Do you?

When you tell someone that there is something they should do, are you actively trying to do that as well?  Here's the bigger question:  Does the fact that I often don't follow my own advice call the validity of that advice into question?

People have been debating that question for centuries.  Does a serial killer have any right to tell you not to hurt someone?  Is the town gossip a credible person to tell you that spreading rumors is wrong?  Does the fact that it is the town gossip telling you this mean that spreading rumors isn't wrong?

Ultimately, my view on the subject is something like this:

Many coaches used to be good players.  However, as the old saying goes, those who can't do teach.  I have met many a coach that cannot do the things they tell their players to do.  How many cross country coaches ride bikes along the course they force their runners to run?  How many lineman coaches could even get in a three-point stance?  Often, from what I've seen, some of the best coaches are people that can't necessarily do the thing themselves.  However, they do understand what it takes to do it.  They may not be able to shoot a three pointer, but they can tell you how.  Does the fact that someone can't lift a thousand pounds call into credibility the method by which they show others to lift?  Personally, I don't think so.

Obviously, since I'm giving the advice, I know how to make the changes I wish to make.  So why can't I make them?

I'm too damn comfortable.

How many times have you been sitting on a couch and thought, "Man, some chips would be awesome right about now!  But I'm way too comfortable to get up and go get them.  If I get up, even if I make it all the way to the kitchen and back, I won't be able to get back into this same comfy position!  There's no way!"

Ok, maybe I'm the only one who actually thinks through it that much, but I know I'm not the only one who refuses to change their situation, even in a positive way, because they are too comfortable with the way things are.

"Eventually, someone will walk by, and I can ask them to get me chips.  Then I won't have to get uncomfortable and I still get the chips!"

"Someday, I'll be able to make those changes without leaving my comfort zone!"

Someday.

I'm haunted by that awful word.

Someday

As I was rereading this post, I couldn't help but think of this song:

If Today Was Your Last Day

I was reading an interesting article/list-type thing.  In the interest of full disclosure, here's the page:

Life's Instructions

I found most of these little pieces of advice to be very helpful.  I found myself on more than one of them thinking to myself, "I would love to do that someday."  That's when I realized I say that a lot.  Also, I doubt if I'm the only one.  I've heard it from other people:

• "I'll go visit that place someday."
• "I'll write a novel someday."
• "I'll be on TV someday."
• "I'll tell that person how I really feel someday."
• "I'll follow my dreams someday."

I've found myself wondering quite a bit lately:  What if Someday was today?

Think about it.  Think back to all of the times you've ever said that you would do something someday.  What if you did all of those things today?  How great would it be if you were able to say and do all the things you've been putting off?  What if you got to visit that place?  What if you wrote that novel?  What if you made it on TV?  What if that person knew how you fell?  What if you were to follow your dreams?

Here's the better question:  What's holding you back?

I can tell you the thing that holds me back from doing the things that I say I will do someday is fear.  I'm afraid of the consequences of doing those things.  What if I run out of money because of this silly little thing?  What if that person doesn't feel the same way?  What if I fail?

Here's where my favorite question comes in:  So what if you fail?

I find myself haunted by the word someday.  Most of us think of it as some day way off in the future.  It's a day when we no longer have to worry about the consequences.

What if today is your last day?

What if Someday was today?

Three Simple Words

Obviously I'm not quite back into the rhythm of writing this every night.  I can assure you I will be doing my best to get back into the swing of things.  I cannot, however, assure you that these attempts will have any effect.

In the interest of giving you something to think about, I have three simple words on which you can dwell for days to come:

E.T. is Jesus.

It may sound ridiculous and crazy at first glance, but watch the movie again.  It makes sense.

Here are some things to think about as you watch E.T. and look for his messianic parallels:

• arrival from another world
• taken in by human family
• knowledge of universe
• healing powers
• death at the hands of government
• resurrection
• return to the world from which he came
• promise that he'll be "right here" [pointing at heart]

Still don't believe me?  Check out these images:

E.T. is Jesus.

Just something to think about.

Key Masters for Christ

I'm back everyone!!!

