You are currently browsing the Bruce Smith weblog archives for the day 8. September 2008.
8. September 2008 by BruceSmith.
Thanks to so many of you for your thoughts, prayers, and concerns during the Gustav evacuation. It was an interesting week for me and my crew, to say the least. Three years post Katrina, almost to the day, Gustav came toward us and was threatening to be a Katrina 2 type storm. That being so, my crew and I hit the road and headed out of town. Ironically enough, I was scheduled to be in California the same week to tape a television show featuring my book Soul Storm (soulstormsite.com). Under threat of a killer storm and following a mandatory evacuation order I realized that heading out on Wednesday after the storm would be impossible, so I loaded the crew on a plane and we evacuated to Beverly Hills. I know, sounds tough, but someone had to do it!
I went out to SoCal with a fresh awareness of the subject matter of Soul Storm (dealing with disaster), and the television interview went well. It was a pleasure to present just how faithful God is to make Himself present and known amidst the storms of life. What I did not expect to encounter on my trip was the tangible sense of my insignificance in the world. Let me explain.
While in Beverly Hills (the mid-point between places I needed to be while out there) one cannot help but notice that nearly everyone is smashingly, breathtakingly beautiful, the weather is perfect, everyone is smiling, everyone is fit, everyone is dressed to kill, and it seems as if everyone drives a Rolls or a Ferrari. Walking around town for lunch, Pink Berry (an amazing yogurt stand out there), and taking in the sunshine, an outsider can feel, well, very “outsiderish”. Without looking beneath the veneer of wealth, cosmetic surgery, and to die for clothes, you can begin to feel as if you are alone in a very hip, rich, healthy, and pleasure-a-plenty world.
Just about the time I was wondering if this bookish Southerner from tiny town U.S.A. had somehow missed the train ride to Happyland, I was greeted with a timely and seemingly out of place reminder of what life is really about. As I was going about my workout one afternoon in a swank health club in Beverly Hills, I was shocked to see a man (clearly a Hills insider) wearing a Wheaton College t-shirt. Unless you have spent any time in this secluded bastion of pleasure and privilege you can’t fully understand just how out of place this t-shirt really is. As a Wheatie myself (I attended Grad school there) I just had to make my way across the room and find out what the story was behind that shirt.
Nearly sprinting across the room filled with perfect bodies, many perfectly artificial, I jumped into this guy’s space and demanded to know if he or a son/daughter of his went to Wheaton. He understood my curiosity without my having to voice it. He went on to tell me that his daughter graduated from there some time ago.
As our conversation developed he shared with me a vacation story from some time ago. I had just told him I was “evacuating” from Gustav and shared with him that I am from the New Orleans area. As most do, he went on to tell me how fond he is of our city. Then he made an interesting comment that was totally unsolicited. Standing in the middle of Beverly Hills amidst all the symbols of pleasure, wealth and health, this guy shared with me that he thought, perhaps, those of us down in NOLA may be on to something about life that he and others he knows seem to miss. Startled by the comment, I asked, “How so?” He went on to tell me that one of his most interesting experiences in travel was going to NOLA and eating at Commanders Palace (a world class eatery). He went on to explain that while eating a meal which costs over $100.00 a plate, he was dumbfounded as he looked out of the window while eating and noticed he was overlooking a graveyard! He went on to explain that he thinks “we people” may get something they miss in Beverly Hills…we will all die.
As the conversation continued, this distinguished, hip, ridiculously wealthy, and engaging fellow shared with me his concern that “his people” don’t remind themselves of their mortality very much. He suggested that they tend to feel as though through proper nutrition, good doctors, lots of sun, and plenty of plastic surgery (he seemed to suggest they all have plastic surgeons on call!), they can stay young forever. His experience of dining within a stones throw of a cemetery seems to haunt him with the reality of his mortality. His simple comment, “You guys may be on to something.”
As we wrapped up our conversation, and still recovering from his decided rejection of my plea to use the Ferrari for a day or two, I was reminded of Jesus’ words, “What does it profit a man to gain the world and lose his soul?” I was also reminded of the many tragic stories of Hollywood personalities who have traded their souls, families, health, and lives for the “Hills life”. When surrounded by so much “plenty” we, myself included, are tempted to think we are missing out on something. And while riches and fun and health are certainly not bad intrinsically, we must be on guard to remind ourselves of what life is ultimately about. In an instant a monster storm could take all we have held dear. No surgeon, bank account, toy, or pleasure can secure our soul in those moments. Going to LaLa Land to be interviewed on television to remind others of that reality, I had to be reminded of it myself.
So, as it turns out, my evacuation turned out to be an education on many levels. During my interview I was reminded again of the hope we all have amidst disaster. The nearness of God to the afflicted is a great comfort. During my workouts I was reminded that indeed without God my life is insignificant, but with him “I am on to something”. Whether rich, poor, hip, in, or out, intimacy with God is what gives all of our lives focus, purpose, and hope. Without him all the maintenance and fun we could imagine will never provide for a life well lived.
Hipper than ever, in His hands,
Bruce Smith
optimuslife.org
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