Game Changers

Being married to a professional athlete and coach for almost three decades I've come to realize the distinct difference between winning and losing often doesn't show up on a scoreboard or in a box score. It shows in the bravery of the person participating.

We are in love with our current team even though we seem to loose more than we win. Recently I had to miss one of our home games to teach a class. As the game proceeded one of the wives on our team texted me a message that broke my heart. She said that there were several men behind her that were destroying her husband verbally. Muttering to themselves and everyone within their seat's vicinity that he should be fired. Although this is typical jargon at ballgames, it cuts deep when it's your husband or son that they're booing. I shot her back a text that simply said "Five smooth stones...we will see God's glory." Later that night she relayed that message to her husband. He instantly stopped and asked with full gaze "What do you think she meant by 5 smooth stones?"

Honestly, when I texted that message I didn't have any deep insight to share, I was just thinking about how David, when faced with a cocky giant breathing insults at God's army, bent down and picked up 5 smooth stones to use in his Shepard-made slingshot. He had no sophisticated weapons, no physical advantage (the giant Goliath was about 9 feet tall!)and no authentic support as everyone around him thought it was hopeless and he was a bit crazy!

I often wonder what it might have sounded like if after he picked up each smooth stone, he named them before putting them into his small pouch. Their names may have been courage, clarity, fortitude, trust, and tenacity.


Courage: The ability to face things that make you afraid

Clarity: A laser-like focus that cuts through unnecessary rubble and leaves you with direction and peace

Fortitude: A determination to push through pain or confusion until results are seen

Trust: A reliance on the God bigger than the giants we face

Tenacity: The absolute certainty that what we hope for will transpire

Last week I filled several small, clear bags with 5 smooth stones and asked Bobby to give them to a few men on our team. Sometimes we just need to get a gutsy,new perspective. Like a small Shepard facing a giant, we face the giants in our lives. And although you may not face them with people screaming at you from the seats of a stadium, the screams still resound in the messy confines of our minds. Five smooth stones can be the game changer...

Blessings!
Gari

Spirit Hunger...What are we really longing for?

Do you ever feel hungry for something that food or substance can't satisfy? Do you sense longings that seem to push and percolate their way to the surface of bland days? Lately I've been pondering this as I write my next book.

Most psychologists and sociologists agree that humanity has certain longings that are universal in nature:
1. Longing for nurture, attention and affirmation
2. Longing for purpose
3. Longing for intimacy: to hear and be heard
4. Longing for discipline

In my own life I can see how these longings have sometimes pushed me into some tight corners. Craving to be noticed and affirmed--taking on tasks I don't desire to create purpose--substituting real intimacy for fake replacements--and facilitating between being overly discipline and lacking discipline.

As I write this I'm sitting at Panera next to a table of beautiful women that look to be around 60 years old. Dressed to a tee, sharp make-up and outfits, I can tell they are old friends with history. One woman is dominating the conversation- talking about everything from her house to her dog. She's talked for about 20 minutes straight, and I don't think her friends could budge a comment in if they tried. But they seem to love this friend, or at the very least- tolerate her with respect. (I know it seems nosy that I'm talking about their conversation, but they're talking really loud for goodness sake!)

Listening to this got me thinking about longings. Maybe this chatty friend needs extra nurturing and affirmation today. Maybe she's floundering with no purpose and longs for an extra measure of intimacy today. Or, maybe she lacks the discipline to notice it's time to let someone else speak. Whatever the case- it reminds me of how God must lovingly sigh when we run from thing to thing to satisfy ourselves. It's a little like pouring water into a broken pitcher. You can pour with the greatest intention, but the water is still going to leak all over place.

I can always tell when I'm trying to pour a broken pitcher of water over my messy longings. It's then that I ask God for a filling that doesn't leak.

Blessings!
Gari