Are You a Fan?
As I was on my way to the computer to type this blog, I passed the TV which happened to be on. (We are not fans of TV!) My husband was watching a PBS station, and some show about professional bowling was on. As I passed by, I paused and noticed that footage of some kind of an awards or recognition program was showing. I must admit, I was surprised at the amount of bowling fans in the audience. I was even more surprised by the amount of noise they were making as they eagerly showed their love and devotion to the 'bowlers on display'. While I don't go bowling often, when I do go, I enjoy it. However, I certainly did not know that this sport has such a fanatic following. I shared this thought with my husband who was just as surprised as I was...but not for long, because he was soon watching the program through his eyelids. (That, incidentally, is his favorite way to watch TV. I just cover him up, and let him sleep) I continued on my way to the computer. As I listened to my husband begin to softly snore (actually quite relaxing to me...I knew that he was resting well!) and pondered over those bowling fans, I thought about how many things have their own following of fans. Certainly every sport does, I suppose (yes, even curling); every genre of music, be it bluegrass, country, blues, jazz, 'rock band' (even if it's just mom, dad, and the rest of the family showing up), orchestral, etc.; actors and actresses; chefs and restaurants; the list goes on...
Recently I had the great opportunity to attend an Answers in Genesis conference. While I was excited to go (I had never attended one before), I was reluctant to leave hearth and home. Upon arriving I soon found that the Answers in Genesis organization has a huge fan base, too! (Personally, I am one of them and would LOVE to see that fan base continue to grow.) And so I ask myself, "What is it about something that makes me a 'fan'?" As I think about the AIG conference (remember, that is "Answers in Genesis", NOT the bankrupt corporation that I am quite sure has NO remaining fan club), I believe my being a fan of anything has much to do with the passion that is invoked within me as I experience that 'thing'. That passion is born out of a continuing journey of discovery...the discovery of nuggets of Truth that ultimately come from God and are about God. I found that I just wanted to drink in completely all that I was learning at the conference, but also became so aware of the need to keep on learning even after the conference, and to seek ways to apply that knowledge in practical ways each day. Continuing to ponder this kind of passion reminded me of the blog that I wrote about the musicals that I had the privilege of experiencing. Each one of those led me on that same kind of journey of discovery...regardless of their content. What an incredible adventure to really begin to seek and to find God and His nuggets of Truth in EVERYTHING that I experience. Nothing is secular,,,everything is sacred! Now honestly, not everything that I experience brings a smile to my face, but everything does have the potential to bring that deep joy that comes from knowing God to my heart...whether the experience itself is full of joy...or full of pain.
Another experience during the AIG conference that invoked passion in me had nothing to do with the content of the conference. It was a bathroom experience! (Hang in there with me...) I walked into the bathroom and was greeted with a "Be careful, the floor is wet". (I am quite familiar with the fact that toilets can present problems at full-house events!) Anyway, the greeting came from the beautiful lady cleaning up the mess; and she didn't stop cleaning until the job was done. While the rest of us were relaxing with coffee and cookies, she cleaned...and cleaned...with a smile on her face and no complaining from her lips. I know she was not even responsible for the mess. I also know that she could have ignored the mess, or gotten someone else to tend to it; but she chose (without hesitation) to tend to it herself. I also know that she is the wife of the pastor of the facility in which the conference was housed. I expressed my heart of gratitude to her, and I meant every word. In those moments, I was her 'fan'. Now I will publicly say, "Thank you, Becky, for your humble act of incredible service!"
Now I find myself asking the question, "Am I really a fan of 'things', such as those that I mentioned before?" No, I don't think so. I am such a fan of experiences that bring me closer to people, to God, and to the Kingdom of heaven which begins here on earth.
I am a fan of God, because all of these experiences ultimately come from Him. Thank You, sweet Jesus!
Thanks for reading,
Libby
Recently I had the great opportunity to attend an Answers in Genesis conference. While I was excited to go (I had never attended one before), I was reluctant to leave hearth and home. Upon arriving I soon found that the Answers in Genesis organization has a huge fan base, too! (Personally, I am one of them and would LOVE to see that fan base continue to grow.) And so I ask myself, "What is it about something that makes me a 'fan'?" As I think about the AIG conference (remember, that is "Answers in Genesis", NOT the bankrupt corporation that I am quite sure has NO remaining fan club), I believe my being a fan of anything has much to do with the passion that is invoked within me as I experience that 'thing'. That passion is born out of a continuing journey of discovery...the discovery of nuggets of Truth that ultimately come from God and are about God. I found that I just wanted to drink in completely all that I was learning at the conference, but also became so aware of the need to keep on learning even after the conference, and to seek ways to apply that knowledge in practical ways each day. Continuing to ponder this kind of passion reminded me of the blog that I wrote about the musicals that I had the privilege of experiencing. Each one of those led me on that same kind of journey of discovery...regardless of their content. What an incredible adventure to really begin to seek and to find God and His nuggets of Truth in EVERYTHING that I experience. Nothing is secular,,,everything is sacred! Now honestly, not everything that I experience brings a smile to my face, but everything does have the potential to bring that deep joy that comes from knowing God to my heart...whether the experience itself is full of joy...or full of pain.
Another experience during the AIG conference that invoked passion in me had nothing to do with the content of the conference. It was a bathroom experience! (Hang in there with me...) I walked into the bathroom and was greeted with a "Be careful, the floor is wet". (I am quite familiar with the fact that toilets can present problems at full-house events!) Anyway, the greeting came from the beautiful lady cleaning up the mess; and she didn't stop cleaning until the job was done. While the rest of us were relaxing with coffee and cookies, she cleaned...and cleaned...with a smile on her face and no complaining from her lips. I know she was not even responsible for the mess. I also know that she could have ignored the mess, or gotten someone else to tend to it; but she chose (without hesitation) to tend to it herself. I also know that she is the wife of the pastor of the facility in which the conference was housed. I expressed my heart of gratitude to her, and I meant every word. In those moments, I was her 'fan'. Now I will publicly say, "Thank you, Becky, for your humble act of incredible service!"
Now I find myself asking the question, "Am I really a fan of 'things', such as those that I mentioned before?" No, I don't think so. I am such a fan of experiences that bring me closer to people, to God, and to the Kingdom of heaven which begins here on earth.
I am a fan of God, because all of these experiences ultimately come from Him. Thank You, sweet Jesus!
Thanks for reading,
Libby
Labels: Libby
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