Genuine Passion

Yesterday, I went to Whole Foods to do some reading. As I was just getting settled in my book, I noticed a young guy sitting across from me. He was staring at everyone in the room with an inquisitive look on his face. I shrugged it off and continued reading and then the phone conversations started.

"I've got to tell you about this thing that has completely changed my life," he said quite loudly. "This has been such a blessing to me and I can't wait to share it with everyone. It makes me feel so good that I can help people completely change their life." At this point, he had my interest. Was I about to hear someone's testimony right there in Whole Foods?

He went on to explain how amazing this life change has been and that if they are ready he will reveal to them what the secret is. Apparently the person on the other end of the phone wasn't quite ready so instead he made a lunch appointment with the person for later in the week.

I noticed that he had a jug full of water with him. The only other person I have seen carrying a milk jug full of water was body builders. "Mark, hey it's Brian. It's been a long time! How ya been?" He started his next conversation. This went on for quite sometime until he found someone who wanted to know the secret right then and there over the phone.

"If you are really ready to hear it, I will tell you the secret. You just stop me when you have to go, cause I can talk about this all day long. Are you ready? You sure? Ok... it's.... water. Yep. Water." He went on to explain that drinking this water has healed him and has given him this unexplainable joy. There's this machine that he bought that converts regular water into this new water that heals all kinds of disabilities. He says it's on the cutting edge and that soon it will spread like wildfire.

At this point I realized that this is probably a pyramid scheme and laughed to myself. I was pretty sure that once you tried out the miracle water and felt better that the next step was to purchase the expensive machine and then go and try to sell others the machine and the person who sold to you gets a percentage of all the machines you sell, etc.

Then it hit me. This person believed in his product. He couldn't wait to tell people. He took the product with him wherever he went. I'm sure he faced some apprehension about telling someone that "water" will heal their pain and give them joy, but he did it anyway. He called his product his "blessing."

Now, I am not advocating we treat the saving grace of Jesus as a product. I realize that money probably fueled this man's passion about water, but the way he spoke about it broke my heart.

I know unspeakable joy. I know true healing power. I know a love that can't be put into words. And there I sit. Quietly and to myself. Not sharing the blessing that changed my life with anyone.

My "jug of water" goes with me everywhere also. It's up to me if I decide to share it.

View from the wheelbarrow.

A circus performer named Blondin stretched a long cable across Niagara Falls. During high winds and without a safety net, this man would walk, prance and dance across the wire. He then asked the crowd gathered, "Do you believe I can walk a tight rope across the Falls?" They all replied, "Yes." They had already seen him do it.

Then he pushed a wheel barrow on a tight rope across Niagara Falls. When he completed the feat, he asked the onlookers, "Do you believe I can walk a tight rope across the Falls pushing a wheel barrow?" To that they replied unanimously, "Yes." Because they saw him do that too.

Finally, a buddy of the tight rope walker climbs into the wheel barrow and the tight rope walker pushes him across the Falls. Wow, what a daring feat! When they finished, the tight rope walker asked the crowd, "Do you believe I can walk a tight rope across the Falls pushing a wheel barrow with a person in it?" To that they exclaimed, "Yes!" For they were now believers and had seen him do it!

Then he looked at the crowd and asked, "Ok, Who's next?"

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Two weeks ago I took a little trip by myself to a cabin in East Tennessee. I wanted to get away and do some reading and spend some time alone with God. I spent some time in the sun and also reading and it was a great recharge, but an encounter with God in the middle of the kitchen floor is what I will always remember.

I started to get honest with God about some things. I wanted to know why my prayers weren't being answered, why my heart was still being broken, why I have so much uncertainty about my job and why I couldn't get a definite answer on anything. It was a real pity party and I was the party planner.

I felt the question, "Do you trust me?". Yes, yes of course I do. "No... do you trust the plans I have for you?". Yes...I do. I don't know what they are, but I trust you. "Will you follow me where I lead?". Right then and there I knew I had come to a crossroads. I decided then that I was either going to stand up from the kitchen floor and live my life for myself and leave behind all this suffering and uncertainty of my life or I was going to stand up and know without a doubt that I would follow Christ wherever he leads.

To be honest, it wasn't an automatic decision. I wish I could be the perfect Christian and tell you that I knew immediately. No, it hurt to say "Lord, wherever you lead...I will follow. I surrender my life and career to you."

That was on a Friday. On Monday, I lost my job.

I wish I could tell you I knew where this wheelbarrow is going, but I am not the one pushing it. I do know this though. Below me is a deep valley of doubt, depression and fear and I am safely above it in the arms of a Savior.

"Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see." - Hebrews 11:1