30. July 2008 by BruceSmith.

On my way to buy a new pair of shoes…for my daughter (an outing which turned into more than a pair of shoes, as it always does) we were struck by a sobering reminder of the fragility of life.

With the summer drawing to an end and the school supply list looming, I set out with my youngest daughter to do a little school prep shopping.  Thinking we would just do shoes on this occasion, and perhaps a new school bag, we headed out on an expedition to her favorite store, some forty-five minutes away.  On the way, as I was deep in thought, thinking about whatever it was I was thinking about, and as my daughter was in the back seat of the gas-guzzling SUV watching a movie, traffic on the Interstate came to an abrupt halt.  We crawled through miles of traffic for some thirty minutes until we finally figured out what the problem was.

Usually, on this stretch of highway, such slowdowns are the result of road construction or some debris on the highway.  On this day, however, the halt in traffic was the result of a more difficult reality.  As we were making our way down the highway, headed west, it became clear that no vehicles were now traveling east.  Sure enough, as we finally got up to the problem area, we saw what had taken place.  A pile-up of several cars had everyone headed east at a complete stop, and it had captured the attention of everyone headed west and just about shut down the flow of traffic on our side.

As we got closer to the accident we noticed just how bad it was.  I have seen a good number of highway pile-ups in my lifetime, but I cannot recall seeing one that told a more sad story.  It was clear, driving next to the wreckage, that in all likelihood, very few, if anyone, actually survived.  Each car that was part of the disaster was totally mangled and charred.  At the back end of several cars was an eighteen-wheeler, with much damage, that had clearly run into everyone ahead.  The cars, trucks, and SUVs were in such a twisted mess that I did not want to imagine how the rescue workers even got people out.

As we continued our drive, my daughter and I prayed aloud for anyone that may have survived and for the families of those who may have been lost.  After we finished praying, I spent the rest of the drive reflecting on just how quickly our lives can be changed.  The scriptures tell us that “life is but a vapor”.  We are here today and then gone in an instant.  I cherished the remainder of the day with my daughter as we shopped till we dropped, and thoroughly enjoyed the day.

I witnessed this incident after having spent several days reading and considering the words of Ecclesiastes.  Essentially, the book is about all that life “offers” us, and the meaninglessness of all that is separated from a God-centered perspective.  All the pleasures, accomplishments, desires, dreams, pains, loss, and the mundane…all of it, is meaningless, ultimately without purpose, if God does not permeate it all.  In the end what do we have if we have not walked with and known our Creator intimately?  As the scriptures say in another passage, “What does it profit a man to gain the world and yet lose his soul?”  Our bodies can be taken in an instant, and our souls remain to give an account to God.

As the impression of that wreckage remains with me, I am more keenly aware of the words which bring the book of Ecclesiastes to a close.  These last two verses, whether we like it or not, whether we acknowledge them or not, sum up this journey we call life.  Here are the words we must all keep central in our lives as we experience all that life brings us,

The end of the matter; all has been heard.  Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.  For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil. (12:13,14)

A knowledge of God, and intimacy with Him–this is the whole of the matter.  This is the purpose of life in a nutshell.  When our lives are drawn to a close, this will be the thing which makes all the difference.  May we live as if it is what makes the difference now.  Aside from a life-giving walk with Him nothing this life brings our way can fulfill us.  Our lives are indeed but a vapor.  Consider the brevity of life, and the nature of your walk with God.  If we are here today let us count it a gift for we are not promised tomorrow.

Grace and Peace,

Bruce Smith

optimuslife.org

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29. July 2008 by BruceSmith.

The new Think Out Loud podcast is up at wgso.com.  This week Bruce interviewed singer/songwriter Tammy Trent whose story is one of love and loss.  On Sept. 10, a day before 9/11, she watched in horror as her high school sweetheart and husband of 11 years dove in the waters of Jamaica and never re-surfaced.  A day later, 9/11 heightened the terror in her heart, and she felt as if the entire world were coming apart at the seams.  Hear her inspiring story of faith and hope amidst the pain on the podcast.

Here is the link:

http://wgso.com/content/view/7307/172/Bruce also interviews Mr. Lousiana Politics, Jeff Crouere and looks at Bobby Jindal’s performance so far as well as the Obama hype in light of his recent trip abroad.  Its a fun, insightful talk with one of Louisiana’s most engaging political commentators.

Optimuslife.org

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25. July 2008 by BruceSmith.

