It is that time of year. Mother's day has come and gone and in Ohio it is now safe less risky to plant your garden.
This year Gina and I are going all out. In fact, we purchased a garden tiller and tripled the size of our grow zone.
This year's line up includes
Corn
Yes, corn! come on, this is Ohio!
Tomatoes
Green Pepper
Jalepenos
Green Onion
Carrots
Lettuce
Cucumber
Watermelon
With the absolute perfect garden growing weather we have had in Columbus this Spring everything has taken off. We look forward to the thrill of enjoying and share all of the goods that God will grace us with this summer.
Gina was pulling weeds yesterday when something caught her eye. She is meticulous in her planting (as noted by the tape measure in the picture above) and when she noticed a plant spring forth "out of line" it caught attention. No, it was not a weed; it was simply a volunteer tomato plant (two of them in fact, side by side).
Tonight, I took a few minutes to go out to the garden and check in on everything (because I am extremely impatient). I'm not sure why I look at the garden everyday. I know each plant has only grown millimeters over night but it just fascinates me to no end that something so small can become something so great.
As I studied each plant I looked at the two little green plants growing out of line. In that moment, I was Wonderstruck. If you have been reading you know this is the word used by Margaret Feinberg in her latest book to define the moments in life when our sense are awaken to the nearness of God. He is with us everyday and nature is screaming out his existence and closeness in our world.
We are often so busy that we don't pay him much attention. Wonderstruck. This really is a simple word but it has caused me to stop. breathe. and recognize that moments in life are not just moments. Often, God is speaking to you and I through are natural experiences each day. Of course God uses scripture to penetrate our hearts, to comfort and correct, to satisfy and sanctify. But we must not miss the little moments in every day when God, through his creation, reminds us of his care for us.
These little volunteer tomatoes did just that.
In that moment I felt God say this.
"In life you are like this plant. There will be seasons when you are a seed that lies dormant under a dark, cold, and dreary place of isolation. You will feel forgotten. You will feel unacceptable, thrown out to rot and die. Your life will seem worthless. You will feel trapped, weighed down by the pressures and harshness of the earth. This seed lay in isolation and darkness for an entire winter season and the world will look at this seed and say, "It is dead, there is nothing good that can come from this seed". The world probably did not even know this seed existed. It had no identity and value to the world. Know this. I am your God. I love you and I am with you even in the midst of this darkness. What everybody else counts as worthless, I value. I can breathe life into anything I choose. I am the author of life. Believe in me. Trust me. I make all things new and can use anybody that has faith. Rise up little seed. Rise to the heavens. Be bold. Do not listen to fear. Listen to my voice and rise to me. Like this little seed your story has a purpose. This seed carries the ability to share life giving nutrients and so your story also carries the message of life. You were lost but I found you. You were alone and I am with you. You were dead and needed life and I gave it to you...share this love."
What about you? Have you been Wonderstruck in your garden? What have you learned about the love of God in the garden this year?
When I was a young boy I used to love art. I still enjoy it but it definitely is not a high on my priorities during this season of my life.
As a child I would absolutely love watching the incredible American painter and TV host Bob Ross make happy little scenes, with happy little trees by happy little rivers. It was a happy time and every tree had a little friend. "Everyone needs a friend" you know.
I remember, very vividly watching (probably completely obvlivious to the world around me) Ross swirl around paint on his palette and gently lift just the right amount of paint off with a brush. He would slowly make simply stroke that seemed to fall effortlessly onto the canvas. He made it so simple and as I watch I remember even more vividly this thought going through my mind...
"I can do that"
The best part of this thought, in that moment, is that I actually believed it!
I literally believed, without a hint of doubt, that I could match the patient skill, stroke for stroke, of Bob Ross by simply watching a couple of episodes of The Joy of Painting.
20 years later.....
Maxton, my 3.5 year old, absolutely loves gymnastics and he does not even know what that word means yet. He loves cartwheels and tumbling and especially standing on his hands. a lot. Today I got home from work and we had a 15 minute conversation while he was staring at me upside down.
Before every drop of blood rushed to his head I told him I want to show him something. So we headed over the the laptop and I asked him if he likes gymnastics.
"nope" he said.
"Do you know what that is?" I asked
"nope" he replied again.
