LifeVesting » Following Your Passion

Come Stand by the Fire

Andy Wood — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 06:52:29 +0000

As long as people have searched for direction, worshipped their Creator, and looked for language to express their passion and warmth, we have returned again and again to stand by the fire.

The fire was an agent of God’s guidance and an ongoing expression of worship in the days of the tabernacle. And we kept returning to stand by the fire.

A refiner and cleansing agent of the hearts of men, the fire was a symbol of God’s hatred for sin and an affirmation for the prophets who spoke His truth. And again and again, we kept returning to stand by the fire.

The fire was a weapon of God’s voice, a light in the darkness, and an expression of hospitality and welcome. And from the dark places and lonely spaces, still we kept coming to stand by the fire.

The fire revealed a passion for God’s word in our bones, the baptism of the believer, the instrument of God’s testing, and the piercing gaze of the risen Christ. And out of desperation or terror, love or longing, still we kept coming to stand by the fire.

And even today the Spirit and Bride invite you to come. To be warmed and convicted and cleansed and restored and pure as you stand by the fire.

Come stand by the fire, and feel the sweet warmth of His presence and love as you call on His name. Good-bye isolation! No more shame and wandering. Let go of and run from the dark lie of loneliness – face and embrace the bright truth that wherever you are, there He is.

Come stand by the fire, and enjoy the delight of the simple things in life again – the warmth, and the wood, and the air that converge to make life-changing energy. The crackle of mystery, nature’s first symphony, beckons you back from a world of complexity. Be still. Breathe. Know He is God.

Come stand by the fire, and experience again the passion that flows from a heart’s first love. Let your heart come alive with a blazing and jealous desire many waters can’t quench. Turn away from the blasphemy of apathy and feel again, feel again, feel again what it’s like for your soul to be swept away.

Come stand by the fire, and dare to reveal your lost places to those who can help. Don’t run when they ask you to come a bit closer so they can see clearer just who you are. Just remember they’re gazing through fire that’s blazing away your transgressions and revealing those blind spots that all of us have.

Come stand by the fire, and send a loud signal to all who are lost and who need to be found – that this is the truth they are desperate for. “Light of the world” – that’s what Jesus declared you to be – you’re a city that’s set on a hill. And just as the lighthouse both serves as a warning and beacon of hope to the ships in the night, so you are the voice to the lost and the rudderless, pointing with boldness that Jesus is light.

Come stand by the fire, and rest in the safety that comes from His watch against the wolves in the dark. He is the door to the sheep who are helpless (and that’s you, just in case you’ve forgotten your need). Rest in his care for you. Trust in his love for you. Angels are guarding you. He’s the Good Shepherd who lays down His life for the peace and protection of all who are His.

Come stand by the fire and receive the direction that calls to you in the dark nights of the soul. Sometimes the limits of faith will be tested. Sometimes the light will seem distant and flickering – just keep on following light you’ve been given. He’s faithful to know you, so faithful to lead you, so faithful to see you, so faithful to feed you. So follow the light and make darkness the liar – receive and believe and come stand by the fire.

Come stand by the fire, and follow the pull of the spellbinding gravity inside the flame. Just as we find ourselves lost in the wonder of watching the embers and coals in their burning, we also are yearning to witness His working and worship and fascinate – celebrate, fascinate – celebrate. Working and worship and fascinate – celebrate, fascinate – celebrate.

Come stand by the fire, and embrace the sweet fellowship, love and support of the friends of the flame. Though broken in places, we all know what grace is. And our declaration of faith isn’t based on self-righteousness, self-love or self-anything. We stand side-by-side because once we had Fallen and Jesus – Redeemer – descended as low as it took to lift all us out of the pit. And now with a heart set ablaze by His tenderness, we’re reaching out in His name to the weary, the broken, the hopeful, the wandering – Come from the darkness, get free from the danger, be still in His love –

Come stand by the fire.

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Run to the Battle!

Andy Wood — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 06:23:06 +0000

If you intend to be successful in any area of life, sooner or later you are going to have to have to fight for it. I wish I could tell you that being intentional (a popular darling word) was enough. But it isn’t.

I wish I could prove to you that some simple formula – here a step, there a technique, everywhere a quick-and-easy procedure – would guarantee the fulfillment of your fondest hopes. Can’t do it.