Dear Bruce,

What does a person do when despite all efforts to do good, be a friend, sacrifice, and otherwise put someone else first, they are yet perceived incorrectly and mistreated by someone they cared about?

How do we keep “turning the other cheek” when the person we offer our cheek to seems only to enjoy slapping us around?  At what point does a person stand up for what is right, and protect themselves from the abusive words or behavior of others?  Is there a time to say, “Enough is enough!”?

Please, give me some help here.

Brooke

Brooke,

We are, indeed, encouraged in the scriptures to “Turn the other cheek”.  We are also admonished to forgive not just seven times, but “Seventy times seven” which really means…keep doing it.  We are also told to “Live at peace with everyone as much as it depends upon you.”  That means, frankly, sometimes no matter how hard we try, the other guy/gal just does not want to live at peace with us.  So, the trick is to find which situation you are in and act accordingly.

In some situations, after careful thought and consideration the “heaping of burning coals” approach is the way to go.  That is to say, sometimes kindness will finally get that knucklehead’s attention.  At other times, after repeated attempts to demonstrate your care for someone and your desire to live at peace, you just have to say, “I am done with this…you refuse to allow me to make any progress in this situation…we cannot interact like this any more.  I am through until you are willing to help make things better.”

You have to be willing to be sensitive to God’s leading and truly honest with yourself as to what is going on so you can know which way to go.  At times our emotions, fears, urges, and pride can drive our desire to act certain ways.  Those realities can lead us to continue the fight when it should have been ended long ago.

At other times, our fears, insecurities, false humility, and emotional weakness can keep us from being as bold as we ought to be in a given situation.  Sometimes a straightforward telling of the truth is the only way to go.  Often this is what a person needs.  While not easy at first it can help people come to terms with important issues that are affecting their lives.

I have been in both situations and have seen God do really neat things when I took His way through the ordeal.  Not too long ago I stuck with a situation in which I knew I had to keep persevering and keeping taking the blows until something broke…and it finally did.  A relationship was healed and a friendship was maintained.  I was a little sore after the floggings, but I was a better person at the end of it for having endured the situation.

I also recently had to very forthrightly tell someone that they were way off base, totally misinterpreting a situation, and that their behavior was jeopardising our relationship, communication, and fellowship with God.  I have had to do this in the context of relationships, business, ministry, and parenting.  Being a confrontation-averse person by nature, its not always easy, but I always see God’s hand at work when I step up and do it His way.

So, figure out, with God’s leading, which kind of situation you are in.  Be aware of what you are bringing to the situation whether good or bad.  Exercise a little cheek courage where its needed or “man up” on the tough love thing a bit if that’s the play.  Either way, as you step out appropriately, chances are that you and the relationship will be strengthened.  After you have done all you can, and can rest before God knowing you gave it all to Him, then if the other person does not make the same progress…that’s not your responsibility.

Go get em,

Bruce Smith

optimuslife.org

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24. July 2008 by BruceSmith.

Below, is a testimony on “Learning how to live” from a man most of us know through his radio shows and his work in the White House.  Having had the pleasure of meeting him, I thought he was a unique guy.  I did not realize just how deeply his faith was embedded in his heart.  Sometimes, our toughest moments, our most severe challenges, are the very things which demonstrate who we really are.

Tony Snow, recently deceased, left us this profound writing on the nature of living.  I would encourage you to consider that one can actually embrace these truths without the fear of death right at hand.  Indeed, there have been periods in my own life when I have tasted this kind of quality of life in a very tangible sense.  All of us, powered by the grace of God, can tune our hearts, minds and spirits to this kind of living.  We can live appreciating every breath, each smile, the flight of each bird we see, the beauty of each pedal of every flower, the artistry in the world around us, each note in every song, and the many and varied hints of God’s majesty which surround us moment by moment.

Savor the read below.

 

Bruce Smith (optimuslife.org)

 

MY TESTIMONY (Tony Snow)

 

‘Blessings arrive in unexpected packages, - in my case, cancer. Those of us with potentially fatal diseases - and there are millions in America today - find ourselves in the odd position of coping with our mortality while trying to fathom God’s will. Although it would be the height of presumption to declare with confidence ‘What It All Means,’ Scripture provides powerful hints and consolations. 

The first is that we shouldn’t spend too much time trying to answer the ‘why’ questions: Why me? Why must people suffer? Why can’t someone else get sick? We can’t answer such things. And the questions themselves often are designed more to express our anguish than to solicit an answer. 

