Facing the Risks

I believe I've mentioned the work my eldest is doing creating apps for the iPhone. You can check out his work on his web site, guicocoa.com, and purchase his apps from the app store if you like. He was recently featured in an article in a Phoenix paper (http://timespublications.com/jan11-feature2.asp). We are both extremely proud of our children. In addition to Caleb's successes, Aaron continues to be strong in the face of some difficult things in his life, and Rachael has begun auditions for Summer dance intensives. Each of them possess far more confidence than either their Dad or Mom did at their ages.

A recent Wall Street Journal article discussed why Asian families, mainly Chinese, developed such stereotypical successful children (http://online.wsj.com/article_email/SB10001424052748704111504576059713528698754-lMyQjAxMTAxMDEwMTExNDEyWj.html). The article suggested a much stricter regimen for academics and music as the prime reason for their aptitude and success. A follow-up article (http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=%2Fg%2Fa%2F2011%2F01%2F13%2Fapop011311.DTL&ao=4) seem to indicate there though there is a large degree of success, all is not perfect for these families. Other indicators suggest that the children are not that well adjusted, that they may not feel accepted when they don't meet expectations.

Many years ago, as our boys struggled with sports, where both showed some talent, I made a point of saying to them that we only wanted them to be happy in their activities. If they began something, we asked that they see it through for that season. I think I felt that if we permitted them to change in mid-season, when things might get tough, that they would not learn the value of working for what they wanted. And after nearly thirty years I had learned to some small degree the value of hard work for something bigger than myself and derived more satisfaction from jobs well done, regardless of whether the product was flawless or not.

I believe it has more to do with character, this success that we want for our kids. A character that sees the road ahead fraught with risk, possibly pain, certain uncertainty. Only now I know that peering down that road, it is hard to see how this can be for anyone's good. Bur staring down adversity, a phrase many in the sports world uses in interviews, is more than internal fortitude.

It requires something of us - a recognition that the task at hand is far more than just us in a difficult spot. We may not understand all the implications of what is unfolding, but we know that we cannot face it alone. And so the struggle begins. First with ourselves, for we don't want to ask for help. But when we do, it is on our terms alone. We still haven't learned to sacrifice all our pride at the feet of Jesus. That same pride that in the garden decided we didn't really need God.

I highly recommend "The King's Speech" to you. Not only for the story of deep, lasting friendship, but also for the character of the times. I don't plan to spoil the story for you, but I couldn't help making a connection to "National Treasure"'when the main character reads part of a historical document and the girl makes the comment that people no longer "think that way" because the language is lofty and conveys a sentiment that there are always things bigger than ourselves that are worthy of sacrifice to attain and keep. This is true on a national stage, but it is of life and death importance in the sporitual realms.

While it is true that God causes our hearts to soften, leads us to repentance and provides the faith for us to excerise in learning to trust him, there remains work for us to do. Work that we cannot ever do apart from God. In the words of the Michael W. Smith song, we have to find our place in the body, and be prepared to step out by faith and face all the risk ahead knowing that God is with us, and we need only trust in him to accomplish what he asks of us.

Not entirely the message of "The King's Speech" but the application is compatible. In the airplane, we always guarded against complacency, that "ho-hum" feeling that precedes failure. We cannot lose sight of the risk, for that leads to complacency or worse, a turning from the path set before us. Only by submitting to God, allowing the risk to be realized and in the struggle, seeing God as the faithful shepherd guiding us in the work, do we grow, not becoming perfect this side of glory, but growing in the riches of trusting this Holy God that wants good for us, even when it doesn't seems like it to us.

Consider the paths that God lays before you. See the risk and be strengthened by faith that God is working out all the details and leading you to what is in the best for you. Go with praise in your heart that overflows as it did for the Psalmist. And use this time of growth to learn more deeply your need for the love of the Savior that cannot let go.