I wish I could assure you that if it was really hard, or lonely, or dangerous, that the idea was certainly not God’s will. If that were true, the Almighty’s got some ‘slpainin’ to do with some people who are now in heaven.

But the truth is, sooner or later, you’re going to have to fight for your family. Or for your testimony. Or for your walk with God. Sooner or later you’re going to have to fight for answered prayer. Yes, answered prayer! Or the advancement of the gospel. Or the safety of one of the world’s most endangered species – American children.

Sometimes when you run to the battlefield you may discover that you are the only one standing there. You may find that you’re surrounded by taunting enemies, and for backup you have a bunch of gossips, critics and spectators – but nobody willing to draw a sword or raise a shield with you.

Still think that cause is worth the fight? David did.

In the familiar story of David and Goliath, the young man after God’s own heart – newly empowered and anointed by the Spirit of God – brought a giant to his knees while the army of the living God looked on in disbelief. What was the difference between David and the rest of the army of Israel? Didn’t they have the same power available to them? Yes. Didn’t they have the same God? Yes. So what did David have that they didn’t?

In the life of David, there was a difference in:

1. Company

When the Israelites saw the man, they all ran from him in great fear. (1 Samuel 17:24).

David hadn’t been surrounded with fear and discouragement for 40 days. Fear is contagious, and so is discouragement. If you are going to fight God’s battles with God’s power, you’d better pay careful attention to the company you keep. Not only should you avoid ungodly influences, I’m suggesting there are some Christians you shouldn’t hang out with.

2. Observation

Now the Israelites had been saying, “Do you see how this man keeps coming out? He comes out to defy Israel….” David asked the men standing near him, “What will be done for the man who kills this Philistine and removes this disgrace from Israel?” (v. 25-26).

David wasn’t intimidated by the size of his enemies. He had a difference in perspective. To everyone else, he was too big to hit. To David, he was too big to miss. Over and over again in the Bible, the people God used were those who were willing to see the situation from a different perspective.

3. Understanding

Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God? (v. 26).

David responded to a higher purpose. The army saw itself as Saul’s army. David saw them as the armies of the living God. The army saw a fight with Goliath as an opportunity to get wealth, prestige, and marriage in the king’s family. David saw it as a fight for God’s honor. Authentic victory requires a cause worth fighting for that reaches beyond personal gratification – something this generation has made an idol out of.

4. Reflection

Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, because he has defied the armies of the living God. The Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine” (v. 36-37).

David had never been trained in battle. But he received encouragement from past victories as a shepherd. His army buddies had the same opportunity to be encouraged, but didn’t take advantage of it.

This was the army of the God who had parted the Red Sea, but you didn’t hear anybody here talking about the Red Sea.

This was the army of the God of Joshua, who marched around Jericho seven times. But nobody mentioned Jericho.

This was the army of the God of Samson, who killed a thousand Philistine with a donkey’s jawbone, but nobody was talking about Samson.

One thing I know about you – you are not winless! And God wants to use your past victories to encourage you to fight again!

5. Assurance

David wasn’t discouraged by personal criticism. And it’s a good thing because like anybody who is willing to lay it all on the line, he had his share of it. His brother attacked his motives. The king questioned his experience. The giant laughed at his appearance – so much that he never pulled out his sword. None of that discouraged David – not even his judgmental big brother. If anything, his critics only increased his zeal.

6. Goals

“and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. 47 All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give all of you into our hands” 1 Samuel 17:46-47

The reason the vast majority of God’s army stayed away from the battlefield was that they had impotent goals. The same is true for you. They were fighting for the king, or for what was in it for them. Nice ideas, but not enough to stand up to a giant anything. David, on the other hand, was fighting for God’s glory and the faith of Israel. His eye was on the battlefield, but his heart was as big as the world.

7. Expectation

Nine times in one episode, David used the word, will. I will. The Lord will. Then all the world will. David honestly expected to win, because his confidence was in the Lord.

In the kingdom, there is a tendency for you to receive not what you deserve, or what you wish for, but exactly what you expect. Remember those haunting words of Jesus? “According to your faith be it unto you.” Or of Job? “That which I feared greatly has come upon me.” Right now, for better or worse, you are in the process of reaping your faith-driven expectations, no matter who or what your faith is actually in.

Look back over that list again. What was it David had that no one else did? C.O.U.R.A.G.E.

