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Tuesday
March 16, 2010 Since 1922 |
A serious wake-up call
By Luke Hales
Published November 12, 2009 Before I get too involved here, I have to point out what may be the funniest thing I’ve seen in a long, long time.
I drove by a video store yesterday here in Baytown. On the outside they always put the posters up of new releases and such. From left to right, these were the movies promoted on the store’s front:
“The Proposal.”
“Management.”
and … wait for it …
“Drag Me to Hell.”
I could not stop laughing. A lot. For at least ten minutes.
• • •
I was totally going to write a different column today. I had one in mind that I think would have been kind of funny, at least to me. I don’t know if anybody gets my jokes or not. I assume they do, as I’m told they’re not, you know, an assault on the senses or anything. I’ll take that.
But today we’re going in a different direction.
Let’s just say I had a spiritual awakening this last week. I can’t really describe it, but with the things going on in my life lately (which, might I add, aren’t exactly fun), I ran out of steam. Put more accurately, there was just too much burden for my shoulders to bear.
I’ve been called a juggernaut. I can plow through adversity with the best of them, and usually come out on top of the situation, at least sort of. And that’s quite honestly how I’ve lived my life for years. A problem appears. I look at it with kind of that cockeyed look that dogs give you when you say something they don’t understand. I blast through the problem, hoping that no problem chunks land on my head. Rinse and repeat.
Lately, however, it’s just been too much. And like I said, I hit the emotional wall. Hard.
I used to believe that God never gives you more than you can handle. I think I’ve decided that’s not exactly accurate. But the good news is that when you do have too much weight, God sends friends to help you carry the load.
I’ve always been a Christian, but I’m not exactly the head of the class. My church attendance record is less than stellar. I don’t know the names of all the minor prophets, and I can’t tell you where Bible verses come from if you read them to me. I can give you a ballpark estimate — “That’s in the Book of … um … Steve. Right?” — but that’s about it. I haven’t always done unto others like I should have.
And, quite frankly, I’ve sinned.
I can admit it. I have sinned on just about all levels of the spectrum, short of robbing a bank, starting a genocide or becoming a super-villain with a secret lair.
But that was part of the epiphany I had. See, I think there’s a lot of people who are ashamed of themselves. Actually, I know it. And some of those people don’t think they fit into the cookie-cutter Christian image that seems to permeate our culture.
But the more I thought about it, Jesus didn’t hang out with the folks who already had it together. Let’s take a look at his crew: A prostitute, a tax collector, some rabble-rousing fishermen, and a whole bunch of other flawed individuals. These folks weren’t necessarily well-read; I doubt they got around to studying the Jewish laws all the time. And it sounds like they may have had some less-than positive reviews in their permanent records. And yet they were the ones chosen to follow the Son of God around.
And that means that I, in all my flawedness, can do the same thing.
That’s pretty darn cool.
Coming back to what I was saying before, not only do I get to consider myself in good (bad? ) company, but there’s a lot of others just like me looking out for their own. They’re not cookie-cutter Christians — more like counter-culture ones — but I have seen wonders lately. Even more amazing is how these people come out of the woodwork in one’s time of need. It’s as if, when one asks for help, it’s not even a necessary call; there they are.
I’m not by any means trying to devalue those who do fit the mold; in fact, I have a lot of respect for people who make time each and every Sunday for prayer and fellowship. I’m just saying that there’s a lot more to faith than perfect attendance, and those people know it. Going to church (temple, synagogue, mosque, etc.) without practicing the code you follow is like learning to drive then playing demolition derby in rush hour traffic. Having a license doesn’t make you a good driver. That comes with experience, fender-benders, speeding tickets, and ultimately reaching the point where driving — like faith — becomes such a part of you that you don’t even think about it.
See how I did that right there? I tied it all together. I’m kind of surprised myself.
So what was this awakening I had? It was a pretty basic understanding, but one that we sometimes need to be reminded of. God and I had a conversation. I told Him that I was having a rough time of it, and that I needed a little help. And sure enough, help came in droves. And I figured out that, even with my track record, I don’t have to live with guilt. I got someone in my corner. And He’s big.
To quote that old classic tune, Jesus is just all right with me.
And I’m pretty sure that I’m okay with him, too.