I don’t know why I have cancer, and I don’t much care. It is what it is, a plain and indisputable fact. Yet even while staring into a mirror darkly, great and stunning truths began to take shape. Our maladies define a central feature of our existence: We are fallen. We are imperfect. Our bodies give out. 

But, despite this, - or because of it, - God offers the possibility of salvation and grace. We don’t know how the narrative of our lives will end, but we get to choose how to use the interval between now and the moment we meet our Creator face-to-face. 

Second, we need to get past the anxiety. The mere thought of dying can send adrenaline flooding through your system. A dizzy, unfocused panic seizes you. Your heart thumps; your head swims. You think of nothingness and swoon. You fear partings; you worry about the impact on family and friends. You fidget and get nowhere. 

To regain footing, remember that we were born not into death, but into life - and that the journey continues after we have finished our days on this earth. We accept this on faith, but that faith is nourished by a conviction that stirs even within many non-believing hearts - an institution that the gift of life, once given, cannot be taken away. Those who have been stricken enjoy the special privilege of being able to fight with their might, main, and faith to live fully, richly, exuberantly - no matter how their days may be numbered. 

Third, we can open our eyes and hearts. God relishes surprise. We want lives of simple, predictable ease, - smooth, even trails as far as the eye can see, - but God likes to go off-road. He provokes us with twists and turns. He places us in predicaments that seem to defy our endurance and comprehension - and yet don’t. By His love and grace, we persevere. The challenges that make our hearts leap and stomachs churn invariably strengthen our faith and grant measures of wisdom and joy we would not experience otherwise. 

‘You Have Been Called’. Picture yourself in a hospital bed. The fog of anesthesia has begun to wear away. A doctor stands at your feet, a loved one holds your hand at the side. ‘It’s cancer,’ the healer announces. 

The natural reaction is to turn to God and ask him to serve as a cosmic Santa. ‘Dear God, make it all go away. Make everything simpler.’ But another voice whispers: ‘You have been called.’ Your quandary has drawn you closer to God, closer to those you love, closer to the issues that matter, - and has dragged into insignificance the banal concerns that occupy our ‘normal time.’ 

There’s another kind of response, although usually short-lived, an inexplicable shudder of excitement as if a clarifying moment of calamity has swept away everything trivial and tiny, and placed before us the challenge of important questions. 

The moment you enter the Valley of the Shadow of Death, things change. You discover that Christianity is not something doughy, passive, pious, and soft. Faith may be the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. But it also draws you into a world shorn of fearful caution. The life of belief teems with thrills, boldness, danger, shocks, reversals, triumphs, and epiphanies. Think of Paul, traipsing through the known world and contemplating trips to what must have seemed the antipodes (Spain), shaking the dust from his sandals, worrying not about the morrow, but only about the moment. 

There’s nothing wilder than a life of humble virtue, - for it is through selflessness and service that God wrings from our bodies and spirits the most we ever could give, the most we ever could offer, and the most we ever could do. 

Finally, we can let love change everything. When Jesus was faced with the prospect of crucifixion, he grieved not for himself, but for us. He cried for Jerusalem before entering the Holy City. From the Cross, he took on the cumulative burden of human sin and weakness, and begged for forgiveness on our behalf. 

We get repeated chances to learn that life is not about us, that we acquired purpose and satisfaction by sharing in God’s love for others. Sickness gets us part way there. It reminds us of our limitations and dependence. But it also gives us a chance to serve the healthy. A minister friend of mine observes that people suffering grave afflictions often acquire the faith of two people, while loved ones accept the burden of two peoples’ worries and fears. 

‘Learning How to Live’. Most of us have watched friends as they drifted toward God’s arms, not with resignation, but with peace and hope. In so doing, they have taught us not how to die, but how to live. They have emulated Christ by transmitting the power and authority of live. 

I sat by my best friend’s bedside a few years ago as a wasting cancer took him away. He kept at his table a worn Bible and a 1928 edition of the Book of Common Prayer. A shattering grief disabled his family, many of his old friends, and at least one priest. Here was an humble and very good guy, someone who apologized when he winced with pain because he thought it made his guest uncomfortable. He restrained his equanimity and good humor literally until his last conscious moment. ‘I’m going to try to beat [this cancer],’ he told me several months before he died. ‘But if I don’t, I’ll see you on the other side.’

His gift was to remind everyone around him that even though God doesn’t promise us tomorrow, he does promise us eternity - filled with life and love we cannot comprehend, - and that one can, in the throes of sickness, point the rest of us toward timeless truths that will help us weather future storms. 