And where does courage come from?

Company that encourages confidence in God.
Observation that gives a God-sized perspective on circumstances.
Understanding of Who it is you’re really fighting for.
Reflection on the past victories as models for future success.
Assurance in the face of personal criticism.
Goals that as great as God’s glory and His love for the world.
Expectation of ultimate victory.

Courage. Isn’t it time that you, in faith, dared to show a little? David had to start with a thick-headed, trash-talking giant. Who or what is defying you?

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Someone Out There Still Believes

Andy Wood — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 08:17:24 +0000

When the Son of man comes will he find faith on the earth?

-Jesus Christ (Luke 18:8)

Welcome to the waterdown season.

Welcome to the days when we’re thankful, but not really sure Who to thank.

Where we count our blessings, but choke on the Name of the Blesser.

Welcome to the days where we deck the halls and hang the balls,

And sing wistful songs about traffic jams and bells and chestnuts.

When the world becomes a Winter Wonderland without a Wonderful Counselor –

And seeks peace on earth without the Prince of Peace.

But I’m not whining or pining away for the days of Rockwell or Currier and Ives,

Because God has always had a remnant of believing hearts and transformed lives.

And I’m still hopeful and expectant that in the city sidewalks or crowded stores,

In festive churches or feastful tables, someone out there still believes.

Someone out there still believes

That there’s more to life and those living it than what appears on the surface.

Someone out the still believes

That self-assured smiles and well-traveled miles

Can mask a desperately stranded traveler who can’t find his way home.

Someone out there still believes

That aimless hearts need a compass…

Lost souls need a Savior…

Tossed lives need an anchor…

And broken spirits need a healer.

Someone out the still recalls

That they were once that aimless heart,

That broken spirit, lost and tossed.

And now they’re standing on a Rock,

Whole and healed by a Mighty God

And given purpose and hope by an Everlasting Father.

(I’m a believer – how ’bout you?)

Someone out there still believes

That thanks-giving means thank YOU.

And they’re declaring loud and proud or quiet and still

That all their blessings flow from Him.

Someone out there still believes

That a quiet, faithful witness – a beacon of hope –

Can still light the darkness and rescue the perishing.

Someone out there still believes

That the earth is decaying, but we’re still the salt –

That the world is dark, but we’re still the light.

And someone out there still believes that salt and light still matter.

Someone out there still believes

That God helps those who help themselves to His presence,

And sings over those who sing to Him in praise.

(Can I get a witness? How ’bout you?)

Someone out there still believes

That silent nights become holy nights

When Heaven kisses the world with His first or second coming.

That in His voice is the strength to carry on,

And the peace to be still in the most violent storm.

Someone out there still believes

That what’s done is done – unless it’s undone by the grace of the living God.

That what goes around comes around – unless it’s cast into the uttermost parts of the sea.

That your past is always sneaking up on you – unless it’s removed as far as the east is from the west.

Someone out there still believes

In virgin birth and mystery and angels drawing swords for war

To fight for God’s redemption plan.

That no one ever stays the same

When lost in wonder, love and praise

For One whose life forever says,

“I’m coming back for those I love.”

So keep your neutered holidays,

Your sleighs praise and thanks to no one in particular.

Keep your empty resolutions,

Old traditions and artificial cheer if you want.

I’m still hopeful, and blessed that I don’t hope alone.

I’m still grateful, and know I’m not the only one.

I’m still wonderfully alive, and part of a resurrection navy of rescued souls.

And when darkness descends and the sky remains starless,

Then I’ll shine the light for whoever to see

That someone out there still believes.

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On and On

Andy Wood — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 06:57:43 +0000

I grew up in the Deep South in the 60s and 70s. There, when my African American friends wanted to know my address, they had a unique colloquial way of asking. They would ask, “Where you stay?”

I don’t know where the phrase originated. What I do know is that the question – Where you stay? – resonates on a much deeper level than just my physical address.

Had we lived a century earlier in Great Britain, the question may have been something along the lines of, “Where do you abide?” Or “Where is your abode?” Again, the question has to do with a physical house, but it communicates something much deeper.

It’s a question of the heart, not just the body. It’s a question of your dreams, your company, your vision, your love. It’s a question of what you hang on to and what you let go of. Of who or what touches you for a moment, versus who or what changes you for a lifetime. Of where you turn for security and where your heart finds its permanent places.

