Lessons from the road

Since we left Oregon 12 days ago, I’ve been reflecting on the lessons I’ve learned from the experience of leaving one ministry and starting another. I have three thoughts for you, and I’d love to hear what you think. In the comments, share with us the lessons you’ve learned through the transitions you’ve experienced in life.

1. Don’t wait to say “thank you”: As we were preparing to leave Salem, I had a lot of “thank you’s” I needed to express. I crammed in as many as I could before our departure, I’ve sent a few more since we left and I know there are many that never were expressed. It made me wonder: Why did I wait until my departure to say these things? Why was it so obvious to me to express my appreciation, thanks and love as I left town, but not so obvious while I was in town? I want to be more thankful and more expressive of that thanks in the future. Waiting until another transition robs people of the joy they deserve and assumes I know the future! Goodbyes are a great time to reinforce what you’ve already been sharing. I was so blessed as we left Salem, because so much of what people shared with us, they had shared with us before -- it made their parting sentiments even more valuable. I want to be like that in my life. 
2. Get rid of stuff often: Now that we’ve experienced that process of reducing our lives to just 40 square feet of trailer space, I can’t wait to find ways to not fill up our house again! It’s not that stuff is evil -- it’s just that stuff can get so distracting. Big or small, stuff can really distract us from Overboard Living. Deciding to sell our house, while not buying a new one here in Michigan, was a really hard decision -- but the freedom has been amazing! We have donated more stuff to Goodwill, our church, our friends and to total strangers in the past three months, than we had in the16 years prior. It is awesome to give stuff to people who will benefit from it, and to know that you won’t ultimately miss it. It’s also amazing how little we actually need. I thought I’d miss some things that I haven’t thought twice about since we got rid of them (yes, I’m talking about my beloved G.I. Joe action figures!).
3. People remember the small stuff: My friend Jeromy shared something at church, during a testimony time held on our last day. He mentioned a time when he was really struggling as a husband, and hadn’t been apart of church much. During that season, Traci and I had been meeting weekly with his wife and on one particular Sunday, he decided to start giving church another try. When he walked in the door, he commented how uncomfortable he was, and when he saw Traci, he was sure she’d snub him (due to his faulty perceptions about what our meetings with his wife were about). Instead, Traci walked across the foyer and gave him a hug, expressing her thankfulness that he was at church that day. Five years later -- Jeromy still remembers that simple act. Over the past several months, we’ve been bombarded with people’s memories of hugs, letters, emails, texts, meals, tears and silence (when we just sat and said nothing while they unloaded or cried or sat numb from some loss). When we give ourselves to share life with others, the small details make all the difference. It reminds me of Paul's words in Colossians 3:17: "And whatever you do, whether in word in or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father, through Him." That "everything" includes the small stuff!

What have you learned through your transitions? I’ve learned a lot through this last transition, and as a result I know want to:

1. Say “Thank you” and “I love you” more often.
2. Purge my garage more frequently.
3. Take the time to do the small stuff -- it really matters!

Go ahead and take plunge -- life is better on the water!

New cars, mayhem and sex: lessons from Superbowl commercials

Yesterday’s Superbowl was a fun game to watch as a football fan. It had a lot of sports drama, some great action on the field, the officials called a consistent game and the winner was unknown until the clock hit 00:00.

As usual, I also found myself enjoying most of the commercials. In fact, this morning I though I’d offer up a few reflections about Overboard living from the Superbowl, based on what I saw during the commercial breaks.

1.  We love our stuff. Why are companies willing to pay $4,000,000 for a :30 second TV spot? Because they know we love our stuff. Cowboys, bikers and showgirls all racing to a Coke mirage is worth $16,000,000 in advertising because Coke knows we love our drinks! Cute babies in space, families having an awesome play date and a boy stealing a kiss at the prom is worth $12,000,000 because Kia, Audi and Hyundai know we love our stuff! (It worked on me. My wife and I will need a new vehicle in the next year or two and now we’re seriously looking at the new 7 passenger Santa Fe!)

The thing is, stuff is fine, but if we want to live the Overboard Life, we must be willing to live with stuff in its proper place in our lives. It’s so easy to let stuff take over, for stuff to become what matters most and to lose sight of the remarkable life God has for us. As we are packing for our move to Michigan, we are realizing just how much stuff we have and just how much we love our stuff. Selling, donating and throwing stuff away has already proved to be invaluable for our family, and we have a long way to go. But it’s good to have a season of making stuff less important, so that what is important can center stage.

2.  Someone at Allstate Insurance is a theologian! Did you see the Mayhem commercial? Wow! The Mayhem character has been interesting over the past couple of years, but during the Superbowl, Allstate gave us a theological lesson in Mayhem’s origin. Starting in the Garden of Eden, Allstate showed us that Mayhem’s origin (Adam and Eve’s original sin) has reeked havoc throughout history. Wars, natural disasters and political conflicts (including a humorous bit about a gift horse!) all the way down to car accidents, home disasters and replacement refs (ha ha) is a result of sin. (Or in this case, Mayhem).

[youtube=http://youtu.be/zjh2izUb0L8]

They nailed it. The consequences of sin are felt every day in this world. When we live Overboard, we are choosing to live remarkably, by God’s power, overcoming sin’s power. We don’t have it in us alone to live apart from our own flesh’s desire to sin, but with God’s help we can be victorious over sin and Mayhem!

3.  Sex still sells products. There were a couple of commercials that continue to prove that sex is still a great weapon in the arsenal of advertisers. It’s a sad reflection on our culture, though. Consider this: the Superbowl has become the largest sex trafficking event in the U.S. I read one story about a woman who was kidnapped (here in the U.S.!) and forced into the sex trade. She said on Superbowl weekend she would be asked to sleep with 20-25 men a night or face severe torture from her pimp. Often she was beaten, usually she was raped repeatedly for her “failure” to deliver. She said the worst punishment was having to watch the other women be tortured when they failed.

Sex is a beautiful gift from God, a true treasure given to mankind, that when used for the wrong purposes, has a powerful corrupting element to it. When you live the Overboard Life, you must choose virtuous living that opposes immorality and advocates for those who are oppressed by it. We cannot live Overboard and ignore the plight of those in need of justice and mercy. And of course, the greatest mercy we offer is sharing the love of Jesus Christ who shed His blood for our sins, that we might get to live eternally with Him in a perfect and Just future home.

I’m getting rid of more stuff. I’m trying hard to trust God for victory over sin. And I want to be used by God to bring justice where there is none, and to share the light of Jesus in the deepest places of darkness. I know I have a lot of growing to do, but I'm in process. What about you?

Go ahead and take the plunge, life is better on the water!