fish out of water!! (think, childhood pool games)

Marco,

in the same way that a fish has only ever known water as the world he lives in, many of us have never lived in a world without television. certainly not without a phone or radio, electricity. the observation that video messaging, mobile internet/TV, and satellite images have become no longer novel but expected... we don't live in the world that most of our good literature was written in. they wrote by candlelight with quills and I'm slapping my fingers against some keys that make letters appear on a full-color screen with capabilities beyond anything I could/would want to ever design. and yet I resound with the sentiment of their hearts, as we have the same Christ. And we strive, similarly, to love Christ as He loves us.

I believe that we've lost something that was built into those past ages. They could go home. they had no pager/cell/email/phone clamoring for their attention. they had time in their day (they couldn't avoid it) of real reflection. often times our quiet time is placed on the altar of productivity. and not just striving to make money, but sometimes in worthwhile service. I submit to you that without that quiet time of refocusing and re-examing our lives that our productivity may increase at the same rate of our soul's decrease. our portfolio expands as our heart shrivels. much is done and little is loved. countries are conquered while, well... we're better suited to drink/swim up Niagara.

our culture is greatly unlike any previous. we must glean from the past the 'crucials' and translate them and make them digestably contemporary. never water them down, but take them from parchment to the projector.

we ought not feel bad about not living in the 'good ol days' when a quiet life was easier to come by. we have been called as a people chosen to redeem the lost in this crucial day. I think that knowing the battle we must face is key. it doesn't win the battle we're losing, but it's a strategy. reclaim your time of solitude, silence, and prayer!! as hard at it may be to turn off a cell, ipod, tv and laptop all at once... i think we've got to. yes, for our sake, but moreso for those that are looking to us as His representation on earth. His is a still and small voice.

yours,
Polo

Timed Urgency

I was talking with my friend Ryan the other day, and we were reflecting on some bad news. A friend we know has a mom who's been battling cancer. Things were looking up. Now she has 4 weeks to live. This news arrived just weeks after his wedding. Ryan and I discussed the situation for a little while, grappling with how we'd embrace that reality, were it in our family or us individually. Within a few moments, we subconsciously conceded our lack of real understanding of it and talked about something we could understand a bit more. But something struck me just before the topic change.

How would I live if given a definitive time of 4 weeks?? If I could know to the minute (and that moment weren't far off), how would I spend my time? I'd encourage you to share your answer to this in a comment below.

My reaction was curious, hence it being blog-worthy. My heart sank and leapt in the same moment. I was immediately saddened in thought by what short time I'd have to tell people about the Jesus I'd be with oh so soon. Strangers, I mean. Not to mention all the people in my cell phone I never call. What a passionate, no-holds-barred, no-situation-missed, apostle to proclaim the Good News!! Can you imagine what a month that'd be? Then I was so excited that I had more than 4 weeks!! (from what I can tell, at least) To have the opportunity to live so unabashedly devout and with purpose. I was immediately bombarded with doubt and thoughts of how unrealistic it is to live like that. I mean, I'm NOT dying, y'know? So what's the urgency?

So the battles rages. Wilberforce, Luther, Edwards, etc. persevered through such doubt. They wouldn't accept a non-change. Pray with me that we could have such perspective and endurance. Let us count it all loss, compared to the all-surpassing gift of Christ. May we lay down our lives in such fashion that people would assume we haven't much of it left to work with. And that we would not seek to save our lives, but truly lose them.

I beg you to please pray with me for Dan's family.