Where you stay?

When Jesus Christ invaded history, one of the possibilities He brought with Him was a whole new way of relating to God. In Old Testament times, walking with God was a matter of keeping the commandments, offering sacrifices for sins, and a relationship in which the Holy Spirit would come and go.

Jesus brought something new. He made it possible to abide – to stay – in communion with Him. Not on again-off again. On and on.

Here’s how the Easy-to-Read translation expresses His words in John 15:

Stay joined to me and I will stay joined to you. No branch can produce fruit alone. It must stay connected to the vine. It is the same with you. You cannot produce fruit alone. You must stay joined to me.

“I am the vine, and you are the branches. If you stay joined to me, and I to you, you will produce plenty of fruit. But separated from me you won’t be able to do anything. If you don’t stay joined to me, you will be like a branch that has been thrown out and has dried up. All the dead branches like that are gathered up, thrown into the fire and burned. Stay joined together with me, and follow my teachings. If you do this, you can ask for anything you want, and it will be given to you. Show that you are my followers by producing much fruit. This will bring honor to my Father.

“I have loved you as the Father has loved me. Now continue in my love. I have obeyed my Father’s commands, and he continues to love me. In the same way, if you obey my commands, I will continue to love you. I have told you these things so that you can have the true happiness that I have. I want you to be completely happy. (John 15:4-11).

Stay joined. Stay connected. Continue. On and on.

Where you stay?

What does it mean to stay joined or connected to Christ? Three things are mentioned here:

On and On Communication

To stay connected means to keep the communication flowing. You abide in whoever you communicate with. To stay connected with Jesus means letting Him talk to you and you talking to Him. Not here and there. On and on. The Bible phrase for this is “pray without ceasing.”

Shouldn’t prayer be a discipline, with times and places? Sure. It should also be a lifestyle – completely unstructured, continually aware. Listening on and on. Interceding on and on. Turning troubles over to Him on and on. Praising on and on.

Shouldn’t we labor in prayer? Yes. But never any more than you pray from a position of resting in the Lord. Keep the flow of communication open – here, there, wherever you find yourself.

On and On Love

“I have loved you as the Father has loved me,” Jesus says. “Now continue in my love.”

Your relationship to Jesus is a love relationship first. If you ever lose sight of that, you cease to abide in Him. The problem with a lot of people is that they love Jesus like they loved their high school girlfriend or boyfriend. Maybe it’s time to stop dating Jesus, and realize He has something much more intimate and consistent in mind. Read these words again:

I have told you these things so that you can have the true happiness that I have. I want you to be completely happy.

Think about this. If you are a follower of Christ, and the Holy Spirit dwells in you, then like a vine-and-branch relationship, right this second there is an on-and-on flow of life and love toward you. You don’t have to make it – just take it. Enjoy it. Be completely happy in it.

On and On Obedience

We never outgrow obedience. This is how we demonstrate who or what we’re following, and who or what we love. And you are obeying someone or something right now.

Sometimes people get a shady idea of grace. They assume that grace qualifies us to disobey God. Nothing could be further from the truth. Grace – truly understood – motivates on-and-on obedience to the will of One who would love me so much.

But this isn’t just obedience to a static set of instructions. It’s an on-and-on obedience to the promptings of the Spirit. A continual awareness, as you seek Him, of His heart, priorities, and passion. Sure, you follow the ones that are aimed at everybody. But just as faithfully, you respond to the directives that are aimed at you alone.

Much is made in the Kingdom about “entering in,” whether we’re talking about salvation, the Spirit-filled life, maturity, or praise and worship. But what’s left after we’ve “entered in?”

Abiding. On and on.

It’s not always as glamorous or exciting. But it’s even more essential.

Where you stay?

In Him, my Dearest Friend. On and on.

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The Watches of the Night

Andy Wood — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 06:12:48 +0000

Something happens at the end of the day when the to-do list loses its power, the however-many words we use have escaped us, and the sinks and tubs and TVs have done their duty. Life gets still. Sometimes for a fleeting moment before sleep. Sometimes, like last night for me, for a surprising length of time. Borrowing from ancient practices, I like to call these moments the Watches of the Night. Even though the body is tired, another part of you is still very awake.

It’s there, in the quiet stillness, that you can hear Him if you listen in your spirit.