Through such trials, God bids us to choose: Do we believe, or do we not? Will we be bold enough to love, daring enough to serve, humble enough to submit, and strong enough to acknowledge our limitations? Can we surrender our concern in things that don’t matter so that we might devote our remaining days to things that do? 

When our faith flags, He throws reminders in our way. Think of the prayer warriors in our midst. They change things, and those of us who have been on the receiving end of their petitions and intercessions know it. It is hard to describe, but there are times when suddenly the hairs on the back of your neck stand up, and you feel a surge of the Spirit. Somehow you just know: Others have chosen, when talking to the Author of all creation, to lift us up, - to speak of us! 

This is love of a very special order. But so is the ability to sit back and appreciate the wonder of every created thing. The mere thought of death somehow makes every blessing vivid, every happiness more luminous and intense. We may not know how our contest with sickness will end, but we have felt the ineluctable touch of God. 

What is man that Thou are mindful of him? We don’t know much, but we know this: No matter where we are, no matter what we do, no matter how bleak or frightening our prospects, each and every one of us who believe each and every day, lies in the same safe and impregnable place, in the hollow of God’s hand.’

T. Snow

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22. July 2008 by BruceSmith.

As a human people, we tend to crave the role of the architect, …of our lives that is.   Architects are builders, engineers, and designers.  Architects manage projects, which when done well, bring them acclaim, attention, notoriety, and wealth.  As a man who once lived in a city renowned for its architecture (Chicago), I really appreciate great design in the field.  I appreciate the aesthetics, the design principles,  and the artistry involved.

I have recently been inspired to consider this theme for various reasons.  For starters, I just read a story on the re-design of the city of Beijing leading up to the Olympic Games.  Some truly amazing marvels of design have been crafted in the last few years, one of the most truly fantastic being the soon to be completed, gravity defying, megalith, known as the CCTV building (yes, that’s the state run media company).   The building, which jolts the mind, appears to be one which should not “work”.  In fact, it has been suggested that this could not have been pulled off even a few years ago.  It took some pretty astounding computer power to even be able to design this building.  As you look at the marvel it appears that an entire section of it is suspended in mid-air.  Designers used some 10,000 tons of steel to pull off this feat which includes a cantilevered cross-section floored with glass which allows visitors to feel as though they are “walking on air” as they make it across.  The building, at a cost of some $800 million is now the second largest office building in the world, second only to the Pentagon.

What is so striking to me about this story is the nature of what will go on “inside” this amazing facade.  The state, of China that is, will work its media “magic” (manipulation, distortion) from inside this fascinating shell.  What many people are talking about is the disconnect between the architecture and the nature of the political reality playing out on the inside.  For me, this serves as a great metaphor for the way we are inclined to pursue life.  In the case of China, the building serves, in reality, to heighten the contrasting realities at play within that nation.  What appears creative, inspiring, challenging, and forward-looking on the outside is actually quite controlled, restrictive, oppressive, and inhumane.

Allow me, now, to turn from the political/cultural realities in China to our own culture where we also are prone to build a shell which captures the attention of others even as we are dying on the inside.  Hollywood and its products, which are in reality a personification of our deep desires as individuals, provides a direct connection to this truth.  As you know, assuming you have read much of my writing in the past, I appreciate the best that Hollywood has to offer and I love the arts.  So, this is not one of those “ban, boycott, and blast” kind of messages.

I point to Hollywood only because we seem as a people to be clearly enamored with the lifestyles and success of those who are most known in the industry, and recent celebrity news has highlighted this reality.  Additionally, billions of dollars, our dollars, flow into Hollywood each year as we entertain ourselves.  Some of us, the social research suggests, make an attempt to escape our realities through our engagement with Hollywood, and find that the entertainment becomes something more.  This is true not only for those who watch the movies, but also for those who make them.

So here is the truth hidden beneath the architecture of our external lives.  Like those in Hollywood who seem to have all that life could offer, we tend to delude ourselves into thinking that we can design our own lives around the pleasure principle and see nothing but good come from it.  Give me enough food, fun, fantasy, and fame…and I will be fulfilled.  In a culture intoxicated with visual stimulation and acquisition, we are too easily confused about what is real and what is delusion.  Is this not the overarching storyline in the new Batman movie, The Dark Knight?  Is not the Joker’s delusion that he assumed a “no rules” approach would grant him immunity from his fears, quests, desires?  What he comes to find, in fact, is a much darker reality.  Alone, pursuing the survival of the fittest ethic, the Joker, and perhaps Heath Ledger in real life, came to find out that such a distorted approach leads to emotional imprisonment, bitterness, violence, depression, and the death of a soul.  This is the story for many a Hollywood storyline, and sadly, many a Hollywood actor.  Amy Whinehouse, Paris, Lindsey, and so many more point to this dark reality.  Today’s news, revealing the arrest of Christian Bale for alleged assault on members of his own family (mother and sister), just a day before the release of Batman in London, points to this truth as well.  Fame, success, access to all we desire, it would appear, does not fix us internally.