I got back from an awesome summer at camp about two weeks ago.  I realize I did a terrible job of posting over the summer, but I assure you, it was because I was working hard during the weeks and was completely and utterly exhausted on the weekends.  I had lots of fun and adventures that I may or may not tell you about, but now that I'm starting to get my feet back on planet Earth, I should be posting more often.

One thing about camp that's important to know is that it is very easy to tell who's got authority.  You can hear it in their steps as they walk up, and you can see it clear as day when they're in front of you.  This is because everyone with authority at camp has two things:  keys and a radio.  When you hear that jingling when they walk or that staticky sort of buzz from the radio, you know they're important.  When you see them with the radio on their hip or with keys dangling from their lanyard, you know they're in charge.

I often said over the summer that the real goal of the job is to get keys and a radio.  That's when you've reached a whole new bracket of awesomeness.

You want to know what's exciting that I just realized this week?  We've all already got keys and a radio!

In church on Sunday, the reading was from Matthew 16.  This is the passages where Peter acknowledges Jesus as the messiah and Jesus gets all excited and talks about building a church on his rock hard skull or something like that.  Anyway, what struck me as interesting was verse 19, just after all the rock stuff:

"I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven."  Matthew 16:19 (NIV)

Now this passage (like so many others) has been interpreted many different ways.  Most often it is used in the context of Peter essentially being installed as the first pope.  This would imply that these keys to the kingdom are essentially giving the pope power over heaven and earth and ultimately gives credibility to papal bull and all that . . . [ahem] . . . stuff.  Martin Luther called this the Office of the Keys.  I'm pretty sure if you asked most Lutherans about the Office of the Keys, they would have no idea what you were talking about. 

I will be following the idea that these keys to the kingdom are available to anyone who wants them.  If you can't accept that premise, fine.  Accept that you don't have keys and move on to the part about the radio.  You just won't get to jingle when you walk.

At camp, people are given keys for a very simple reason:  to open things.  Most of the things that are locked up are either dangerous or valuable and, therefore, cannot be trusted to just anyone.  Key Masters at camp are usually more than willing to open just about anything you could want.  In fact, like I said earlier, the reason they have keys is to open things.  It's simply safer to have those things locked up.

If you have been given the keys to the kingdom, what are you supposed to do with them?  Open things!

Usually this passage is used in reference to forgiveness.  If that's the interpretation you want to take, that's fine.  You get to open people up to God so that they can let their sins lose and be free from them.  If you want to take it as the keys to heaven, that's fine.  You get to open the gates of heaven for people by opening their eyes and helping them see God's love.  It doesn't matter so much if your keys open people's eyes, their hearts, or the gates of heaven itself, the purpose of keys is to open things and make others' lives better!

Most Key Masters at camp (I only say most to leave room for some possibility I haven't thought of.  I really think this applies to all of them.) also have a radio.  A radio is important at camp because it means that you are able to communicate with other people without having to go and look for them.  Typically, in my experience, radios are used by people that are lower on the chain of command to ask advice or assistance from someone higher on the chain of command.  And typically, radios are used by people higher on the chain of command to give a job or make a request of someone lower on the chain of command.  I hope that made sense.

Let's think about this.  What in our faith lives sounds like a radio.  It allows you to communicate as though the person is right there . . . an underling asks advice and assistance from a superior . . . a superior gives jobs to and make requests of an underling . . . if you haven't figured it out yet, let me help you:

"Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know."  Jeremiah 33:3 (NIV)

Prayer is you radio!

You can call God and talk to him anytime as if he's right there.  You can ask him for advice or assistance.  However, just like with the keys, it is important to share your radio.  At camp, people with a radio are always willing to help those without a radio by calling people for them.  Since God offers everyone a radio, the important thing for you to do is to help them learn how to use it.

Key Masters, wielding their keys and radios like a boss, are some of the most helpful people at camp.  They have the tools to help you in ways others don't, but also have the responsibility to use those tools.  In the same way, you, a Key Master for Christ, have the tools for a relationship with God and eternal life with him.  However, you also have the responsibility to equip others with those tools.

Open doors for people.  Help them talk to their Superior.  Use those awesome, powerful tools that put you in a whole new bracket of awesomeness.

Use your keys and radio.