Lent: Triple Toe Thinga-ma-jig

I watched the Olympic skaters last night.  In fact, I watched a lot of Olympics.  The Nordic skiing was unbelievable.  The endurance level they have is remarkable.  Then I stayed up to midnight watching the skating.  Now that was pretty neat.  They did triple toe thinga-ma-jigs and double axle loopys and twistys and bendys and all the rest.  What I like is when they go into those spins.  They make the most beautiful shapes.  They turn so fast!  It is like art being molded out of clay right in front of you.

But despite all the incredible physical things the skaters could do some had something else going for them…PASSION! I mean you could really look into the face of the skater and tell if they were just out there to do the moves or if they were really into it.  There was one lady who was flawless with all the jumps, but just seemed like a robot.  Then there was a young lady who fell a couple of times, but you could tell she was really getting into it.

People connect with passion!  People respond to passion.  People love passion, because that is what we are all about.  Soldiers don’t follow lifeless leaders into gunfire.  They rally around men and women that are passionate and full of life.  This country was founded upon that same fire and passion.  Our founding fathers were on fire about freedom and creating a country based on just that.  So much so they were willing to sign their names on the dotted line for it!

Lent is about passion.  It is about a passion for our Lord and Savior.  It is about being caught on fire with love.  It is about being overwhelmed with forgiveness.  It is about becoming swept away with service and giving.  Lent doesn’t beckon you to walk, but instead wants you to run and run hard.  Lent begs us to get our heart rate going so we can feel the burn in our legs and the pull on our lungs.  Lent wants us to feel again!

As you go through Lent I hope you start feeling passionate about the things that are worth just that – things such as your Lord, people and life.  Continue to let go of those things that don’t have real meaning.  They only weigh you down.  Instead, grab hold of the things that will truly let you live to the fullest…JESUS!

There will be a lot more opportunities to see athletes perform.  Some will just go through the motions…others will live it!  Hope you do today!

Love you all!

Rev. Jim