I wonder how many of you have experienced the fact that
Jesus will make you do things you would normally never do. He will make you
step out of your comfort zone—do you agree? Maybe it`s just me—I don`t know;
however, I do know one thing for sure, and that is that I have learned to say
yes when my heart—my will—says no.
My dear friend and pastor tries to teach me all the time
that we must learn to “yield” our will to the Holy Spirit. This, I have found,
often takes me out of my comfort zone on many levels. First, it requires me to
“not” do things I would like to do. Second, it makes me do things I don`t want
to do—I know—I`m a mess as most men are.
Today I stepped out of my comfort zone as asked. I was asked
a few weeks back to volunteer as an aid to the local Special Olympics. Believe
me, I`m not normally a man of virtue. I basically lifted my hand
(simultaneously ducking my head) because so few in the room at that meeting
seemed willing to commit. So, yes, I did it because of my codependent nature to
feel guilty for others (laughing).
As the day in question approached I was so irritated that I
had made this commitment. I dreaded it. Can I just be transparent here with you
all for a second as I share this? I just plain did not want to go and I wasn`t
sure if it was laziness or fear. I work a lot and I often over commit myself, only
later to regret some commitment I have made, but it was something different
than that—it was fear. I was afraid to deal with Special Needs Children.
I got up and headed out to the event on my motorcycle (it
was 80 today). As I rode I prayed that Jesus would show me how to convey his
love—not mine—to these special children. I arrived at the school and walked
slowly toward the crowd looking for my pastor`s wife and my church group to receive
my assignment. I never usually feel funny about my looks (Biker, tattoos, long
hair and beard) when I go places because I have been in sales for years;
however, as I walked up I was feeling a bit out of place. I felt that others
would see my spider-web tattoo on my elbow and think the local jail had an
inmate loose. That, of course, was not the case.
I was assigned to lead the High School (age) Soccer Kick Event.
The opening ceremonies commenced with the pledge of allegiance and some remarks
by the hosting school`s staff; this was followed by a parade of each schools`
special needs athletes. As each school’s banner led the way of each group of
competing athletes, I saw one young man in a wheel chair that was so disfigured
that his head lay in his own lap. I began to think of how Jesus must have been
moved to compassion, in so many cases, as he walked this Earth. How this
compassion compelled him to heal the sick, disfigured, and blind. I wondered
how he may have really felt inside about the overwhelming needs of the many. I
wondered how deeply burdened he must have been to not have the physical time to
heal everyone. But then, he must have known that his greater role as the Lamb
of God would heal all men`s ills in the end—if they chose to believe in him.
All-in-all, it was a great event. I had a blast! These kids
brought joy to my heart, and they had so much fun. Many of these kids were
quite competitive, actually. On the way home I was thankful that once again the
Lord had pulled me out of myself—out of my comfort zone. WP
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