It’s the same Gentle Whisperer that Elijah heard in the mouth of the cave.

He’s the Mighty to Save, who quiets your soul in the most beautiful of ways… He rejoices over you with singing.

This is no task for angels or even people. This is a visitation in love fitting only for One who can take such personal delight in you, despite your weakness or failure. And in the Watches of the Night, He Himself becomes the descant of your soul.

Listen with your heart, and in the Watches of the Night, you can hear Him lifting your soul, singing to your hope that He will come back to you again. He sings to your regrets with His stubborn love, casting them into the depths of the deepest sea. And in his delight over you, He buoys your heart to face new challenges and new opportunities for patience and endurance.

In the Watches of the Night, He reminds you that you are loved with a love both causeless and ceaseless, beyond any other love you can imagine or experience. He attends to that part of you that still yearns – to the longings and dreams yet to be realized. And He awakens your spirit to remind you that He still knows how make the most of whatever season you are in.

“I have those experiences, but I’m not thinking about God.”

Maybe not. Maybe you’re drawn – by God – to someone who needs the gift of your presence or a touch of your kindness. Maybe the Watches of the Night are your chance to pray with boldness for the people you love or to ask God to heal a broken or estranged relationship. Maybe they’re a reminder that despite previous setbacks and disappointments, some things are worth waiting for – and the Watches are God’s way of waiting with you.

Maybe the Watches of the Night are opportunities to reflect with gratitude on the people who have helped shape your life, or ways you can bring out the finest in others. Maybe they are God’s way of preparing you for changes that are coming – some slowly, others like thieves in the dark.

The Watches of the Night are God’s reminder that there is a pace between non-stop and unconscious – and that tucked away in those times are beautiful moments worth noticing and celebrating. He sings to you of the promise that sooner than ever, you are going home. But until that day, there are stories about you yet to be told, and God is whispering to you that until you reach the circle’s end, He’s not finished with you yet.

The Watches of the Night are one of the Lord’s ways of carrying you, lifting your spirit and teaching you to soar. There sad hearts are graced with gladness. There you can ask those nagging questions or rekindle the fire of spiritual passion and power again.

The Watches of the Night are those moments when the Captor of your heart draws you out of that emotional closet and frees you to feel again. When your flawless Creator welcomes with delight the clumsiest offering of worship or love that you can put forth. When your King whets your appetite again for the day you are home in His castle, never to wander again.

In the Watches of the Night, your Redeemer comes to touch your life with deep connection and profound contentment. He comes to call you – sometimes to challenge you in your times of despair, sometimes to still you in your seasons of exhaustion. He comes to remind you what’s missing in a life covered by grace – namely the shame and the guilt of a life that once was.

The Watches of the Night are God’s way of anchoring your soul during the waiting seasons. Or sometimes they’re His way of arousing your soul when it’s time to quit wasting time waiting for everything to be perfect. Either way, in the Watches of the Night, the Lord is reminding you that waiting or working, He is always, always there.

In the Watches of the Night, the Singer invites you to dance with Him in a dance of joy and grace as you learn to respond to His lead. There He speaks to you in the language of an Intimate Friend – the ultimate Soul Mate who knows all there is to know about you and loves you all the same. And there He composes a symphony in you that only you can play, but only He can conduct.

All of this and more are wrapped up in seven profound words, sung to you by a Mighty God who is still your refuge and strength. It’s there in the Watches of the Night that He sings a different song – a descant – to the busy rhythms of your life…

Be still. And know that I am God.

How long has it been since you heard the song?

How long has it been since you embraced the Singer?

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His Symphony in You

Andy Wood — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 06:37:45 +0000

If you ever wanted to write a forever kind of song

That angels or children or the big choirs sing…

If you’ve ever wanted to rhyme with the heart

Of the One who bends the rainbow

And deserves even more than your finest praise…

Then make your music with a life of passion.

Spell it out with clearly with actions of love.

Dance in the reign of King of the ages.

Promise your steadfast, immovable service,

Then hold in His beautiful power your faithfulness.

Show the whole world His symphony in you.

II.

If you ever wanted to write a together kind of song

Of friends or family or heroes or darlings…

If you’ve ever wanted to love someone else in the music,

Yet knew that your most heartfelt expressions

Were still so short of all they deserve from you…

Then make your music with a life of connection.

Spell it out clearly with actions of truth.