I would suggest that the same is true of us.  If we desire to find the meaning of life we cannot hope to find it in creating an external shell which impresses others with sight, sound, and special effects.  Pleasure, possessions, and even power can never defy the laws of reality as they exist in the spiritual world.  Your title, position, and privilege may impress those who are unwilling or unable to look deeper, but you will never fool yourself.  Sadly, like Heath Ledger and so many others, all of us who lust for a lifestyle disconnected from God’s truths, and who build a life in defiance of the principles of the Builder, eventually see our edifice falling in a spectacular crash.  Our spirits, our souls cannot endure the stress which weighs upon a life lived for false hopes.

Eventually, we are all forced to ask the ultimate questions.  Eventually, we all  must look into our souls, looking past the mirror, and come to terms with who we are on the inside.  Things, and even pleasures, may come an go, but our souls remain.  If you live long enough you will eventually find out that no  amount of pleasure is ever enough.  For all, actually, who live for pleasure, the craving only increases.  Those that seek peace from the storms of life upon the false hopes of drugs, alcohol, or sex, find an ever increasing despair awaiting them.  Those things cannot, will not, and never have satisfied the soul.  They may stimulate the body for a short while, but even amidst that stimulation the infrastructure is stressing.

I would ask you today, “Who is the architect of your life?”  What are the principles which define your lifestyle?”  Has survival of the fittest lead you into ever increasing places of relational bliss and contentment?  Has the quest for unending pleasure granted you more meaning?  If not, consider turning the design plans for your life over to the only one who can construct a life worth living.  As Solomon found, everything else is a chasing after the wind, a false hope, a no-win proposition.  Solomon, the wisest who ever lived, a man of staggering wealth, accomplishment, power, and pleasure, came to find that nothing outside of God satisfied him.  This man, who had all the tangible tools needed to try everything on the planet to get soul satisfaction, could not find it apart from a relationship with God.  He was even intentional about his quest.  He said to himself, “Let’s see which of these things will fulfill me.”  He found no “thing” would.

How is your life holding up?  Are there design flaws?  Does your life need shoring up?  Turn to the only one who can match your hungers to the right source of fulfillment.  Yes, that is the God of the scriptures, as revealed in the person of Jesus.  If you have tried everything else, or if you have turned away from Him, consider making your way back to Him today.  There is safety in the arms of and in the care of this Architect.  His blueprint is sure.

Bruce Smith

optimuslife.org

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21. July 2008 by BruceSmith.

The podcast for Saturday’s show, featuring Fred Luter, is now up at WGSO.com  Just go to the site, click on the podcast section and hit the “Think Out Loud” podcast for the proper date!  Here is the direct link:

http://wgso.com/content/view/7262/172/

Tomorrow on Bruce’s blog:  Pleasure Quest, and the pursuit of life without boundaries

optimuslife.org

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16. July 2008 by BruceSmith.

Wonder, Truth, Love, Meaning…without these our lives are empty and without hope.  Today, rather than hear from me, I am encouraging you to listen to the following audio link from Ravi Zacharias (rzim.org).  He addresses this reality in just 15 minutes, and his words are profound. Ravi is an apologist who primarily spends his time lecturing in IvyLeague settings and before world leaders.  His cultural insights are staggeringly insightful.  The link below is one part of a series on Meaning.

Here is the link:

http://www.rzim.org/USA/Resources/Listen/JustThinking.aspx?archive=1&pid=1265

Simply cut and paste it into your browser, and give it a listen.  As you know, I treasure the time I spend writing, and I value my interaction with you.  I point you to this link today because I believe Ravi’s words are potent, relevant, and crucial for our culture.

Is there any wonder, truth, love, or meaning in your life?

Bruce Smith

optimuslife.org

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15. July 2008 by BruceSmith.

