Why Jump?

I'm diving in, I'm going deep in over my head, I want to be caught in the rush, lost in the flow, in over my head, I want to go the river's deep, the river's wide, the river's water is alive sp sink or swim,                 I ’m diving in            ~ ‘Dive’ by Steven Curtis Chapman

 

These song lyrics take me straight back to a high school cross country meet, where my friend Lyndsey and I were stretching out  before our race listening to this song. While we were getting warmed up, I remember simply asking the question ‘Why wouldn’t someone dive in?’

This simply question has stumped me ever since.

I mean, to me the decision is so easy. It’s almost comically  at how easily we miss the opportunity of something so much bigger, better, and grander than anything we, as society, could ever imagine.

So, maybe the better question for me to ask isn’t why don’t you jump? But a more searching of a question for myself… why did i?

Growing up in the church, I believed that Christ was my Savior since I started Sunday school and learned that Jesus died on the cross for my sins. But it wasn’t until I was in high school, and had to start making difficult decisions on my own, did I realize that I couldn’t live  just for my selfish wants and desires. I began to question what was the most worthy thing that I could invest my life in. What fence would I jump and commit to being on the other side? And I found it!

There is nothing more worthy of having than a relationship with Jesus Christ.

Jumping the fence and committing my life to making Christ my Lord, was not a decision that led to a radical transformation over night. But it has included a commitment every day to seek out God to know Him more and to make changes in my character and behavior to be more Christ-like. Each day making a decision to chase the cross.

No trophy, plaque, or medal; no paycheck, resume’, or career; No relationship (no matter how fulfilling)-can possibly compare to the undeniable joy that a relationship with Christ can offer.

Are you seeking something beyond the difficult decisions of today? Something beyond the American Dream that everyone else is chasing? Have you considered jumping the fence?

Yes, I am the gate. Those who come in through me will be saved. Wherever they go, they will find green pastures.    ~John 10:7

 To jump or not to jump…the choice is yours!

Over the Fence

So let's create this scenario....

You're a centerfielder for the Beat Boppin' baseball team.
This big bruiser from the opposing team, the Bruisers, comes up to the plate and nails one clear out to your part of the field. You immediately start backpedaling nearly to the fence. You bend down, pick up the ball and prepare to throw it to 2nd base to get the runner out...but STOP!

There is a choice that we must make.
1.) Throw the ball back to the infield (like any normal player would)
2.) or take the ball and throw it over the fence

Granted the second option sounds crazy, ridiculous. But what would happen if you actually did it? The crowd would think you're nuts, your team would start hollering and screaming, and the coach wouldn't be any too happy with your decision.

No one would understand why you did it.

A life chasing the cross isn't suppose to make sense to unbelievers either.

In our lives, if we choose to throw the ball over the fence what could happen? (I just want to clarify that I'm not trying to get anyone kicked off of their ball team. However, I'm going to challenge the natural thought process of simply doing what everyone else does.)

The infield, for me, stands for mediocrity; for me it's the American Dream. It's what everyone is going for. A big house in suburbia, a husband or wife, two kids, and a dog in the backyard; all in the confines of a safe neighborhood. This i dea of life after graduation seems safe and protected.

Beyond the fence is everything that is unknown. What kind of job will I have? Where will I live? Will I be married? Will I have children? But there is this great power in this unknown because over the fence is a life fully committed to not living my own dreams but living out God’s will. It’s frightening, but so worthy. The possibilities are limitless. There is no fence out there to confine us. There is an influence to be created, a path to be traveled, and a life to lead far greater than anything I would ever imagine.

Many question then “Why leave the safety of the infield?”
I question, “Why Not?”

Standing between mediocrity and a life foreign to limits is the fence. In my life, expectations from others is the fence that confines me. If I hurdle the fence, who and how many people will I disappoint? If life on the other side isn’t all that I think it may be will they mock me? Is it worth the embarrassment if I fail?

What is your fence?

Are you willing to jump it?

Over the next few weeks, I want to spend some time questioning if I’m willing to jump the fence; if so at what cost and how. Why would we do such of a crazy thing? What would motivate us to do so? What could possibly be worth making such a radical decision? The next posts that I make are going to dive into some of these questions and explain my thoughts on this idea of throwing the ball (our lives) over the fence.