Dance in the rain when the storms are upon you.

Promise your steadfast, encouraging friendship,

Then hold in His beautiful power your hopefulness.

Show the whole world His symphony in you.

III.

When you know from a look in the mirror your ugliness,

Failures, shortcomings, flaws and disgrace -

Yet you love with the fervor of warrior or poet…

When you know the futility of words and phrases

Yet wish for expression of spirit and truth…

Then make your music with a life of redemption,

Spell it out clearly with actions of grace.

Dance in the reins of the One who still leads you.

Promise your steadfast, abounding thanksgiving,

Then hold in His beautiful power your joyfulness.

Show the whole world His symphony in you.

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The Dance Floor

Andy Wood — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 13:20:04 +0000

Years ago Ken Medema told the story of an experience he had at a youth function in Atlanta. He had been invited to play for a youth party after church one night, and he entertained the kids with some of his old 50s love songs. After his part was over, somebody fired up the record player (yes, record player) and started playing some other music, and these church kids started to dance.

Ken remained off to the side; he had been raised in a home that forbade dancing.

Soon, however, what he called “this wallflower of a girl” approached him shyly and asked, “Would you like to dance?”

I should mention at this point that Ken is completely blind. He was horrified at the thought of being laughed out of the room for trying something so completely risky and foreign to him, and he tried to beg off.

But Miss Wallflower wasn’t taking no for an answer. And the dance was on. Ken was profoundly touched – not just by an after-church social, but by someone who risked calling him out to something he had never experienced before. And in seeing a striking parallel to his relationship with the Lord, who also has asked him to dance in His own way, he wrote the song, “She Asked Me to Dance.”

Imagine being called to a dance floor – away from the safe fringes and the familiar walls to come front-and-center and join the rhythm and melody of a Trinity who is always moving at the speed of eternity… and invites you to move with Him.

This is a dance that gives new meaning to the word, “graceful.” He invites you to join Him, not because you have something to offer Him, but because he delights in offering Himself to you, and in taking you to places you would never go otherwise.

He confronts fears you are powerless to overcome. He offers His presence when all you can see are the instructions for doing everything correctly. He promises that in this dance all things are possible to the One who knows no limits and the one who responds to his invitation to follow Him.

He reaches out to you as if there is no other soul on the planet worth waiting for. That there is no other time but now. That there is no other horizon than forever. That there is no other desire than to spend eternity with you.

There on the Dance Floor He leads you in a different kind of way. Not trapped by the rules of the self-righteous, He invites you to trust Him. To taste and see that He is good and strong and aware and kind. To rise to a different kind of intimacy with Him – one based on love, not legalities. All He asks is that you let Him lead.

“Follow Me,” He says with an outstretched hand. “Would you like to dance?”

Unforgettable… He was the coming of spring on a cold winter’s day.

Unforgettable… He taught this singer to sing in a whole new way.

Come to the Dance Floor. There as you leave the safe and predictable, you will rediscover a Partner who still knows how to take your breath away. As you let go of your fears of what you may look like in the land of the critics and copycats, you will discover a Heavenly Bridegroom who still knows how to express love to His Bride.

As you risk turning loose of the control over your life, you will discover the ultimate safety of His arms of love – that He will bear you up and won’t let you fall.

As you let go of the weariness and fatigue of living with two left feet, you will discover what you may have waited all your life to see – that in His presence there is still fullness of joy. And at His right hand, there are still pleasures – and plenty more dances – forever.

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Choosing Your Regrets

Andy Wood — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 06:49:56 +0000

Ronnie Blair spent a lifetime waiting for the perfect moment. And he never seemed to find it.

He waited to ask Lisa Crane to the Senior Prom. Ricky Styles beat him it to it. Now they’re married with two kids and a third one on the way.

He waited to apply for the college scholarship from his father’s employer; didn’t want to appear too eager, he said. He missed the deadline.

He waited for the perfect job to present itself upon graduation, and in the process passed up three good choices. He wound up taking an entry-level hourly position not even in his field.

He waited for the perfect time to ask Leanne Wilson to marry him, and to her it seemed as though he was afraid of commitment. They wound up possibly the only couple in town who got engaged as the result of an argument.