Reports are that high quality first pictures of babies Brangelina will fetch upwards of ten million bucks!  Yes, that’s right, a photo, a snapshot of Brad and Angelina’s babies will gross the shooter millions.  How is this possible? you might ask.  Well, because the popular interest in this story, and the numbers of tabloids which will be sold once those pics are included in a publication “merits” such a generous offer from the various publishers.  Whether or not such an “investment” from the publishers actually ends up making the company money remains to be seen.  More importantly, how any of this actually betters any of our lives, and actually merits our attention is highly questionable.

As the paparazzi hounds the Brangelina clan in the coming weeks, no doubt we will all be bombarded by incessant media coverage.  At some point, we will all be alerted that “the first pic” has been secured and some guy with nothing more to do with his life than to sneak around  capturing celeb photos will be made a millionaire over night. The guy or gal will probably be interviewed on every talk show imaginable and we will have made a celeb out of a celeb hunter.  I wonder if we are a bit wacky as a culture when we have gotten to this point.  It leaves me wondering how we define and place value on a life.

Last night I attended a memorial service for a woman, an unknown woman, a mother, wife, and community volunteer.  She was no celebrity, had no “fame”, and was not a magazine cover model.  Yet, on a Monday night, in smallish town America, several hundred people took time out of their lives to celebrate and remember the life of this woman, only 50 years old, who had just died of cancer.  Ann Dragna, as it turns out, had an enormous impact on the lives of untold numbers of people.  This woman who had committed herself to being an engaged wife, mother, and servant to many was remembered with great affection.  As the night went on and the celebration continued story after story was told by friends and loved ones.  Snapshots, photos, frozen moments in time were displayed in a presentation which captured the life of this woman over the years.  Of the several hundred people who were there, many standing the entire time, I don’t think there were very many who were not moved to tears.

As I sat there thinking about the life of this woman, my life, and where we are as a culture, a culture in which so few desire to live such lives of quiet heroism, I could not help but be captured by it all.  I was challenged in my spirit to consider that living a life worth something begins and ends with an embrace of God’s agenda for life.  We are not better human beings if we have paparazzi chasing after us all the time.  Our value is not determined by our fame or the fame of our family.  Our significance is not derived from our lavish lifestyle.  And our ultimate worth relies not upon the aesthetics of our frame.  Rather, our value is given us by a God who loves and esteems us as His creation.  Our importance stems from our desire to know Him and from our love of others.

As I sat there last night, wondering about my own death, I could not help but consider whether or not the snapshots of my own life would speak of goodness, beauty, servant-hood, honor, love, and grace.  Will people remember me for my “stuff” or will they remember me for my actual living?  Will those who attend my funeral, should anyone attend, feel as though the world was better because I was here?  Or will they just remember a man who was all about himself, his quests, and his own agenda?  Will folks remember how ruthless I was in “closing the deal” or will they be inspired by the nature of my intimacy with God?

I ask you today, “What do the snapshots of your life speak?”  What is their worth?  If the soul paparazzi were following you moment by moment, what would the photo presentation speak to others?  Last night Ann Dragna’s snapshots told of a woman who loved God, loved her husband, loved her kids, and loved others.  People, hundreds of them, celebrated her life even amidst her death because she touched them in such a meaningful way.  Person after person told of her care, honesty, joy, humor, compassion, and friendship.  Our community, our church, and our world are better because she was here.  Those who knew her are bettered by being in touch with her.

What is your life worth?  When you breathe your last will people celebrate because you are gone (a very sad thought) or will they celebrate because you lived, and lived beautifully?  What is the message of your life’s snapshots?  Are you even present in the snapshots of those closest to you?  Does the scrapbook tell of your presence with your family?  Or are you gone so often chasing your own agenda that you rarely even “appear” in the photos of your family? Will your family remember you because of your nearness?

I pray for you and I that we might live lives worthy of a great sendoff.  I pray that others might feel as though they were blessed to have had a little time with us.  I pray that when our last breath has been taken our lives  and legacy live on in the hearts of others.

May God give us grace to walk in a manner worthy of such a life.  May will live as heroes of His grace whether we do it in the front of a camera or in the quietness of unknown communities all across America.  May the snapshots of our lives capture the love and affections of many as they tell of the splendour of an amazing God.

Bruce Smith

optimuslife.org

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11. July 2008 by BruceSmith.

Dear Bruce,

I love to read the stories you share about people who have taken big risks and find the kind of life they were looking for.  I really get inspired each time I read one of those stories.  What I would like to know, however, is how I can live a “big” life if I feel called to stay in my normal job, in my normal town, living my “normal” life?  I do want to live the kind of life I was meant to live, as you put it, but I don’t feel like I am called to be a missionary or some other kind of “superhuman”.

