Last week I talked about pursuing our dreams. Standing at the bottom of the challenging hill and starting the climb up. I suggested that we all stop talking about it, and take the first step and do it.
Today you have heard a couple of beautiful stories of people who did just that. Nancy and Lois both took steps to do things that were a bit out of the norm. Activities that some might think are just for the younger set.
Lois decided to go back to college — not unusual — but to return to the college marching band. Bob and Linda stepped out on a brand-new path to complete a 500-mile hike in 40 days. Gutsy, lofty goals, if you ask me. But certainly, goals that are filled with passion.
J. Michael Straczynski writes:
“Follow your passion. The rest will attend to itself. So go for it. It’s never too late to become what you always wanted to be in the first place.”
I have a lot of respect for Lois — hanging out with 20-somethings, performing on the football field, and reconnecting with music. Lois went back to something she knew — playing music and marching in the band — but at a time when it’s less likely to occur in our lives….
Imagine if we could all go back to something we once did, oh, but with so much more experience and awareness of what that task requires, with far greater wisdom and a different worldview than we had when we were younger. How fun is that idea.
Maybe that is why I continue to direct theatrical productions. I directed my first show as a college senior. (Actually, I was directing from the table in kindergarten when I played the role of a mother bird sitting on her eggs. That kid needs to move over — we can’t see him. And this girl needs to talk louder.)
But as I have continued to direct, I enjoy it differently. I am better able to predict what the process will be, and I have a greater understanding and awareness about what the actors need from me.
I also have mad respect for Linda and Bob, whose adventure was a new thing. In the videos they admit that they weren’t experts at hiking — but they started something that is probably not very easy physically for many of us.
Bob talked about trying to plan wisely for the trip — taking only the essentials, because every item you took with you, you carried on your back. On the path, they didn’t want to take things that would weigh them down — oh, I don’t know — kind of like in life; we need to lighten our load and not be weighed down by what we don’t need. There’s a whole sermon series in that……
What Bob and Linda and Lois and Nancy have done is brave. It’s bold. And there is a world of lessons in their adventures. I think I can pare those lessons down to three words:
The first word is COURAGEOUS. Despite the challenges, even though some might think they are too old to do these things, they did them.
They were courageous enough to bulldoze ahead, ignore any doubters around them, and make plans and do it. That inspires me. That makes me want to be more courageous.
The second word that comes to me when I look at the pictures of their experiences is HUMOR. We can only imagine the laughter between Bob and Linda as they struggled through the rain, and as they hoped and prayed for a bed to sleep in. There is pure joy on Lois’ face when we see her in her band uniform.
Knowing that these pilgrims and these sisters maintain their sense of humor proves to us, the power of humor to get us through almost anything.
And finally, I think of the word RESILIENCE. Not only did Bob and Linda and Nancy and Lois need to HAVE resilience before they started their adventures, but now I can’t imagine how much their resilience has multiplied because of these adventures. Nancy Lerch is nearly unstoppable now because she is a scientist by day, a musician at night, (and Sunday morning), and a marathon runner. She knows she can do anything!
At the end of the day, Bob and Linda can say they hiked 500 miles. Lois can tell the world that she completed her second year of college marching band at the age of 57.
I’m inspired. I am persuaded that we aren’t done yet. We all have more adventures ahead.
As we get ready to be bold and courageous, to use our humor as a survival tool, and to increase our resilience with our next pursuit, let’s remember that we do not attempt that task alone. Joshua 1:9 reminds us:
“Be strong! Be courageous! Don’t be afraid or discouraged for God is with you wherever you go.” My friends, God is always with us — guiding us, encouraging us, and giving us hope. Amen.
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