In Ronnie’s life, the pattern was always the same. His effort to find the perfect time to take a risk only masked a deep fear of getting it wrong. A fear of rejection, heartbreak, or disappointment. What his fearful heart failed to inform him, however, was that his search for the perfect time gave wings to his opportunities… and they often flew away, never to return.

Life is filled with risks and regrets, dares and disappointments. And make no mistake about it – disappointments can be brutal, and regrets can last a lifetime. But the minute you sound the retreat or crawl into the bunker to avoid one source of pain, you only invite it from a different direction.

You can decide to avoid rejection – just bottle up the love in your heart. But in doing so, you invite the larger disappointment of realizing you waited too long or wasted a good portion of your life avoiding the people you love most.

You can decide to avoid sounding foolish – just avoid talking about awkward things like faith or feelings or eternal matters. But in doing so, you invite the greater regret of losing the opportunity forever because someone died or somehow permanently left your life.

You can decide to avoid the awkwardness of reaching out to someone and having your kindness misunderstood – just don’t take initiative at all. But in doing so, you risk the greater angst of discovering that no one – ever – really showed that person genuine kindness or God’s love.

You can decide to avoid the hard, gritty work of making a relationship work – just push someone away when they’re getting too close, or keep nursing that self-pitiful offense. But in doing so, you risk the sick realization that a part of you has died with the relationship, and you could have done something to stop it.

Maybe there’s a better way.

Maybe there’s a path of regret by choice.

Maybe it’s time to decide…

…that touching the right heart is more important than finding the right moment.

…that truth spoken in clumsy love is more significant than finding the perfect words with no one left to share them with.

…that kindness and decency are more important than self-protective disclaimers.

…that being connected is more important than being right.

Maybe it’s time to decide that you don’t have time to decide…

…to wait any longer for love to be risk-free.

…to waste another second choking off the testimony of your heart.

…to keep the world at a sterile, clinical arm’s length away.

…to kill yourself slowly with pride or unforgiveness.

If you must choose your regrets, choose the ones that have you moving toward people. Far better to reach the end of your life and wonder if you could have loved too much (fat chance) than to die bitter, cold and alone, whispering, “If only….”

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The Soul-Anchoring Moment

Andy Wood — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 00:26:18 +0000

It takes time and intention, this Soul-Anchoring Moment,

And a willingness to wait for those fleeting experiences

That are tomorrow’s soul roots.

(Did I mention a willingness to wait?)

A Soul-Anchoring Moment…

Maybe it’s the possibility of holding all of your scattered grandchildren in one day.

Or a chance to hear again the sounds common to your birthplace

And sigh with satisfaction at the most trivial and most special of memories.

Maybe it’s a chance to wander through yesterday’s woods

Or boldly go toward compelling new visions…

To remember those who were planters of forever in our hearts,

Or to love familiar faces with fresh expressions of delight…

To believe again today

What you know in your heart from yesterday

And wait for in faith tomorrow…

This is the Soul-Anchoring Moment.

Time will relentlessly tick away the hours and days

In mindless busyness and ungrateful haste,

Until you intentionally come away again to that extended place of quiet rest –

Near to the heart of God –

Until you return to those places of spirit and soul

Where you find again your ability

To run and not be weary…

This is the Soul-Anchoring Moment.

It takes time-grounded faith in a forever-faithful God, this Soul-Anchoring Moment,

And a willingness to wait for a thousand sunsets if need be

For new vision, strength, and courage.

(Did I mention a willingness to wait?)

But the nourished roots and buoyed wings are so worth the wait.

Touching heart-to-Heart in mercy,

And sharing soul-to-Whole in truth…

This is the deep sigh of the satisfied heart…

This is the Soul-Anchoring Moment.

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How Long Will Your Influence Last?

Andy Wood — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 07:57:18 +0000

(From the forthcoming book, Coach Lightning)

(Note: Anybody can be an influence to people sitting right in front of them. But it takes a special kind of character to continue to shape lives you first touched 50 years ago. The following is an excerpt about the way Morris Brown did that, and how his influence lives on to this day. You can see other excerpts here and here.)

Benjamin Disraeli, the British statesman, once said, “The greatest good you can do for another is not just to share your riches, but to reveal to him his own.” That’s what you discover when you talk to the people whose lives were touched by Morris Brown. You hear the language of wealthy people. And they’ll tell you that Coach Brown was instrumental in revealing their riches to them.