What does a big life look like for people like me?

Dan

Dan,

That is a great question!  Finding the life you were meant to live is not always about “superhuman” feats and impressive off the charts accomplishments.  In fact, the idea of “calling” is about coming to grips with who we were created to be, and giving it our all no matter where we are in life.

Most people would not consider teachers to be superhuman figures.  Yet, I would suggest to you that some of the most important “heroes” in our society are those teachers who are quietly, yet passionately, giving their all to kids day in and day out in order to set those students up for success in the future.  While teachers don’t make a billion dollars like Tiger Woods (who will in fact be the first billion dollar athlete by 2010 it appears), they are central players who influence where our society will be years down the road.

Likewise, nurses, for example, do not get the admiration of doctors.  Yet, without the nurses the doctors  could not do what they do.  Nurses have the privilege of caring for the ailing all day every day.  They are the ones who are extended the honor of demonstrating ongoing care, compassion, and love during those long hours when the doctors are not around.  This is a truly “big” gift.

The same is true of any profession where an individual uses his or her influence, gifts, and abilities to make a difference.  The lawyer who is committed to justice, truth, and honor is making an enormous difference daily.  The fireman who gives his or her life to save another is performing in heroic ways.  The financial planner who is dedicated to enabling others to plan, protect, and build a better future is offering a critical function.  The little league coach who is impacting young lives is performing admirably.  The personal trainer who is aiding others in building their bodies and health is playing a vital role.  The home builder, electrician, policeman, engineer, …and so many more who may not make the headlines each day, are central to the functioning of all of our lives.

The life we were meant to live is not so much a matter of having a sexy job description, its about offering our selves right where we are to God in order that He might use us to impact the lives of others.  The stay at home mom who gives herself daily to the nurturing and care of her children is providing an environment for those kids to flourish for life.  The single dad who gives himself to the care of his children is leaving a legacy for his children.  The grandparent who instills a deep sense of faith, love, and constancy in his or her grandkids is to be championed.

As inspiring as Bruce Olson’s story is, God is not calling all of us to go to a foreign country to live in a hut.  Yet, He is calling each of us to give ourselves totally to Him wherever we may be at this moment.  Each time we demonstrate grace where we could strike out for revenge we demonstrate the life we were meant to live.  Each time we make an effort to encourage another who may be struggling we live the life we were meant to live.  Each time we seek to bring healing to a relationship that is faltering…each time we help keep another person on track…each time we choose purity and faithfulness…each time we earnestly pray…each time we submit our affections, desires, and longings to God…each time we commit to our marriages…each time, we live the life He has called us to live.

Essentially, finding the life we were meant to live begins with who we are.  If we are the kind of person God is calling us to be internally we are well on our way to experiencing all that He has called us to.  In fact, there are far too many people who appear outwardly to be living “big” lives, and are dying on the inside.  Our quest, first, is to know Him and to walk in His ways.  Then, as we open ourselves to His direction, He can guide us on the expeditions He has for us.

Begin your journey to a big life by giving each moment you have to Him, fully and without reservation.  Each interaction, each thought, each pursuit, each act, …  As you make this kind of living an expression of who you are you will, in fact, find your life to be increasingly meaningful.  The “big” life is about knowing a big God who offers you the privilege of experiencing Him fully in every moment.

Make a life where you are, and be open to His leading.  We never know what is ahead, but the journey is better left in His hands.

Bruce Smith

optimuslife.org

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9. July 2008 by BruceSmith.

Wanna know how to live a faith that really means something?  Wanna be a person of faith, rather than someone who shows up for a religious ritual once a week and then goes back to “normal”?  Wanna truly impact the world at large?

If so, you may find a clue or two in the stories we profile this week, stories of great faith adventurers who knew God so intimately that they took huge risks in order to know what life to the full looks like, feels like, and truly is.

Bruce Olson is a true faith adventurer.  He is not the kind of faith person who sits in a comfortable church chair once a week and gives a little money here and there to God’s causes.  No, Bruce Olson is a guy who committed his entire life to an expedition unlike few ever embrace.  As a young man He sensed God calling him to bring the message of the scriptures to as yet unreached people.  In his case, Bruce was being called to reach a group of “wild” Indians in the jungles of Columbia, the Motilone tribe.