I turned on the laptop and headed over to Youtube, the place any good father takes his son to teach him a lesson. and showed him this video.
At first I thought he was stunned at what he was witnessing, but right there, right in the middle when the guy just sticks a quadruple back flipimmajig Max looks me right in the eyes and boldly declares to all of the witnesses in the room
"I can do that"
The best part of this was that in that moment he actually believed it!
I love that about kids. I wish that we could all have that kind of confidence about our dreams. I wish that we didnt listen to fear so much. I wish we had people so passionate about changing the world and doing good for others that they the believed they could solve life's biggest problems. Listen...
If you want to go to Central Africa say..."I can do that"
If you want to adopt a child say...."I can do that"
If you want to change careers at age 45 say...."I can do that"
If you want to develop a plan to get water to every person in the world say..."I can do that"
If you want to go to college say..... "I can do that"
If you want to walk across the street and meet a neighbor say..... "I can do that"
If you want to end the sexual slave trade say...."I can do that"
If you want to get out of debt say..... "I can do that"
If you want to save yourself for marriage say..... "I can do that"
If you have desire to go back to school say.. "I can do that"
If you want to write a book say ... "I can do that"
There is something in your heart stirring to get out. You have a dream and passion to make this world better than when you started. You have to decide to pursue it.
Will there be setbacks? of course
Will you fail? absoluetely
Will fear (and maybe even friends) tell you not to do it? no doubt
Will it take a lot of time? anything important does
Will you doubt it? probably everyday Will you actually do it? Maybe
Maybe. That seems anti-climatic but its the truth.
I would be a fool to tell you that you will achieve 100% of your dreams!The reality is that you might not. But you must realize that you just might. "What if" is such a cool place to think about.
What if we did cure cancer. What if you did write an all time best seller What if every child in the world could go to school What if people accepted everybody regardless of choices they made. What if nobody had to worry about where clean water would come from.
The road to success of "What if" always leads through maybe. You will never achieve a dream or change the world turning away from "Maybe". You will never reach the goal by going to the valley of "I can't".
One final thought...honestly, sometimes you can't. again that's the truth. A 5 Gallon bucket can never ever hold 6 gallons. We all have limits. If "I can't" creeps into the landscape of your life remember than when "I can't" remember you are not alone and "We can".
In life you will have troubles, difficulties and struggle. Do not deny the pain or miss the lesson to learn through hardship. When you walk through darkness the light will always seem much more beautiful. There are plenty of people in the world who are going through the same if not more difficult situations. Do not deny it but do not add to the gloom of this world if you can help it.
Be a light that shines bright for all to see.
Give people hope and joy.
See the good in life and bring attention to it.
There is something about a person smiling that changes anothers perspective, it may even save their life.
You may not be able to remove the pain from a person's life but you can give them a dose of happiness if even for a moment. Smile.
Smile. That's all it takes. It's contagious and will melt a heart of stone. Give it to the world and give it often!
These ideas will release imagination and creativity in our mind, having the potential to solve problems and help the world in a thousand different ways.
People will say that because something is done well (a playground with a freaking sweet climbing wall for example) that you should stop improving it or thinking beyond it. Don't Listen to these voices. Most won't even think about it. Most will be happy just to go up and down the wall; obediently getting in line to place your hands and feet where somebody else tells you to on the wall. Don't settle for what has been already created, go deeper with ideas.
Never stop seeing the world from a different Angle. Your angle. You are the only one in the world who can see the world, and all it's problems and oppurtunities,with your perspective. Just maybe your perspective is the one that will solve a major dilemma in the world.
Be like Max.
Max says, "That's a cool climbing wall, but look over there. Mt. Everest needs to be scaled! I can do it! Oh sweet look at this rope that just happened to be lying around waiting to be used to scale the side of this mountain."
I love that about kids; they get a toy for their birthday and inevitably they turn to the box and the endless adventures it will provide as a rocket ship, doll house, or submarine!
We can learn so much from this.
When presented with a new shiny completed toy a child will often go for the empty box. In our soul, our nature calls to us, tells us or pulls us to create. From our inner being we strive to innovate, push the limits, dream big about what could be.
Don't stop dreaming.
Don't stop creating.
Don't stop innovating.
