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August 12th.
2009
LIVING BY FAITH
Four years ago when our oldest son Brooks became a
teenager, we took a road trip together. We had a great time and we still
retell our experiences with much exaggeration. From my perspective the
sole purpose of our trip was to chat with him about the choices that he
would soon be making in his life. Since that time this outing has served
as a reference point for countless other discussions.
This last week on the eve of his attendance to high school, Gage and I
took our road trip together. We, too, had a great time, and my sense is
we will also be retelling our experience with plenty of embellishments.
The purpose, with respect to impending choices, was the same as it was
for Brooks and my sense is it will be a touchstone for further
conversations as life unfolds.
As we all know life passes us by in the blink of an eye. Knowing this we
can either hold on for dear life or we can be proactive about some of
life’s inevitable scenarios and situations.
Leadership expert John Maxwell tells a story about a near miss incident
on airplane he was a passenger on. He is crystal clear that the pilot’s
instantaneous response to the circumstances saved everyone’s life. When
the ordeal was behind them and they were safely on the ground John asked
the pilot how he so quickly knew how to respond to this life-threatening
situation. The pilot’s simple response, “I constantly rehearse every
possible predicament and how I will respond.”
The reality of our life journey is that there will be innumerable
circumstances where we will be called to make a choice. Knowing how to
respond exactly to each and every one is obviously impossible. However,
if we are clear about who we are and whose we are and how we are called
to live…then we will have done the proactive work of preparing
ourselves. This would be living our life by faith…and not by the seat of
our pants!
Blessings,
The Rev. Brian N. Prior, Rector
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