Luke Hales is the assistant managing editor for The Baytown Sun.
Published November 12, 2009 Before I get too involved here, I have to point out what may be the funniest thing I’ve seen in a long, long time.
I drove by a video store yesterday here in Baytown. On the outside they always put the posters up of new releases and such. From left to right, these were the movies promoted on the store’s front:
“The Proposal.”
“Management.”
and … wait for it …
“Drag Me to Hell.”
I could not stop laughing. A lot. For at least ten minutes.
• • •
I was totally going to write a different column today. I had one in mind that I think would have been kind of funny, at least to me. I don’t know if anybody gets my jokes or not. I assume they do, as I’m told they’re not, you know, an assault on the senses or anything. I’ll take that.
But today we’re going in a different direction.
Let’s just say I had a spiritual awakening this last week. I can’t really describe it, but with the things going on in my life lately (which, might I add, aren’t exactly fun), I ran out of steam. Put more accurately, there was just too much burden for my shoulders to bear.
I’ve been called a juggernaut. I can plow through adversity with the best of them, and usually come out on top of the situation, at least sort of. And that’s quite honestly how I’ve lived my life for years. A problem appears. I look at it with kind of that cockeyed look that dogs give you when you say something they don’t understand. I blast through the problem, hoping that no problem chunks land on my head. Rinse and repeat.
Lately, however, it’s just been too much. And like I said, I hit the emotional wall. Hard.
I used to believe that God never gives you more than you can handle. I think I’ve decided that’s not exactly accurate. But the good news is that when you do have too much weight, God sends friends to help you carry the load.
I’ve always been a Christian, but I’m not exactly the head of the class. My church attendance record is less than stellar. I don’t know the names of all the minor prophets, and I can’t tell you where Bible verses come from if you read them to me. I can give you a ballpark estimate — “That’s in the Book of … um … Steve. Right?” — but that’s about it. I haven’t always done unto others like I should have.
And, quite frankly, I’ve sinned.
I can admit it. I have sinned on just about all levels of the spectrum, short of robbing a bank, starting a genocide or becoming a super-villain with a secret lair.
But that was part of the epiphany I had. See, I think there’s a lot of people who are ashamed of themselves. Actually, I know it. And some of those people don’t think they fit into the cookie-cutter Christian image that seems to permeate our culture.
But the more I thought about it, Jesus didn’t hang out with the folks who already had it together. Let’s take a look at his crew: A prostitute, a tax collector, some rabble-rousing fishermen, and a whole bunch of other flawed individuals. These folks weren’t necessarily well-read; I doubt they got around to studying the Jewish laws all the time. And it sounds like they may have had some less-than positive reviews in their permanent records. And yet they were the ones chosen to follow the Son of God around.
And that means that I, in all my flawedness, can do the same thing.
That’s pretty darn cool.
Coming back to what I was saying before, not only do I get to consider myself in good (bad? ) company, but there’s a lot of others just like me looking out for their own. They’re not cookie-cutter Christians — more like counter-culture ones — but I have seen wonders lately. Even more amazing is how these people come out of the woodwork in one’s time of need. It’s as if, when one asks for help, it’s not even a necessary call; there they are.
I’m not by any means trying to devalue those who do fit the mold; in fact, I have a lot of respect for people who make time each and every Sunday for prayer and fellowship. I’m just saying that there’s a lot more to faith than perfect attendance, and those people know it. Going to church (temple, synagogue, mosque, etc.) without practicing the code you follow is like learning to drive then playing demolition derby in rush hour traffic. Having a license doesn’t make you a good driver. That comes with experience, fender-benders, speeding tickets, and ultimately reaching the point where driving — like faith — becomes such a part of you that you don’t even think about it.
See how I did that right there? I tied it all together. I’m kind of surprised myself.
So what was this awakening I had? It was a pretty basic understanding, but one that we sometimes need to be reminded of. God and I had a conversation. I told Him that I was having a rough time of it, and that I needed a little help. And sure enough, help came in droves. And I figured out that, even with my track record, I don’t have to live with guilt. I got someone in my corner. And He’s big.
To quote that old classic tune, Jesus is just all right with me.
And I’m pretty sure that I’m okay with him, too.
Luke Hales is the assistant managing editor for The Baytown Sun.