Beyond the “typical” difficulties in choosing such a life (ever tried living in the jungle?), Bruce also willingly walked into this setting not knowing how this sometimes violent tribe would react to a tall, lanky, blond-haired, glasses wearing American in Khakis.  This mostly naked, shorter, stocky, spear throwing, pagan group had not encountered someone with Bruce’s profile.  This combined with the reality that a guerilla war was on in the region in which Bruce would be working only complicated matters.  This was no safe adventure.

Over time Bruce’s love for and work with the Motilone’s began to pay off.  He nurtured strong friendships with members of the tribe and he came to be treated as one of them.  He was considered a brother, a teacher, and a friend to these people.

At some point, however, his “luck” changed and he was captured by a guerilla force who held, tortured, and unrelentingly manipulated Bruce over a period of several months.  The captors, “revolutionaries” they called themselves, wanted Bruce to win the Motilone tribe over to the guerilla cause.  Despite all the tactics of his captors which regularly included death threats, Bruce refused to give in, and he made his cause known, to help the Motilone remain a people unto themselves, captive to no one’s agenda.

Amazingly, as the months of captivity unfolded, Bruce began to win the guerillas over.  As he taught them language and many skills they began to embrace him, like the Motilone, as a brother and friend.  When leaders of these revolutionaries became increasingly frustrated with Bruce’s refusals to help them win the Motilones they attempted to force other guerillas to execute Bruce.  The problem was, these guerillas had come to love this man, their captive, and refused the orders!

Eventually, 9 months into his captivity, Bruce was finally placed on the firing line and his date with destiny was set.  His most adamant captor, the leader of the revolutionaries, had decided that this spectacle would end.  On the day Bruce was scheduled to die, out in the remote jungles of Columbia, the faith adventure of this daring man of faith took an unexpected turn.  Having readied himself to die, and refusing to wear a blindfold because he wanted to look his captors in the eye as they pulled the trigger, and as as the group of executioners made their way to the firing line,  some with tears streaming down their faces, trouble was stirring.  It appeared that no one who was being ordered to do the killing actually wanted to pull the trigger.  Each of these men had, in fact, come to embrace faith in Jesus Christ, and had come to love this man they were being ordered to kill.

Having no choice, the men lined up, pointed rifles at Bruce, and pulled the triggers.  Bruce felt NOTHING.  Nothing.  As it turned out someone had placed blanks in the rifles.  It was one last ditch effort from the leaders of the revolutionaries to scare Bruce into submission and get him to join forces with them.  They thought he would cry out for mercy and give up his cause for the Motilone.  He did not.

Not too many days later, Bruce was released and made his way back to the Motilone.  He was welcomed with shouts of joy.  Many more miraculous stories could be told about Bruce’s experiences in the jungles of Columbia.  Bruce is still living this faith adventure in fact.  He remains, away from the comforts of American society, committed to a life worth living.  As he tells it, he would be miserable living any other life.  The results?  A culture, formerly untouched by others, now experiencing life in God, following Christ, and expanding their skills, knowledge, and abilities.  Below, from Bruce’s website, are a few examples of the impact this one faith adventurer has had on a “wild” Indian tribe in the jungles of Columbia:

The so-called “wild” Indians have been transformed by the Lord Jesus Christ. Bruce has seen the work of the Holy Spirit continue to the next generation of Motilones. But they not only have redemption and new life, they also have the technical preparation they need to survive on the lands of their forefathers. Their lands, by the way, are now protected legally, thanks in great measure to Bruce’s tireless efforts on their behalf.

Tribal students are academic acheivers–15 are studying in university, next year 13 will graduate from high school, 22 from vocational training, and 12 from the school of nursing. All the 400-plus previous Indian graduates are serving their tribes in the jungles. Not one has abandoned the jungle for city life. In the jungles more than 2,500 students are getting bilingual education in 18 languages.

Bruce has built facilities and trained people to work in 18 health centers, 42 bilingual schools, 22 agricultural centers, and 11 trading posts, which really are co-operatives. They spark social development in places overlooked by the governments of Colombia and Venezuela. The co-operatives provide the economic base for 18 tribal peoples.

The director of the Bureau of Indian Affairs for Northeast Colombia is a Motilone lawyer. The director of Indian Affairs for the state government is a Motilone graduate in business administration. The coordinator for press relations for Northeast Colombia Native Peoples’ Affairs is a Motilone university graduate in journalism.

One man.  One adventure.  One God.  One amazing story of living life to the full.

Do you want a faith worth living?  Get out of the comfort of the boat…you may just walk on water!

Hungering for that kind of faith,

Bruce Smith

optimuslife.org

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