It’s National Ice Cream Day, so my church served free ice cream after both services. Yes, kids, the one time it’s okay to eat ice cream at 10:30 in the morning. Also okay since they’re not MY kids going home with me on a sugar-high.
I realized three things from volunteering to scoop ice cream today:
- I have absolutely no forearm strength.
- No one likes vanilla anymore.
- Germaphobes just “get” each other.
If you’ve ever tried to scoop ice cream from a rock-solid state, you understand the first one. Yeah, I’m a runner with freakishly large quads and calves; but that doesn’t help when it comes to scooping ice cream.
Vanilla? Well, I guess kids’ tastes are just more sophisticated these days.
Alas, as I was cleaning up and only a few lonely cups of vanilla were left on the table, a mom friend approached suspiciously eye-ing the remaining scoops. I quickly apologized that there was only the one flavor to offer. Without looking up from the scoops, she asked
“Did anyone breathe on these?”
I was instantly filled with compassion, elation, and validation. It was almost as if she had walked up and given me the Vulcan hand salute “Live long and prosper.” I saluted back with my food service gloved hand and assured her the ice cream was not tainted in any way – at least with the naked eye. We then proceeded to praise each other for various maneuvers we regularly employ to avoid contact with infectious disease to ourselves and loved ones.
I mean, really, why doesn’t EVERYBODY use long sleeves pulled over their hand to open doors?
I often reflect on God’s sense of humor, or shall I say, His way of teaching me tangible lessons in my own learning style. How else would you explain why He had me start my teaching career with kindergarten? Gotta love when a five year old affectionately says “Mrs. Tang, I have a secret.” Then whispers in my face “I think I’m sick.” It’s a wonder that I didn’t walk into my classroom every day wearing CDC “Outbreak” attire.
*Parents: If your kids have fevers, keep them home until they’re fever-free for 24 hours!
Except that rule doesn’t apply to teachers or parents themselves. I confess there are many days I’ve gone to school sick, BUT I justify it because I know I’m not gonna spread whatever it is I have due to my refined Ninja germaphobe skills (that, and no teacher enjoys writing sub plans).
The irony is that I’m a runner…who loves races…which means very close proximity to hundreds if not thousands of strangers. Porta-potties. Cups of water handed to me by un-gloved strangers. Mass quantities of fruit and bagels sitting out in the sun on uncovered tables. Finisher medals draped around my sweaty neck by volunteers who’ve already touched hundreds of other sweaty runners. And of course, plenty of high fives along the race course from fellow runners, spectators, and volunteers.
A germaphobe nightmare. Yet I bask in race day. I look forward to it. I immerse myself in it. I invest lots of money in it. I prepare for it. I train for it…
This reminds me of a message I heard at church a couple of months ago about courage. I think the title of the message may have been “Contagious Courage.” It was about that well-known story of David killing the giant Goliath with just his sling and a stone. How many times have I heard this Bible story and even taught it to students?
Yet I missed a key point each time.
I never caught the part about how Davids’s army was suddenly filled with courage after witnessing his big kill. I was more focused on how the enemy army fled in fear.
“So David triumphed over the Philistine (Goliath) with a sling and a stone; without a sword in his hand he struck down the Philistine and killed him… When the Philistines saw that their hero was dead, they turned and ran. Then the men of Israel and Judah surged forward with a shout and pursued the Philistines…” 1 Samuel 17:50-52
Are you picturing this scene? THEY WERE PUMPED! But it was only a few verses earlier that they were running the other direction feeling ill-equipped, unprotected, and fearing for their lives:
“Whenever the Israelites saw the man, they all fled from him in great fear.” 1 Samuel 17:24
We invest a lot of time and money in ways to best protect our family, health, possessions, and way of life. That is certainly considered prudent and good stewardship of what has already been given.
A few small examples:
- Insurance – Whenever I have rented cars, I buy the extra insurance they offer not because I plan on driving recklessly but because of the fear of the unknown. I feel better just having that extra added protection.
- Alarm Clocks – I’ve invested quite a bit of money in race registrations and training. Guess what? I set three alarms the night before a big marathon for fear of not waking up in time and missing my race.
- Sunblock – Most of us would not spend hours at the beach or pool without first applying adequate amounts of sunblock.
But how is it we allow ourselves to go into heated situations without proper counsel, encouragement, and prayer? Sometimes I think we over-protect or over-compensate in areas that just need more God. When we have all this extra “stuff” supposedly protecting us, it takes the spotlight off of the One who is actually capable of protecting us – especially in the most impossible circumstances.
‘Then Saul dressed David in his own tunic. He put a coat of armor on him and a bronze helmet on his head. David fastened on his sword over the tunic and tried walking around, because he was not used to them. “I cannot go in these,” he said to Saul, “because I am not used to them.” So he took them off. Then he took his staff in his hand, chose five smooth stones from the stream, put them in the pouch of his shepherd’s bag and, with his sling in his hand, approached the Philistine.’ 1 Samuel 17:38-40
David’s story is certainly not the only example in the Bible of how God equipped His warrior with great courage to perform mighty acts for the Kingdom.
God told Gideon in Judges 6:12 “The Lord is with you, mighty warrior.”
But then three verses later Gideon says:
“Pardon me, my lord, but how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family… If now I have found favor in your eyes, give me a sign that it is really you talking to me. Please do not go away until I come back and bring my offering and set it before you” Judges 6:15, 17-18
It gives me great comfort to know that even Gideon needed “proof” from God Himself about who will protect him and from whom he will draw strength. God even went so far as to send Gideon tangible, irrefutable evidence of His power and promise.
What followed was nothing short of the greatest backyard barbeque ever! Right before Gideon’s eyes, God set the meat and bread offering ablaze! Long story short, Gideon is another example of courage set on fire by God which later saved a nation.
This weekend was my high school graduating class’ 50 Year Birthday Bash. I couldn’t attend the festivities down in Southern California but have enjoyed seeing pics and memories posted on Facebook. There are photos of classmates that I literally have not seen since grad night when we were 17-18 year olds, and now 50 year olds (except me, but it’s coming in a few months…yikes!).
I don’t think I would recognize myself today if I met the 17 year old me. So many high school commencement speeches talk poignantly about facing the future with boldness and courage. I’m not sure I knew what that really meant at the time.
In fact, it probably wasn’t until recent years that the whole concept of courage went from something that is not so much “taught” as “caught.”
Perhaps I have spent most of my adult life trying to avoid or prevent situations that require courage.
I confess that when I started this blog almost two years ago, I had a bunch of fears going into it. How do I even start one? Was my writing good enough? Did I have anything to say that mattered? What if no one reads it? Am I wasting my time? Will any of it bring glory to Jesus? Will anybody be able to relate?
Fears. They keep you captive which is NOT the same as protected.
David and Gideon didn’t just wake up one morning as the Bible heroes we know them as today. What do they both have in common (other than saving their nation)? They both drew courage and obedience from walking – and dare I say – running closely with God daily.
I belong to an incredibly motivating running community. Last weekend I ran the Brazen Racing Dirty Dozen Endurance Run for six hours and 28.16 miles. A non-runner friend later commented about the mileage: “Wow, how’s that even possible?!” Funny since it was a bit short of my 50K goal, but one of the most enjoyable runs due to the camaraderie of fellow runners constantly providing encouraging words and high-fives. If one can feel energized and encouraged from a simple “Way to go!” “Keep it up!” “You got this!” or a high-five, just think how pumped you could be from running daily with the Almighty. You might just find the courage to face the impossible that day.
