The Third Day: My Funeral...

I stumbled out of bed as the sun was starting to rise. I successfully avoided collisions with doorframes and got dressed for my daily run. As I headed out into the cold I awoke enough to realize that every article of chothing on my body was black. Hat, gloves, fleece, pants... "Am I going to my own funeral?"

(Suspensful pause...)

I didn't die... Whew! What a cliffhanger!

Denise joined me this morning and her company was very refreshing. So much so that after we went around once and I went around again! (Going around twice means that I don't have to exaggerate quite as much about how big the circle is...)

Here were the moments of insight:

Barking Dogs
The problems and challenges that we face in life are like barking dogs. If we compare the hundreds of times that we have been barked at with the times that we have been chased or bitten we find that the former is common and the later is rare. (That means lots of barking... Not much biting.)

Our fear of getting bitten has more negative effects on us than actually getting bitten. Our fear influences our decisions much more often than there actually is danger to be dealt with. Wanna bet?

As we came jogging down a certain hill we saw a big black dog. He was not tied up and his body was tense... focusing intently on us. As we continued down the road he quickly intercepted us, hackles raised and eyes wide open, he was not looking friendly.

We dealt calmly with the situation and did not get bitten. As I came around on my second trip he began wagging his tail and I was even able the read the tag on his collar. My new friend "Max" accompanied for a quarter mile.

There are many passages in the Bible when God says "do not fear." Jesus said, "do not fear, I have overcome the world." That is not a suggestion, it is an imperitive.

Don't let what you fear keep you from living the life that God has for you. "Perfect love casts out all fear."

Polarized sunglasses
When we were at the mall a few weeks ago we stopped at one of those little kiosks that sell sunglasses. I tried on a few pairs and found one pair that looked really cool. Then the attendant asked if I had ever tried "polarized."

It was true. They reduce the glare.

While running today I had another insight:

Theology is like polarized glasses. It reduces the glare of the sun allowing you to see details that would have gone unnoticed. Theology is man's attempt to understand God. It filters out some of the brilliance of God's glory in order to bring a bit more understanding but it doesn't actually change God's glory.

We are created to reflect His glory.

"Let your light shine before men that they may see your good works and praise your Father in heaven."

Running is okay, I guess.
DWB
Sent from my BlackBerry wireless handheld.