Chad Canipe
I just returned from a very long, very sad, yet very joyous and encouraging weekend with my friends in Cincinnati. More about the weekend later. One friend, who I did not know as well as I would have liked, passed away from this life on Friday morning. This post (permalink) from last May on his 34th birthday represents what kind of man he was and the kind of man and follower of Jesus I want to be:
34
Yeah, today my odometer flipped over to 34. I guess I can finally put to rest my messiah complex. 33 passed and I didn't save the world. (Didn't even get crucified, either.) I say all of that with tongue in cheek, of course. Though I must say, this birthday feels somewhat different than the last one. Last night, Renee and the boys were shopping for my birthday present in TJ Maxx while I spent the better part of any hour in Joseph Beth Booksellers -- by myself. (That's probably the real birthday present right there). Anyway, as I was scanning the shelves for the next must-have book that would change my life or help me be successful, I hear that still small voice.
"It's time."
It's time to lay aside timidity, to push through the fear. It's time to grab a hold of the confidence, to blow up the excuses. It's time to do all of the things that you have dreamed of doing. There is nothing holding you back except yourself.
I felt a surge of excitement in that -- a shift in my attitude, my countenance was lifted, my head was raised. This was more than "the giant within" Tony Robbins-speak. This was more than positive thinking. I sensed that this was the Counselor, the only one who can empower me to accomplish all that I've dreamed.
I'm not going to apologize for sharing this, though the enemy of my soul wants me to. There is a latent creative force in every human being that is groaning to be released. 34 is not the time to stifle it. Neither is 4 or 104.
It's time.
For me. And, I dare say, it's time for you.
34
Yeah, today my odometer flipped over to 34. I guess I can finally put to rest my messiah complex. 33 passed and I didn't save the world. (Didn't even get crucified, either.) I say all of that with tongue in cheek, of course. Though I must say, this birthday feels somewhat different than the last one. Last night, Renee and the boys were shopping for my birthday present in TJ Maxx while I spent the better part of any hour in Joseph Beth Booksellers -- by myself. (That's probably the real birthday present right there). Anyway, as I was scanning the shelves for the next must-have book that would change my life or help me be successful, I hear that still small voice.
"It's time."
It's time to lay aside timidity, to push through the fear. It's time to grab a hold of the confidence, to blow up the excuses. It's time to do all of the things that you have dreamed of doing. There is nothing holding you back except yourself.
I felt a surge of excitement in that -- a shift in my attitude, my countenance was lifted, my head was raised. This was more than "the giant within" Tony Robbins-speak. This was more than positive thinking. I sensed that this was the Counselor, the only one who can empower me to accomplish all that I've dreamed.
I'm not going to apologize for sharing this, though the enemy of my soul wants me to. There is a latent creative force in every human being that is groaning to be released. 34 is not the time to stifle it. Neither is 4 or 104.
It's time.
For me. And, I dare say, it's time for you.
posted by Mike Bishop at 8:42 PM
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