One of the greatest contributions any leader, teacher, or friend can make in terms of influence is to “raise the bar” in the pursuit of excellence. Morris did that time and time again. Don Hunt calls him a “beacon in my heart and soul” to this day. From the days of Little League baseball until today, Don says, Coach Brown’s life and actions remind him to strive to be the best person that he can be.

It’s interesting to note that in all the conversations or interviews about Coach Brown’s influence, nobody went to a chalkboard and started drawing the X’s and O’s of a football locker room. Morris influenced players and students by first influencing them as people. As he helped raise up a generation of excellent people, the on-field or on-court play took care of itself.

Another important thing to notice about Coach’s influence: words always took a back seat to actions. Oh, you’ll hear the occasional story about something he would say in teasing or teaching someone. But mostly what you hear is the story of a man who led by example and influenced by action. The way Robert Earl Scruggs described it at Coach’s memorial service, Morris lived his funeral sermon in front of him for the 50 years they knew each other. “How wonderful can that be?” he asked rhetorically.

How wonderful indeed. Jill Glenn talks of the respect she had for Coach Brown and the way he conducted himself on and off the athletic fields. “I never heard him utter a curse word,” she said. “Actually, I really never heard him raise his voice. He was a quiet and gentle man with a winning smile. Coach Brown touched and influenced so many lives at Shady Grove and West Jones. He will live on in each one of their memories for the rest of their lives.”

Influence is never neutral, and it never takes place in a vacuum. Whenever people talk about influence in general, it’s always attached to something really good or painfully bad. And when people live unforgettable lives, the shape of their influence is crystal clear. Morris is proof of that. In describing his influence, Don Hunt says that Coach taught him “the importance of hard work, discipline, sacrifice, and commitment. And, especially to strive to make good decisions in life.”

Lewis Goins, who taught with Morris at Shady Grove, experienced that influence from a different angle – that of an inexperienced teacher.

Coach Brown took me under his wing as a young teacher and coach and taught me how to work with students and parents. I give him all of the credit for my success in working with students. He was an expert in the areas of discipline and encouraging students. He once said to me, “Whatever you do in dealing with students, always be fair in your dealings. If you give respect, you will get respect.” Coach was a true example for me, and most of all he was my friend who I miss a lot.

Robert Earl Scruggs calls him a finisher – a model of determination. “I don’t know if there was ever a time that Coach ever quit a race. He was quick to tell you that he never had anyone to outrun him. I can just hear him now saying to St Peter, ‘I’ll race you from here to the Golden gate. What do you say?’”

The greatest of the positive influences are forged out of the three things that the Apostle Paul said live on in us and beyond our lifetime: what we believe (faith), what we expect in the future (hope), and who we care about (love). Morris left a legacy of memories in all three areas. He was a believer – first in Christ (more on that in the next chapter), then in the people he loved, and they knew it. He influenced those around him to believe, expect, and strive for the best in their future. And the greatest, most common testimony of Coach Brown’s students, peers, friends and family: He loved. Oh, how he loved. Robert Earl Scruggs adds:

That’s what is important – those memories created out of love. Coach created a bunch and he is enjoying the fruits of his labor. I hope that you and I, because we crossed paths with Coach Morris Brown, will have the same influence, and that someday someone can say of you that you were a memory maker. And you left some memories because memories will never die. Faith, Hope, and Love. The greatest of these is love because it never fails.

It was a little silly story as Wendell Gavin described it, but one with a poignant (and pungent!) message. A man and his grandson were walking down the road when the grandson said he smelled a skunk. The Grandfather told him it wasn’t the skunk he was smelling – it was influence. “Coach Brown is gone,” Wendell said, “but his influence will be around Jones County for a long, long time.”

Don Hunt adds in his tribute a sentiment that many more would attest to: “Yes, you were my coach; in fact you are the only person in my athletic life who I feel comfortable calling you ‘my Coach.’ And, I hasten to add that you are still my coach and always will be.”

The immediate influence of a boss, friend, pastor or teacher can be felt, well, immediately. Daily contact, regular accountability, and ongoing communication keep our prime movers front-and-center on our life’s radar. It’s a completely different brand of influence, however, when an army of men and women rise up and call someone blessed after 40 or 50 years.

Oh, to live that long and longer in the lives of those we touch.

Oh, to leave that powerful a legacy.

Oh, to command that kind of influence.