The world needs you to be passionate about something. The world is waiting for you to create something. The world wants to know what you are bringing to the table of life.
Prayer
is not like a gumball machine; you don't just put in the time and
something always happens in a "winner with every play" kind of
way...sometimes though...
Sometimes God shows up just to say "I'm listening". He's a good dad like that.
We changed are dress code at work to business casual...just in time for flip flop weather.
Crap I need dress clothes...off to the thrift store.
"God, I know its dumb to ask you for cheap clothes, because, well...
I'm going to the thrift store. Quit laughing at me God. But yeah I
really need some pants so if you could help me out that would be great"
30 minutes later...
Walking out of the thrift store with 3 pair of Express paints.
All three brand new WITH THE TAG. All three the perfect size. All three different a color...God knows I like variety :) All three originally 59.99 and I got them for 6.99 (they were marked down from 8.99)
Thank you God...I love that you always listen
* * * * *
That is a fun and simple illustration of a relationship with a God that listens but I had this experience in a deeper way a few weekends ago.
I went to a wedding and for some reason all around me the voices of people flooded my ears. I'm not sure what it was but I just kept hearing the heart of people. God was teaching me a lesson.
What I heard was.
-A beautiful bride excited about this new adventure...thankful for a godly husband.
-An exuberantgroom thrilled to join her on this journey...overwhelmed with gratitude for a bride that loves Jesus.
-A father thankful to have a son with character he had...The groom was a twin and the dad told me, "Sometimes when God makes a good one like like that, he has to make two of them" loved that.
-A young man struggling to find his path in life.
-A young (single) man being pressed to answer relationship questions he clearly did not want to.
-A brother and a sister hurting because of changing relationships.
-A beautiful, strong, mother and wife being found byGod and discovering his presence amidst the pages ofWonderstruck.
There were so many more stories I heard but these are the few that I remember.
The rest of the stories I forgot. And that is the point.
I was going to write this post that same weekend, proving pretending to the world that I am a good listener. Even if I would have sat down and wrote everything I remembered that weekend I still would have forgot many of the stories I heard because I have limitations. I am so thankful for a limitless God.
Are you not glad that God is near?
Are you not overwhelmed by the fact that God listens?
Are you not left with WONDER that God knows and remembers all of your needs?
He hears your voice.
Do you hear his?
"My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me." - Jesus
As you listen to Him and get to know him I can guarantee you will be left Wonderstruck by the presence of God in your life.
Welcome His present reality.
Open your heart to Him.
Never leave His arms.
Dance with Joy at His Goodness.
Enjoy His creation.
Rely on His strength.
Spend time with him.
Take a walk with Him.
Remember His love for you.
Unlock the mysteries of His grace.
Call on Him in every season.
Know that he is listening.
* * * * *
This post and the Wonderstruck element of my blog this year was inspired by author Margaret Feinberg who recently released her newest book Wonderstruck!
You have a dream to be awesome but like myself and almost every other person who has ever existed we have settled for average. As kids we used to dream big dreams and believe we would achieve what we set out to achieve. You know how I know we have lost that way of thinking?
Right now you have tuned me out. In your mind you are saying:
"This guy, Phil whatever, is a joke! Nobody thinks they can be awesome. Nobody strives for that."
Along the way fear crept in and hijacked your dream (and mine).
Today is the day we take back our dreams.
Today when fear stands ferociously calling your name like the furnace...
Ha, ha, ha. Hello, Kevin. Ha, ha, ha. Ha, ha, ha. Hello, Phil. Ha, ha, ha. Ha, ha, ha. Hello, Jon. Ha, ha, ha. Ha, ha, ha. Hello, Insert your name. Ha, ha, ha.
Stand up tall. Gaze straight back at those tiny, wimpy, little evil eyes and say "Shut up"
Throw out an imaginary punch too....Baam!
You just punch fear in the face!
Baam! (sorry had to take another one.)
Seriously, do it, you will feel like a beast!
After you have punched fear in the face (a couple of times) the next step to reclaiming your dream of becoming awesome is:
Go buy Jon Acuff's new book! RELEASED TODAY!!!!
Start: Punch Fear in the Face, Escape Average and Do Work that Matters [Hardcover]
(Seriously, buy the hardcover, you can't hit fear over the head with the kindle edition...BAAM!)
